The Somerset reporter., 1898-04-07
your standard also. Pull the noble
American eagle from his perch on 'Old
Glory" and put In his place the carrion
bird or the crow.

Glory" and put In his place the carrion
bird or the crow.
Angler l.. GOODWIN: 1t IL never
good policy to adopt Az uncertainty; 1t
is hardly ever good policy to discontinue
II certainty; IL is always bad policy To
exchange a certainty for an uncertainty.
Protection IL II certainty because it has
proved itself n desirable system. Free
trade is An uncertainty because in this
country IL has never had an actual trial
but the nearest approach 10 free trade
which our country has ever seen vas fol
lowed by period so disastrous TO bust
ness MS To thoroughly sicken the great
majority Of our working class Of that
governmental sy stem OF tariff which was
pic ured to them AS free trade.
Free trade promised great things for
England but surely strikes have been
frequent in late years ana as to free
trade being conducive to peace, let US
say that England has seen scarcely a
year without some trivial war on her
hands. To prove that free trade in Eng.
land has not prevented the rise Of trusts
and syndieates as its advocates claimed
it would dc, let me remind you that when
James g. Blaine returned from his last
trip to Europe he said that England was
honey combed with trusts.
Ny opponents have argued the uncon-
stitutionality of protective duties; ii is
plain that the most conclusive possible
reply to this is the example OF those
who madr the constitution. Listen 10
the significant words which begin the
first act which received Washington
signature AS president: "Whereas, IL il
necessary for the support Of the govern.
ment for the discharge of the debts OF
the United States and for the encourage
ment and protection Of manufactures
that duties be levied on goods, wares and
merchandise imported Certainly the
first act of our patriot President aud the
men who formed the Union whose bles.
sings we enjoy today, expounded sc
clearly, translated so Enthusiastically, clue.
idated so plainly and interpreted so un.
equiVocally the constitution, not as they
understood it, but the constitution as
they formed it, must close the discussion
to sensible men.
For over century this same question
which we are arguing here tonight has
been argued before the citizens of this
republic, and how have they settled it
- You have heard judgment OF this
question from the lips Of men whom you
have valued as advisers, admired as legs.
lators, honored as statesmen and respect.
ed as citizens? What have they told
you?
The great leader has told you that the
protective policy is an American policy
and a policy without which American
industries cannot live and remember
this, when you reject protection, yot
reject the principle which was perhaps
uppermost in the heart of him whom
you honored and loved, the magnetic
the magnanimOus orator, statesman
James G. Blaine. What has Reed told
you? He has told you-yes, he is telling
you today in undeniable language anC
with unmistakable logic the glories OF
protection, the bulwark of American
prosperity. And you convert him into
almost simple nothingness, if you elimi
nate protection from the platform of the
great speaker, the leader of leaders, the
brilliant orator, the eminent statesman
the peerless debater, Tom Reed, Dirigo'-
pride. md lastly, what have the cti
zens, the intelligent voters of this coun.
try told you? They have told you IL
unmstakable language that protection
as principle Is necessary and must
endure.
In the face of these facts would it not
be folly for this country to adopt free
trade? If it should, it would experience
again the same deticit-making, distruc-
ton hearing, disaster-breeding govern.
ment which has followed low tariff rule IN
this country on every occasion, without
exception. On the other hand is it not
right and just and best for this govern
ment to continue the policy of protec
ton? And just as long rs it does, We
shall enjoy the prosperity which it has
always given us and so long as it CON
tinues we may hear protection, the
watchword of the manufactures, the
song of the laborer, echoed by the glad
refrain of ten thousand times ten thou
sand voices, the newborn battle-hymn
of happy nation,