The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-05-06
VANCE AND The TARIFF.
Great StateSman'S Parody on Mary and
the Lamb.

/
lowing reminiscence of Senator
/ Vance:
During Vance's life there were
more than one movement among
some manufacturers to give over to
the Republicans upon the protection
issue. In one of his last campaigns,
when Senator Vance reached a
county in which there were many
cotton factories, he was approached
by Democratic county leader, who
said in substance:
"We have very close fight in our
county this year. The cotton mill
people, most of them, believe in pro,
lection, but will vote with us on
State issues. | have come to request
you not to discuss the tariff question
here to-day. 1t might drive off
votes"
The great War Governor, who was
always more noted for fortiter in
re than for suaviter in modo, replied
substantially saying:
If most of your cotton mill peo-
pie believe in protection. my duty is
plain. / must speak on the tariff
and give them the truth that will
destroy the sophistry by which they
have been deceived. | would not be
true to my duty to them, to myself,
or to the party if were to dodge
here where preaching the truth
seems to be needed
The local leader couldn't dissuade
him from his purpose. He told his
friends: Governor Vance will not
listen to reason and we will lose the
county. He is determined to speak
on the tariff
When the speech began there were
not a few among the party leaders
who were depressed. All the cotton
mill owners and employers disaffect-
ed on the tariff were out. The Gov
ernor plunged at once into his sub
ject. He told his audience that news
had reached him that some of them
were inclined to favor protection
the doctrine Of the robber barons-
that he may take who has the pow
er, and he may keep who an'-and
he proceeded to make the greatest
tariff speech ever made in North
Carolina. He carried his hearers
with him, too, as well as farmers and
business and professional men. Be
fore he finished he had them laugh
ing as he recited MARY had a Little
Lamb, with variations, showing how
protection robbed, applauding his
declarations for equality of oppor-
tunity and no taxation for private
benefit.
Later Governor Vance finished
that poem and read it in the Senate.
1t was received with shouts of laugh
ter, even Republican Senators lean
ing back in their seats and giving un-
restrained sway to their mirth. Here
is the poem:
"Our Mary had a little lamb,
Her heart was most intent
To make its wool beyond its worth,
Bring Sc per cent.
"a pauper girl across the sea
Had one small lamb also,
Whose wool for less than half that
She'd willingly let go,
"Another girl who had no sheep,
No stockings wool nor flax
But money enough just for to buy
A pair without the tax,
"Went to the pauper girl to get
Some world to shield her feet,
And make her stockings, not of fiax,
But of wool complete.
when Mary saw the girls design
She straight began to swear
She'd make her buy both wool and
Or let one leg go bare.
"And so she cried, Protect Reform.
Let pauper wool in free!
If it will keep her legs both warm
| What will encourage me?'
80 it was done and people said,
Where'er that poor girl went,
One leg was warm with wool and
| one
56 per cent.
Now praise to Mary and her lamb,
Who did the scheme invent,
To clothe one-half a girl in wool
/ And one half in per cent.
"All honor too, to Mary's friend,
! And all protective acts.
That clothe the rich in real wool
I And warp the poor in tax
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