97-84042-28

Miller, Warner

Speeches of Warner Miller

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308 2 Miller^ Wamerp 1838- I Box 122 spe0oh«B of Warner Uiller, delivered at Oooper

Union, New York, Ootober 22 » 1887 » the Hink, Brook

lyn, Ootober 29 » 1887^ published by the Hepublloan publishing conpany, liw York, Mew York, Fleming, i' Brewster & Alley, 1888« 52, 27, 16 p« 17^ om«

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Inserted material: TRACKING*: MSH22511 SPEECHES BY Warner Miller

DELIVERED AT COOPER UNION. NEW YORK, OCTOBER 22, 1887. THE RINK. BROOKLYN, OCTOBER 29, 1887.

PUBLISHED BY THE REPUBLICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY. ^

PSICE, $3.00 PER 100 COPIES. IN ENVEIiOPES, $3.50.

NEW YORK PRESS OF FLEMING, BREWSTER & ALLEY 1888 SPEECHES OF Warner Miller ANNOUNCEMENT DELIVERED AT The undersigned have associated as a firm, under the name of The Republican Publishing Company, for the purpose of preparing, selecting, publishing and COOPER UNION. NEW YORK, selling political literature in the form of books, pamphlets, OCTOBER 22, 1887. tracts and leaflets, in the interest of the Republican party,

Republican principles and Republican success : THOS. M. NICHOL, THE RINK, BROOKLYN. DAVID D. LLOYD, OCTOBER 29. 1887. HARVEY D. WINSOR, W. W. TUCKER.

This pamphlet is offered at the exceedingly low rate PUBLISHED BY of per hundred $3.00 copies. In envelopes, $3.50. PUBLISHING For sample copies of pubUcations or other information, THE REPUBLICAN address COMPANY, NEW YORK.

THE R. P. CO., New York.

NEW YORK PRESS OF FLEMING, BREWSTER & ALLEY 1888 / / The f Republican Publishing The Republican Publishing Company. -J Company. 9

the The Republican Publishing Company is organized for publishmg, political purpose of preparing or selecting, and THESE two speeches have been accepted as the first value and interest on current politicalr themes. publication of this company because they were at hand literature of pubUca- were not published Company is not to distribute its to begin with at once ; because they The plan of the number of gentlemen of number of sample copies when delivered ; and because a tions gratis beyond a reasonable judgment and taste in such matters, who thought them too clubs, leagues, commit- to the press, and to Republican requested their publication. They good to be lost, have printed in large quanti- tees, etc. Its documents will be will be furnished to organizations or individuals at. $3.00 rate, and sold to clubs, leagues, ties at the lowest possible per lod copies, or $3.50 per 100 in envelopes, ready to at a price committees or individuals for local distribution, mail. Address By this plan it is THE R. P. CO., New York. barely covering the cost of pubUcation. attainable, believed both a large and effective circulation is for gratuitous while by either attempting to collect money

neither is possible. circulation, or by selling at a high price, interested individ- Many clubs, leagues, committees and distribute a few hun- ual Republicans will buy and .

if they can get them at dred, or a few thousand pamphlets ; :

from three to five dollars per hundred, when they would not think of doing it at fifteen or twenty dollars per hundred

to secure money enough for a large gratuitous circula- while Speech delivered by Hon. War- tion is not possible. It is believed, therefore, that by sale ner Miller, at the Republican at cost, is the only fcaablc plan of securing a large and Cooper Union, effective circulation. meeting at evening, The co-operation of the Republican press is relied upon New York, Saturday to bring the purpose of the Company and its publications October 22, 1887. to the public notice, as also that of all Republican organ- Gentlemen : izations, and earnest members of the party, to assist in the Mr, Chairman, Ladies and promotion of its work. An efficient system of distributing for this hearty greet- I thank you most sincerely well-chosen literature is unquestionably the most effective for the past four ing. If the State of New York, Republican party, means of. sound political education, and the purpose of this years, has been doubtful to the of New York. The over- Company is to fully and effectively occupy this field. It is it is all due to the city Democratic majorities with which you intended to bear the same relation to the political press and whelming of the have greeted our Republican majorities to political truth that the Bible and Tract Societies do to under from time to rural districts, have borne us the religious press and religious truth. as I have appeared time. During the past week, For sample publications, or for any further information, have asked before the people in the country, I " re- address " pontest ? and they have them : What of the THE R. P. CO., New York. - all right here : It is plied, without exception majority but we shall give our usual Republkan ; York? I what can you tell us of the city of New " from the rural have come here as an ambassador of this city to R€;pubhcans, to ask the Republicans if we, come send me back with the assurance that 6 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOFER UNION, N. Y., OCT. 22, JS87. J

down to the Harlem River with or even twenty an old-time Re- of this city. Twenty-five years ago, publican majority, they will city greet us with a like years ago, the great importing trade of this majonty. When, last night, in citizens. But to-day coming into your was itt ilie hands of American city, I crossed Spuyten imme- Duyvil Creek, I felt hke foreign manufacturer, through his own leavmg the behind me all city, by means my Republican hopes I agent or representative in this was diate not certain that the undervaluations, distinguished gentleman of fraudulent invoices, and by whose name has been given in this city to the creek, instead has driven out of the importing trade of being of Dutch ancestry, into the great was not of Democratic nearly every American citizen. Go ancestry. I hope to take defy back to the country the mercantile part of the city and look. I will assurance that the Republicans one- of New York will the average American citizen to pronounce do their full duty. I believe I the signs. Yet in may guarantee that half of the names he finds upon they will. of fraudulent spite of undervaluations; in spite decisions made in ; in spite of Treasury True Interests invoices of New York Ci^. Administration, the interest of free trade by this The interests of the city trade here of New York lie with the American people have met free the Republican party. It is true very threshold of- the that this is the in its stronghold, upon the pat centre and stronghold of free trade. This country, and won great victories. IS the great entiy port into which the manufac- turers of Europe Figures. pour their more than six hundred Instructive million dollars' worth of York goods annually, and from The last census shows that while New which they take out our three-quar- gold and our products. city is the entry port for more than Vast mterests here would be come into our glad to see broken ters of all the foreign goods that down the barriers which the the leading manu- Republican party has country, it is at the same time - builded up for the the protection of home industries facturing city of this continent Formerly I understand it all full well. its I know that foreign city of Philadelphia had that honor. By manufacturers are holding the great import trade thousands of shops, and in the happy hom« .

8 SPEECH Of HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. Y., OCT. 2^, 1887. 9

of parties the party in oppo- of its hundreds of thousands of laboring men, it ours—a government — it itself it to the country to had made itself distinguished as the chief manu- sition owes to —owes — facturing city of the country. But in 1880 the be vigilai»t in its criticism, in its examination of census proved that New York had become the the acts of the party in power, and of all its foremost city of American industry; and when leaders. this great question was brought home to the peo- I do not propose, at this late hour, to undertake ple of this city in the national campaign of 1880, to go fully over the record of the Democratic

party since it has been in power ; or to go over it was by arousing the skilled mechanics ; it was the by bringing home to the laboring men here the the pledges and promises which it made to importance of protection and the dangers that American people in the campaign of 1884 ; or to of it has failed to threatened it in DemocraitiG ascendency, that we show you half the evidence how pledges or it has utterly failed to gained the victory and elected Gar^ld President keep those ; how the of the United States. substantiate any charges that it made against for The presidential campaign of 1880 was settled Republican party. The Democratic party allow its past to in New York, as was the campaign of 1884; and years has been begging of us to it for it did undoubtedly within a radius of five miles from remain buried. We forgave what before the war. forgave it for what it did where I am now standing, the campaign of 1 888 We forgive it will be settled in fa,vor of either I>emocracy or during the war. We may, I suppose, Republicanism. for its base charges made against us in the campaign A Duty. of 1884. But, fellow-citizens, there are important The RepubHcan party has hardly become accus- questions before us * tiiere were important questions of government tomed to its new position. It held the govau- in the. last Congress, and the work is must know how the Demo- ment so long, now that it is in the minority, it practical work. We treat issues that are finds itself through sympathy inclined to make cratic party proposes to the excuses for the shortcomings of the Democratic now before the people. We have a right to ask Administration. But in a great govemmeiit like of it what it proposes to do with them in all con-

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lO SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. V., OCT. 22, 1887. II

paying, until had tingencies that may arise, and a right to examine business ; and we went on we

its record, at least of the last two years, to see what paid more than half the whole debt, and reduced

it indicates touching imp(»rtmit (n^esoit iv^cm^ the annual interest charge to one-third what it was questions. at the close of the war. The Surplus. Condition Two-and-a-balf Years Ago. First. We are confronted with a constantly in- power creasing surplus in the National Treasury—grow- When the Democratic party came into half ago, it had this situation ing at the rate of about $ 1 0,000,000 per month. two and a years We have paid off all the bonds that are subject staring it in the face. It knew positively that July ist, 1887, ^^^^ to call before 1 89 1 , and it is impossible to continue to accumulate this large surplus year after year would be no bonds held at the option of the Gov-

it that from that time on, without bringing financial trouble, and perhaps ernment ; and knew panic and ruin, upon the business interests of the with as much certainty as it could know any- the rate country. How is this question to be met—how thing, that the surplus would increase at by does the Democratic party propose to meet it ? I of $10,000,000 per month, unless prevented need not go into any lengthy explanation to show legislation. What did Democrats do ? They did you how the Republican party in the past was con- nothing—^they presented no bill in Congress to

tinually reducing taxation and bringing its revenues meet the emergency. The warring factions of into a condition of harmony with the annual expen- the Democracy disagreed among themselves and ditures and the gradual payment of the public debt. failed to do anjrthing. A year before they had

I notice that during the years that we held power, offered a bill to reduce the tariff upon a horizontal there was no trouble about a surplus. We, of basis of twenty per cent., but it was hooted out of course, collected more revenue than the ordinary Congress, and the whole American people regarded expenses of the government demanded, but we paid it as absurd off a large portion of the public debt, thus promptly returning every surplus dollar to the chaouels of : —3

K., 12 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. OCT, «, i99r 1

What is It? Their Present Plan. Now, fellow-citizens, that is the plan that the Now, what do they propose? Let me call Democratic party of New York, which is some- your attention to the Democratic platform as ex- what powerful in the National Democratic organ- pressed at the Saratoga convention in September, ization, proposes for a reduction of the surplus. and m order that I may not be mistaken, I will It is declared to be in accordance with the ideas of read the President of the United States, as stated in his

inaugural address. It is also substantially the plan ''The unnecessary taxation of the last fiscal year ex- ceeded suggested by the late Secretary of the Treasury in $100,000,000 ; unnecessary taxation is unjust taxa- tion therefore, ; the Democracy of New York demands that his annual message to Congress. So, here we have Federal taxation be straightway reduced by a sum not less in substance the plan of the Democratic party than $100,000,000 a year ; and also respectfully urge upon the only plan it has so far proposed. Although Congress that a measure shall be adopted which will—in they have had two years in which to work it out, the language of the President, in his inaugural address- relieve the people from unnecessary taxation, having due they have not done it yet, because they could not regard to the interests of workingmen employed in American agree among themselves. But in the Congress industries. The taxes to be first reduced or altogether re- which is to meet in December this question of the moved are those on imported raw materials, which now surplus will come to the front and must be met, assist and promote the foreign competition with ourselves in one way or another, by the party in power. It in our markets, and prevent or hinder the sale of our pro- ducts in foreign markets." cannot longer be shirked.

Will Increase the Surplus. Well, what are these taxes that are to be remedied I I prove to the of or reduced 1 The taxes that enhance the cost to Now, think can judgment every sensible man, that that plan, if carried out, our wage earners, for the necessaries of life, and ? will at all reduce the surplus, but will increase price of common daily clothing " It is well to not it, at the same time, destroy many of our have daily clothing cheaper, I suppose, because we and wear more in the day-time than we do at night American manufactures and industries^ The first ! 5

14 SPEECH OF HON, WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER VmON, N, K, OCT. 1887. 1

proposition is that all raw material shall be admit- farmers of this country could grow wool—grow ted free of duty. This has been a sort of rallying enough, at least, to clothe our own people. And cry with the Democratic party for the last two or what has been the result ? Before that tax was three years, and one would suppose from reading put on foreign wool we did not produce more tlum their platform that no raw materials are permitted 60,000,000 pounds of wool in this country. Last to come into this country without paying a duty. year we produced nearly 500,000,000 pounds, and In fact, I have met many Republicans who have to-day our manufacturers do not care or need to im- adopted the same theory and wanted to know what port much wool, except a coarse quality for carpets. objection there could be to it. I say " none," be- But if the duty were taken off wool, it would not cause they come in free now. policy The of the be five years before sheep husbandry in this country Republican party a upon Protective Tariff has would be substantially destroyed, and instead of been to bring into this country, free of duty, all 500,000,000 pounds p)er annum, we would not pro- raw materials not products of our own country. duce one-quarter of it The cheap foreign wools Last year we imported a little over $6c»,cxx>,ooo of Australia and other countries, Where sheep go of foreign products, of which one-third, or about without care, would flood our markets and destroy $2i2,ooo,cxx), were of products that came in on one of the most important industries of the country. the free list, without paying a farthing of tax or So much for wool duty. What, then, are the things which these gentlemen want to put upon the free list as raw Coal and Iron. materials? One is wool, another is iron-ore, and Now for coal and iron-ore. Our mountains are a third is coal full of them. Here in the State of New York Wool. we have some of the greatest iron deposits in the When the Republican party placed the pres- world. I know that our neighbor Pennsylvania ent duty on wool, it did it for the express is called the iron State, but it is a misnomer. New purpose of encouraging sheep husbandry in this York ought to be called the iron State, for we country, and bringing it to such a point that the send Pennsylvania hundreds of thousands of tons —J

1 6 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. F., OCT. 22, 1887. I of ores per annum to put into her iron. Take the food do they propose to take the duty ? Do they duty off of iron-ore and coal, and what will be- propose to take it off sugar? The Republican come of the poor miners, delving in the earth, for party long ago put tea and coffee on the free list, whom our Democratic brethren profess so much because they were not American products. We sympathy ? can produce sugar, but we have been able so far to But, fellow-citizens, if you were to put these produce only a very small percentage of the amount three upon the free list, it would reduce your revenue of sugar that our people consume, and the makers but a paltry three or four or five millions of dollars of sugar have put upon it a duty of about fifty —I forget the exact amount, but it is a mere millions of dollars per annum. Will the Demo- bagatelle, in comparison with the $100,000,000 crats consent to put sugar upon the free list, in order per aunum surplus we are dealing with. that this common necessary of life may be made two cents a pound cheaper to every man's table in Common Necessaries of Life. the country ? They have never voted that way The surplus remains and the question remains. when the question was up in Congress. Oh, no ! How do they propose to reduce it? They cannot sugar is the product of a Democratic State do it by adding articles to the free list as raw Lduisiana—and they have not hesitated to vote materials—^they do not exist for, as I have said, ; for free iron, free wool and free coal, but when we Ihey are already there. They propose, as I read have barely suggested that some of this immense in this platform, to reduce the duties upon what tax upon sugar—^upon the poor man's breakfast are called the common necessaries of hfe and table—should be taken off, because we did not common clothing. Well, what are the common need the revenue, the Democrats, free-traders and necessaries of life ? Will any man in our complex all, have rallied solid to protect the interest of civilization distinguish and undertake to tell us Louisiana. Evidently they do not propose to what are the common necessaries of life ? But take the tax off this necessaxy of life. catainly they must include food, clothing and shelter. Off of what articles that enter into our 9

AT COOPER UNION, N. Y., OCT. i8 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, 22, 1887. 1

What Figures Teach—Iron. Clothing. But let us see some of the things which were They have been somewhat exphcit upon one imported last year: I will be brief about it, and point—they tell us they propose to take the duty mention but two articles. Last year we imported off, or reduce it upon, common clothing. Upon into this country $50,000,000 worth of iron and what ? Is it upon our CQtton goods ? They could steel ; and this notwithstanding that the products not make them any cheaper if they did ; for are we of our furnaces were greater than ever before. exporting all grades of cotton to all the world. Before i860 we, had never made in this country They are cheaper here than in Birmingham, Eng- more than 8,000 tons of pig-iron in a year ; last land ; and under the American Protective Tariff sys- year we made over 5,000,000 tons. Still, I say, tem, too. It is clear they cannot reduce the cost of we imported last year over $50,000,000 worth of the cotton clothing of the people by taking off duty. iron and steel, the duties upon which were $19,- They must intend, then, to reduce the cost of our 000,000. If our Democratic friends cut down woolen goods. But it is a fact here also which can the dtfty upon iron what will be the result—^will be substantiated, that the common grades of wool- it be a reduction of revenue? Let us see: the en goods consumed largely by our laboring people, duty upon pig-iron is $6. 50 per ton ; reduce it to when we size them quality for quality, are quite as $5.00 per ton, and the importation in the next 60 cheap here as anywhere in the world. By our days will be greater tlian it has been in the last tariff laws we have substantially shut out shoddy, two years, and the revenue received from it will so that it cannot be put into the common wearing be five times greater than the revenue received apparel of our people and, by American ingenuity ; from it at the present rate. So reducing duty on and skill, we have made it possible for the laboring will not reduce the sur^os. man of to-day to get a fair suit of clothes for from $6.00 to $iaoo, depending upon the quality Woolen Goods. he desirea We imported last year $44,000,000 worth of woolen goods, mostly of the finer grades. If you 20 . SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. OCT, ss, i8^. 21 reduce the duties upon these, whom do you ben- would become of American industry and Ameri- efit ? Only the rich people who wear them. But can labor? As already intimated, they would reduce the duty upon woolen goods perceptibly suffer incalculable injury. I need not go back and you will quadruple their importation, and into history or refer to the experiments we have thereby vastly increase the revenue received from made in reducing our duties, to recall to your minds this source. And so I might go through the the terrible panics and disasters which followed in whole list. Take the whole list of manufactured every single case where it was tried. You cannot pro'ducts of this country coming into competition reduce the revenue from our tariff system except with Europe, and if you reduce the duty upon by putting articles upon the free list. When they

any of them or upon all of them, as is proposed, are put upon the fuee list, of course that revenue in considerable quantities, you will immediately will cease. If you simply want to redztce the

increase the revenue, and, instead of reducing, revenue from imported goods, you can do it by vastly increase the surplus, besides sending vast increasing the tariff—^not by reducing, unless you sums of money abroad, thus contracting our cur- wipe it out entirely and go for bald free trade. rency and doing infinite damage to our industries. If the duty upon iron, instead of being $6.50 per

ton was $7 or $8 per ton ; and if the duty on Divide the Tariff Double the Revenue. steel blooms had not been changed by the deci-

As Mr. Burke, the greatest of English states- sion of the Treasury Department making it lower men, said, when discussing this question many years than Congress intended it to be, you would have ago: "You may divide the tariff, but you will reduced by three-fourths the amount of iron im- double the revenue. " And that ns just what the ported, and of course would have reduced the

Democratic plan would do if it were carried into tariff received from these articles. And if to-day effect. Instead of our surplus revenue for the you would increase the duty upon the higher next year being $100,000,000, it would more grades of woolen goods 25 per cent., you would likely be $200,000,000 or $250,000,000. And decrea^ their importation from 50 to 75 per while you are accumulating this surplus, what cent., and decrease the revenue received from COOFEM UNION, N. K., OCT. sa, t89i. 23 22 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT

the value of his property be destroyed and them accordingly. Increase the revenue, and you and swept away. set hundreds of thon^nds of laboring men at work here at home» making the goods the impor- Democracy a Continuous Threat. tation of which would be checked. The Democratic party, since it has been in No Solution. power, has been one continuous threat to the business interest of this country. Capital for a I say then, in brief, that the Democratic party you could not loan long time lay idle in this city ; offers no solution of this question at all Evi- for one-half of one per cent., and one or dently, in the language of our Chairman, ''they money two per cent, on call was wealth to the man who have no ideas u^n the subject." I need not could get it And why ? Because the business pause to tcU you how the Republican party would men of the country did not dare to invest their reduce the revenue. I have referred you to the money in manufacturing enterprises for fear of the past history of the party to show that it has mischief the Democratic party might do in tinker- always kept revenue and expenditures in har- ing with the tariff and with the financial and bank- mony, and if in power now there would be no ing laws. The policy of the party, I say, since it trouble about a surplus whatever. It would ar- in power, has been one continuous range our tariff system and our internal revenue has been menace to the business interest of the country. system wisely, as it has done heretofore. We you reply that no great disaster has come ? should not have gone through this summer under Do need not thank the Democratic party for a perpetual threat of a panic if the Republican You that for, as you have heard here to-night from }^y had l)een in power. There is no business ; other speakers, it has done absolutely nothing since ma^ before me to-night who has not lost many able it came into power, because it has not been hours of sleep during the past summer, when to agree upon a policy. It has simply been a seeking rest at the sea-^ore or in the mountains, standing threat to all of our industries and in- because of the fear that some great financiai dis- terests. turbance might break out and ruin his busiucss, '

24 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. K, OCT. aa, iSSf- 25

administration do ? Nothing ? Oh, yes it What it has Done. cratic did do somethuig. It voted that treaty in force These are some of the things the party has left against the interest of the people for six months undone. Now, let us consider some of the things by the simple ipse dixit of the Secretary of State. it has done, or has tried to do, which I think are Last winter, when Congress met, the Administra? fair subjects of criticism. I propose to present tion a^ked for power to appoint a commission to them to you as American citizens, and ask you to ** settle the matter. But Congress said : No, we pass judgment upon the course of the Demo- are satisfied with the condition of affairs as it is, cratic party, and to say whether you believe it save that we want the Administration to. enforce ought to be left in control of this great govern- the laws, and guarantee and protect the rights of ment. our fishermen."

Foreign Policy—The Fishery Question. Defying Congress.

First, as to its foreign policy if — that be not a And so Congress refused to appropriate money misnomer—because, if I understand it, this ad- or empower the President to appoint a com- ministration has had no foreign policy. It has mission on the subject What has the Pres- permitted such policy as it has had to be dictated ident done since ? In defiance of the expressed from the British foreign office. This is a serious will of the people of this country, as expressed charge, and I am not making it for bunkum or through their representatives in Congress, he has for applause. Let us see. have the fishery We presumed to appoint a commission to deal with question upon us. I need not stop to explain it this question. The American people might well minutely, but under a former treaty our fishermen pause to consider what this Democratic party is and the people in the New England States found doing in directly defying the will of the people that they were at a disadvantage, and notice was as expressed through Congress. I know it is the given that the treaty should be abrogated. It ex- fashion in some quarters to belittle Congress and pired according to notice. What did this Demp- they the men who compose that body. . But are ;

26 SPBECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. K. aCT, aa, tSBr- ^7

by an act of the representatives of the people and in them all rights that belonged to Russia, and to protect the seal power is lodged. Some one has told us, not many Congress we had undertaken sea. The goverafnent years ago, that the office of President is purely an fisheries in the Behring it has fisheries out to a compMiy, and executive office ; but the same man has got away leased these to pay the from that now, and he undertakes to decide and been receiving for this reataa enough Alaska, 7,000,00a to aet, not in accordance with the law, but in de- interest upon the total cost of $ into power. fiance of law and of the expressed wishes of the But the Democratic party comes sea and capture people. And where do we find ourselves to-day? English vessels go into Behring thsm at once for Our neighbors on the north, taking matters into seals. American cutters arrested and upon our own their own hands, have seized our fishing vessels infringement on our rights act of the American and denied to our fishermen the common rights of territories. What was the first wder the release humanity, of shelter and food. They came into Secretary of State? It was to suddenly, the ad- our ports simply because we would not continue of these English sailors. Then, it had probably made the treaty under which they were gaining great ministration discovered that purchase from advantages over our own people. a mistake—that under the treaty of us and all the Russia Behring sea belonged to ; belonged to The State Departmeat rights that our people claimed there an act of Congress, also, What has the State Department done? I us; and that there was protection of these fisheries. know of nothing it has done to defend the honor directing the of American citizenship—nothing to protect Backing Out. American rights and American fishermen. But devious course of backing- oirt. let us go farther in the foreign policy of this ad- Then began a made public yet, and ministration. Mr. Seward, as Secretary of State, The documents have not been correspondence has been bought from Russia the great territory called we do not know what the we have been told diat the Alaska, and called it the territory of the Behring but within a few days has so far humbled himself to Seas and its seal fisheries. We took it with all the Secretary of State —

28 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, A T COOF^R UNION, N. K., OCT. 22, J8S7. 29

the foreign office of England as to telegraph his lowed by this administration in regard to foreign regrets that the order had not been carried out for affairs. It has been a policy of todyism—nothing releasing the sailors. It seenis impossible that this more nor less. should have happened under a Democratic ad- ministration, for in the past history of the Demo- The Nicaragua Treaty. cratic party, if there were many black spots, there We might go still farther. I might call your was certainly one.white one^—one bright one—and attention, and I will for a single moment, to this that was that it had always maintained a firm condition of affairs. W^hen the Republican ad- foreign policy—^it was always ready to fight for ministration went out of power it had submitted American rights, and for the rights of American to the Senate of the United States what was seamen. In short, . fellow-citizens, we may con- known as the Nicaragua treaty—a treaty which gratulate ourselves that our entire foreign policy would have given us absolute control of the great up to the beginning of this administration, no canal or highway across the Isthmus, and which matter what party was in power* was always a would unite our Pacific sea*coast with our Gulf brave and manly one. We were ready to go to and Atlantic sea-coast—^an object our people have war for our rights whether we had any ships, or desired, and for which they have labored for the last any guns, or men, or not—^we went at it and created half century. We had negotiated a treaty that, ships and guns as fast as we could. Why, it was in the judgment of mea who saw and considered

Thomas Jefferson who negotiated the treaty for it, was believed to be of the very highest impor- the purchase of Louisiana—of that vast country tance to all our commercial interests, and which and it is one of the bright spots in our foreign would undoubtedly have added much to the diplomacy to which the Democratic party points, strength and glory of the nation. and to which it may well point with pride. But It had been sent to the Senate of the United what shall we say of the party's position to-day? I States for approval. But what was ahnost the have no language which will adequately express first act of Secretary of State Bayard when he my contempt for the course which has been fol- came into power ? It was to withdraw that treaty 1

30 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER ^ILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. K, OCT. iS»r. 5

r from the Senate of the United States and to- con- generally in repairing the daiwwiges of the w,ar. marine would sign it to oblivion. AU the rights and franchises We supposed that our menchaat vigor. But after a few which we w^ould have gained under it, if ratified, again spring into life and have been lost to our people, and thus our develop- years we found that if would not, and whcm we that the ment and owr growth, which I believe would have came to look for the reason we found passing away. The been greatiy advanced by the carrying out of its days of wooden ships were England provisions, have been postponed—no one knows iron ship was the ship of the future. for how long. had perfected herself in tlie budding of them, and I need not remind you that General Grant, as having gained the triumph of the seas through holding President of the United States «uid as a private our war, she was able to hold it—she was steamships. Beside she citizen, gave much study to this subject, and that it by her iron ships and lines the project was one of which he fully approved. was paying large subsidies to her steamship of the I €>nly refer to this, fellow citizens, to show you for carrying her mails to the four quarters shut out of that how the Democratic party is mismanaging the earth. Thus we found ourselves great commercial interests of the country. part of our industry which belonged to us. At once we began to conmd^ the question of reform Our Merchant Marine. and remedial measures, patterning after England. to Let me come now to another subject of impor- We said, It is necessary to establish mail Knes to have a tance to the business men of New York—our all those countries with which we want merchant marine. When t busy alter the close of the war lor York and sail first to Liverpool, and then take an some years in repairing our internal system. We English steamer to some port in South America. were engaged in building up the waste places and We could not expect large commercial relations 32 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. V., OCT. 22, 1887. 33

under such came into power. did the Post- conditions, and after taking the advice tration What of the ? Chambers of Commerce of nearly every master-General do Did he carry out the law of leading city in the United States, the Republican Congress? Not at all. He refused to use a dol- Senate lar of the money, and it lies untouched in the appointed a committee, which was joined by a public treasury to-day. the next session of committee from the House, and they brought At in measures of relief. Congress we were not disposed to deal harshly with him, believing that he should have more Again Defying Congress. time. We increased the appropriation, and in They were boi^h houses of Congress called upon him to intended as measures of relief, but we they did not seem to improve the condition of carry into effect this law, and use this money for affairs. establishment of steamship lines to those coun- The chief measure proposed was that we the should tries. dollar it been yet, appropriate money, as England had done, Not a of has expended to pay steamship companies fair rates fof canying and he refuses in toto to touch it ; and so to-day the mails our South American trade, which should be our from oui ports to the leading ports in South trade, is in the English. America. That proposition was fought best entirely hands of the over, in have steamship line running, and it has the time of Democratic control of the We one House, been the mails for the United States, but the Democratic party standing in opposi- carrying tion to it has not been paid for it; it has carried the mails anything like a subsidy, or to the estab- lishment for long time free, because it found it neces- of mail lines. Finally, in the Forty- a eighth sary to have the mails go with the merchandise, Congress, near the close of the session, we put in an or there could be no trade. I need not say to any appropriation bill in the Senate, $448,- to New York merchant that you can have no trade 000, enable the Postmaster-General to pay a fair in a foreign country unless you have regular mail compensation for the organization of a new steamship connection country. Every business line, which it was expeiJted would run with that chiefly to Central and South America, where we man knows that were seeking trade. The Democratic Adminis-

\ WARNER MIU^ER, AT COOPER UNION, N. Y., OCT. jm, rSfy. 34 SPEECH OF HON. 35

commercial people—^the improvement of our rivers Democratic Obstinacy and Stupidity. and harbors. With an overflowing Treasury, you crying out The Democratic party is constantly can get only paltry appropriations for your great trade, but it will not that we need more foreign harbors and rivers, and they are fitful and uncer- — expend trade ^it will not lift a finger to promote tain. Let us see. At the j^st session of the last It stands the money that has been appropriated. Congress an appropriation of $18,000,000 was a thing that there dehberately refusing to do made for the rivers and harbors of this country, why? What reaajn ought to be done. And and s^ed by President Cleveland. The last " Nothing shall be done^ does it give ? It says, session passed a bill appropriating about $8,000,- be expended; we will none of this money shall 000—less than half the amount of the year before. matter until you repeal your give no help in this President Cleveland vetoed that bill, or rather and give us free ships." That is navigation laws allowed it to die without his signature. As a navigation laws, which have the ultimatum. The result, the loss upon the public works of this coast-line trade, must be built up our immense country, before another appropriation bill can be opened up to the repealed, and with the trade passed, by storms, by the elements, and by dam- world, we are to admit foreign- English and to the age to unfinished work, will be 25 per cent of the our country free, or there shall be built ships into whole amount of that appropriation bill—certainly marine. Are you no relief for our merchant a fooHsh policy for a country that can borrow at proposition, merchants of New rea4y for that three per cent Why should we be ten» iifteen or then see to it that the Dem- York City? If not, twenty years in digging out Hell Gate, or deep- do not have more than 40,000 ocrats of this city ening the water over Sandy Hook Bar to 30 feet, majority in November. without completing the work, when we have an overflowing Treasury? Why not appropriate the Another Great Subject. money in a sufficient sum and regulate the pay- great subject which interests There is another ments, so that the work may go rapidly forward ? and, in fact, interests every the people in this city, In short, fellow citizens^ the Demoen^ parl^ —

36 SPEECH OF HON, WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. K, OCT. i8»y. 37 has been carping at the heels of the Republican began to expire, it was with the greatest possible party for twenty-five years, because of the good difficulty that a bill was passed permitting nation- it has done in developing the wonderful resources banks to continue their existence for twenty of this al country: now that it is itself in power it years longer ? If the Dei&ocratic party had had refuses to do anything. Is it not high time for

control of the . entire government at that timc^ it to go out of power and surrender tasks to which of both Houses of Congress and the President it is unequal ? — there is no probability that any bill for that On Banks and Currency. purpose could have passed Congress. The result would have been that our national banking sys^ I might speak here also of the refusal of the tem would have been doomed, and, as their char- Democratic party to do anything to relieve the ters expired, the banks would have gone out of present strained condition of our national banking existence. Do we want to be leturned to the old system. I need not speak to the people before State banking system ? I beheve not ; but never- me of the benefits which have come to the people theless all our institutions—our banking system, of this GOuntiy frcan its national banking system. our tariff system, and all that they mean to our You kijow to-day, that, under the present condi- people, are constantly menaced and threatened by tion of alfairs, with the high price of bonds the Democratic party, at Washington. and other conditions surrounding national banks, there is no profit whatever to such a bank in its State Bank Danger. circulation. And the figures also show that the Do you ask me how that can be ? Do you say. national banking circulation has been curtailed, Are ^ot the Democratic representatives in the during the past year, to the extent of about $36,- House, from the State of New York, usually 000,000. If some relief is not soon provided, the tariff and in favor of national banks and national men banking system must go out of exist- financial machinery as now established ? I answer, ence. Need I remind you that only a few years as a rule they are; but the Democratic party is ago, when the gh^pter^ of the first national banks not controlled by the Northern contingent The ;

^8 SPEECH OF HON. WARNEM MILLER, A T COOPER UNION, N. K., OCT. a*. J8»f. 39

contingent of Mr. Randall has only about thirty- rivers less than ten per cent, of the manufactures five votes, and when the Democratic party gets of this country are produced—in fact, I believe in caucus at Washington it is controlled by its not more than five per cent ; that all our great Southern section, which has more than thi^ financial institutions, our great insurance com- quarters of its entire membership. It makes a panies, and loan companies, and trust compani^ fre64rade Speaker for the House of Represen- are to be found in the busy havens of industry at tatives; it appoints a Committee on Wa3rs and the North. These men of the South, although Means in favor of free trade; it appoints a com- perhaps now as loyal as we, know little or nothing mittee on banking and currency in favor of the of the wants of our great civilization, as it has continued coinage of silver and opposed to the grown up since the war. But they are opposed national banking to tariff system system; and so here, in this to national banks ; opposed the great commercial city, leading business men walk opposed to everything national, because they still Up and deliberately vote away their own interests believe in the reserved rights of the States, as and rights, by voting the Democratic party a against the Nation. Th^ hold to this stupid Wkr majority in the Lower House of Congress tiquated theory, and there they stand controlling national legislation by the aid of a few Northern Involved ia a False Philosophy. Democrats and the tyranny of the caucuses. It is I do not question the loyalty of the Democratic a strange, an luiomalous situation. AU these vast party, either North or South, but the men who interests of which I have spoken—of commerce control the Government, to-day at Washington, and of finance—of industries of all kinds located are substantially the same men who held control here among the people of the North, and the when the first gun was fired upon Sumter. They Government absoUitely in the hands of the men have learned nothing from that day to this. Their of the South, who have no comprehension of our philosophy was learned in the South from Calhoun needs which are the needs of the nation. Shall and \m ccMnpatriots, and there they stand. Do not this be changed ? Ek) the merchants of New you know that south of the Ohio and Potomac York city want the merchant marine built up ? SPEECH 40 OF BON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. Y., OCT. 22, 1887. 4I

Do they want our industries protected ? Do they want Local Affairs. the national bank system strengthened and preserved ? Do they want a thoroughly compre. 1 might detain you here, as you are so patient hensive national of the interests policy in everything affecting in your seats, to speak more fully national interests ? If so, issues that have already been discussed before they must see to it that and the Republican full well, and I party wins, and in the election you; but you understand it all of next year is tell you what returned to power in the Nationai would not for a moment presume to Government, not otherwise there is no hope. to do in your local political affairs. I would

know where to begin or where to leave off ; and A Matter of Habit yet, when I see a city of a million and a quarter I might go factions of its politicians on indefinitely calling to your mind of people allowing two evidence of the incompetence of the Democratic to get together in a hotel or a hall, and there fix party. But it is a the people are to adopt, and the wearisome task, and enough to up a ticket which give one ask myself, the blues. 1 say the Republicans have people tamely submit to it, I can only not yet become accustomed to their new position. is this a free people ? Why, I remember several scenes in the Senate the past year, The Temperance Question. when some one was criticising the Administration, the instantly some good Republican The position of the Republican party upon Senator was upon been fully explained by his feet to defend it He had temperance question, has forgotten, I guess, that honorable chairman of this meeting. The his own party was not still the in power. platform upon it, The Republicans have been in the party has taken its stand in its habit of leading it, no matter what the in this country so long, and not and it will not flinch from of following, that I be. The Democratic party up doubt if they ever get fully consequence may used to it Still, we must look after our Demo- to the present hour, has not ventured to come cratic brethren, or explain its platform, or de- great trouble may come to us before the people and all. fend its record, or speak of what it will do in the SPEECH OF HON. 42 WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. Y., OCT, a*. jS^. 43 future. Apparently the Democrats propose to is the neces- capital and monopoly ; and that that allow the election day, on the 8th of November, sary result of our civilization, as we have it. If to come and go, without opening their mouths at that charge be true, then our government and all, before the people of this State.. Do they our civilization is a fallacy and a failure, and it defy the people, or are they afraid to meet them ought to be changed; I do not hesitate to say and discuss the record and the issues ? I know that. Our forefathers thought, when they set up not what may be their object ; whether it hie a this government, that they were establishing a still hunt, or a defiance of the people. I simply system which would lead to the greatest possible know the fact that up to this hour, and almost development and prosperity and happiness of the within two weeks of election, no Democratic people. That is what they aimed to do, and they speaker has ventured upon the platform before believed that under its benign influence all men the people in this city. would have equal opportunities and their rights believed it Jeffer- before the law. Washington ; Labor Parties. • r son believed it and taught it; the Adamses, But there is no lack of parties and no lack of Franklin, Madison, Hamilton, and down the whole orators. The land is filled with the noise raised by line to the present day this has been the belief of n^w parties. I will ask your indulgence for just our greatest and best men. Is it possible that a little longer, while I give my views upon the these men were all mistaken ? Is it possible that discussion now going on upon the labor and land we have been building up a system of fallacy and question. We are somewhat interested in land fraud ? That while we have been emancipating in this country. The basis for aU the agitation the colored race we have been enslaving fellow- uppn this question to-day is to be found in this men of our own race? No, I say, it is not pos- proposition of Mr. George: that "the rich are sible. It is not possible, and no man has yet growing richer and the poor are growing poorer." undertaken to give a single fact, for this assump- He says the wag^ earners are no better than tion has gone before the people substantially un- slaves, and are being ground into the earth by to give a contradicted ; no man has undertaken a I

AT COOPER UNION, N. K., OCT. aa, i8»j. 45 44 SPEECH OF HON. WAKNER MILLER,

further, and gives the figures to prove it, single fact He says to substantiate the statement. It is all the wages received and their increased power assertioa and no proof. that to purchase, makes the condition of the common Facts and Proof. factory operative 75 per cent, better than in 1 860. follow that into every division of life But let give You may me you a few facts to disprove it. and labor, and you will find it true. I do not We are told that "the poor are growing poorer mean to say that there is no misery, no poverty, and the rich are growing richer"—that the wage no want 1 r^et that there is a vast amount of earners are slaves, and that the constant tendency it, and I have no idea that it will ever be wholly is to lower the rate of wages and lower the rate and abolished from the earth. condition of living to the workingman. I deny it. The general success of our government and the prosperity and growth of the country Savings-Banks. disprove it absolutely. One or two statements more on this point— W^es to-day are higher in this countiy than deal in figures, not assertions. The savings-banks they were twenty years ago, higher than they of this country hold the savings of the laboring were ten years ago, and higher than they were people for the time being. The laboring man five years ago. Mr. Edward Atkinson, of Bos- goes on accunmlatii^ money in the savings-bank ton, a great statistician and careful student— until he has accumulated enough to buy him a man standing at the head of his profession—has home, or to take him to the far West and settle declared lately that the American workm^, in upon a farm. The savings-banks of this country the wages he receives and in the purchasing power cities and cities having of are larger in the Northern those wages, is loo per cent better off to-day manufacturing industries, year by year—last year than he was in i860. That is to say, the increase $994,000,000. In this State of New York alone of wages and the increased power of the money something over $500,000,000 more in there was — buying the necessaries of life, is 100 per cent than all the savings to be found in all the savings greater now than it was twenty-seven years ago. SPMECH OF 46 HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION N. K. OCT, /«^. 4/ institutions of England to-day, with her 36,000,- several thousands of separate farms in their place, 000 of people. all of them giving homes to contented and honest farmers, who are as good citizens as any country Is there Monopoly in Land? need desire to have. These men tell us that there is a tendency to monopoly in land. I deny it. And I am backed The George Theory. up by die United States Census to sustain me. I will not take up your time with any philosoph- In i860 there were ** 2,000,000 separate farms in ical discussion of what is known as the George this country. In 1880 there were 4,000,000, and theory of land," but simply to state that it is purely to-day there are half as many more. In i860 the and simply "confiscation of land " and nothing else. average size of these farms was 199 acres In In one of his speeches the other day, when closely 1880 it was only 134 acres; showing absolutely questioned, Mr. George admitted that if he had that the land is being constantly divided and sub- the power he would confiscate all the land in the divided — among the people ^the very reverse of country, without compensation to the owner. I monopoly. True, there are some large land com- will not wa^e your time in discussing before you panies in the West, holding vast tracts of land, such a theory as that But, very strangely, we are but they are rapidly disappearing. Why, need I told that this is a new crusade ; that it is a religious moind you of the colonial history of this State, crusade, and that this is the excuse for holding its when nearly all the land from her« to Albany, on political meetings on the Sabbath. Dr. McGlyrm both sides of the river, — was held by a few Patroons ? is preaching what he calls a new Gospel "the You remember the great land companies. What fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man." has of ? become them With the increase of pop- I bid him God-speed, but I want to say to him ulation they have all disappeared The Patrooi^ that the Republican party has done more to bring went the way of the aristocracy and their lands ^out the brotherhood of man than aU the reforms were divided up. The great companies sold out of this kind that ever were tried. The three thdr lands and disappeared, and to

48 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. Y., OCT. 22, 1887. 49 publican party were, first, the Proclanmtion of nothing about the division of land and property, Emancipation, which freed four millions of slaves, you are greatly mistaken. It does, and I have signed by our immortal Lincoln ; the second always thought that it applied to the land laws of was the thundering of the guns at Gettysburg the United States, and particularly that the Home- when we hurled back the hosts of Rebellion stead Bili which was passed by a Republican Con- from the free North, and made their victory gress and signed by Abraham Lincoln, must have forever impossible; the final act was the Sur- been suggested to whoever drew it up by the law rendering of the sword of the slave holders to which God gave to Moses for the dividing of the our greatest captain. Grant, at Appomattox. If promised land among the Hebrews. Dr. McGlynn shall be able to accomplish greater Moses vs. George. things than these, he will have my applause and hearty approbation. Mr. Chairman, I need not remind you oi this, who are so learned in all law, both divine and A Religious Campaign. human, but for fear that some of my audience do

But he tells us again and again that this is a not read that good book every Sunday, let me call religious campaign, that he is fighting a new cru- your attention briefly to the land laws of the Bible. sade under the old cross. I must assume that the When Moses was leading the Children of Israel reverend Doctor, if he makes it a religious crusade, out of the bondage of Egypt into the Promised must draw his enthusiasm, his inspiration and au- Land, he was instructed by God Almighty to take thority from the Bible. He has been a Bible man that land and divide it up, first among the tribes in religion, so I think he must go there to get his and the bounds of the territory of each tribe were doctrine—at least the religious part of it. But if all set down and described ; and then he was in- either he or you can find anything of the theories structed to divide the land of e^h tribe in sev- of George in the Bible, you must be a more care- eralty among all the families of each tribe abso- ful reader or a more nimble construer of it than I lutely, giving every family its share and lot and to have been. And if you think that the Bible says portion ; and as Moses did not get over Jordan 1

50 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT COOPER UNION, N. K, OCT. «, 7«S^. 5 do that work himself, he deputed Joshua to do it, with the woman at once and put ha- in possessioii of and the good book tells us, in many long chapters, the land ; and he did, and made the squatter return if you will read them, how that land was divided. to her all that he had gotten off of it for seven years. Every head of a family got his particular share. And still Dr. McGl)nin tells us he is preaching There was no thoi^ht of conhscation, but rather a new Gospel I fear he has forgotten the oM of division. And the law went still farther than one. I would advise him to go back to his Bible this—farther than we go now ; for it provided that and read it very carefully before he undertakes to the land should not be alienated, and provided tell the Christian people of this land that he finds that upon every fiftieth year, when the Jubilee any justification for the confiscation of property came, if a man had "waxed poor" and mortgaged within the Hds of Holy Writ On, no! fellow his land or sold it for a season, it was to be re- citizens, this new-fangled doctrine is not so old as turned to him or his posterity upon this fiftieth that They find no warrant for it there. It had year—the great year of Jubilee. its birth among the philosophers who preceded the French Revolution. There is not an original idea The Sbunamite. in the whole thing, from beginning to end. It

Then some of you may remember the story of worked its proper and legitimate result in the the Shunamite woman, who took care of the pro- blood and fire of the French Revolution, and this phet Elisha. She had a farm as the head of a ought to be the answer, and the only answer, to all family. By the advice of the prophet she left the incendiary theories of the kind. country to escape a faimne, and when she came back the land had been taken possession of by The Best Land System in the World. someone else. The good woman went to the king The people of this country know that we have and laid her complaint before Mm, and said, developed the best land system and the best sys- " There is my land ; while I have been away it has tem for all our people that any government has been taken : restore it to me." And the king or- ever yet succeeded in establishing. We shall not dered the commissioner of the land office to go give it up. We will hold to the views of our 52 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER. fathers, and hold out to eveiy man the privilege of improving his condition, of adding to his little Speech of Hon. Warner Miller, gains, and of eventually making for himself a home and there living under his own vine and Delivered in Brooklyn, N.Y., fig-tree. Oct. 29, 1887.

Reasons for Restoring the Republican Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : » Party to Power. I think I understand the meaning of this great In short, fellow citizens, let me repeat, the Re- demonstration in Brooklyn. If I read it aright publican party claims that it should be restored to it expresses a determination that the Republican power because of the record it made during the party and the honest people of the City of Brooklyn time it was in occupancy of the government A propose taking their own City government into past is best for good record in the the guarantee their own hands. It means, I think, for the time should be the future. The Democratic party put being at least, the end of machine rule in munici- of its record of the past out of power, because bad pal politics here. And why not Has the Dem- —^a bad past is a future menace. On all the ques- ocratic party ever shown the ability, courage or tions which are now affecting the people, the Re- honesty to properly administer the affairs of a its record says to publican party appeals to —and great municipality ? I make the charge distinctly all the people that their interests, whether they be that the Democratic party, in the rule of the wi^e workers; whether they be the owners of great cities of this Republic, has utterly failed to little homes or owners of farms, or whether they give the people either economical or honest gov- be merchants, or manufacturers, or shippers—or — ernment whatever profession or caUing they be of ^that Examples. their interests, both material and moral, are safer its experience under Tweed, in the keeping of the RepubUcan than in the New York City had followed him. Cincinnati keeping of any other party. and under all who have 2 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, A T BROOKL YN, N. K, OCT. ag. t89j 3

here to-night, has had a trial. Chicago, within the last two years, and National affairs. And so I am matters, for I has had a trial of Democratic incompetency and not to speak to you of your local speak in behalf of corruption, until finally the people arose in their know but little of them, but to your attention to its might and set the Democratic party aside. And the Republican party—to call pledges, and to ask here in this city a few years ago, when you decided to record, to its princij^es and its candidates. I know have an honest city government that should ad- of you your support of its election but I know minister all your affairs for the interest of all the that this is only a State ; cannot separate people, you went to the Republican party to find also, as you all know, that we that on the result the man to be Mayor of your city. And so now State and National politics, and our State ticket and to-day, the people of Brooklyn, remembering how in this Sute this Fall, upon and State Senate, good a government tha Republican party gave in the election of our Assembly and many in- them, turn again to the Republican party and ask there are many questions at issue beyond this year it to name the officers of this great city. If I terests at stake which reach far and will have a may judge of the spirit of the city by the spirit and this State—they reach into, National election manifested here, it can but mean that the good controlling influence over the speak to-night people of Brooklyn are determined that Colonel of next year. And so I propose to Baird shall be Mayor of the city. In all these chiefly upon National questions. great efforts for elevation and for the purifi- Bad Fashion. cation of your city government, I bid you God- A has become fashionable speed. If we could -aid you from the country we I know that of late it there is little or no differ- would gladly do so. with some to say that of ence between the two great political parties National Affairs. has its be- our country. I know this doctrine Brooklyn and it is But while you are deeply interested iu your lievers here in the city of ; of the home affairs, I have no doubt that as American because many of your people, and many believed citizens you are also deeply interested in State people of your sister city of New York, AT BROOKLYN, N. V., OCT. sg, iSSj. 4 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, ^ of the thirteen original States. in this doctrine that there is little or no diHerence great nation out the Federal government between the great parties, that the democracy now He believed in giving protect all interests and controls the executive department of this State great powers to enable it in order that it might and of the Nation. When the Republican party all our people alike, and foreign and internal was defeated at the National election in 1S84, an be strong in both its attempt was made,which partially succeeded, to con- affairs. other hand, who is vince the American people that political principles Thomas Jefferson, on the of the Democratic party, had ceased to exist, and that the only questions claimed as the father of very limited before the people was the question of candidates sought to create a government powers. He wished to re- and of administration, and that there was no and closely restricted States what they call the question of principle involved. If this had been seiVe to the individual sovereignty, and to limit the powers true, or if it were true now, I would not be here right of State pos- the Federal government to the smallest to-night to speak to you ; there would be no of basis. need. But it is not true ; so I ask your attention sible to the question, Is there an3rthing at stake greater The Resolutions of '98. than personal questions ? What are the facts ? doctrine of the powers The principles governing the two great parties of He well defined his the State and Federal gov- this country are substantially to-day what they and rights of both resolutions passed by were when parties were brought into existence ernments in the famous and Kentucky in during the administration of George Washington. the legislatures of Virginia of the it was out of the docmne 1 798 ; and Hamilton and Jefferson. " Resolutions of '98 " that grew the notions of rebellion. These two Alexander Hamilton was the organizer of what nullification, of treason and contended for supremacy was known as the Federal party, and of which opposing principles the bloody battle-field in the Republican party of to-day is a lineal and until they met upon side contended for the direct descendant. Hamilton sought to create a the late war. One BROOKLYN, N. Y., OCT. ag, 1887. 7 6 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT

; claiming the right rights of the nation the other, The Same Spirit. of State sovereignty for each individual State, followed closely for the past ten contended for the right of States to nullify the If you have legislation of the Federal Congress, you laws of Congress when they did not approve of years the unportant have failed to notice that in all them, and in short, the right to secede from the cannot which have come before Congress, the Union. You all know the result, and which side measures has party, almost without exception, triumphed in that great contest. It was the side Democratic States. side of the reserved rights of the of the Union and of the Nation; the side of taken the strong words, it has been against the Hamilton and the Federalist; not of Jefferson In other the Federal government I mmediately and the Resolutions of '98." powere of during the yeare of after the close of the war. and this but you wiU State Rights. reconstruction, we heaiti little of ; got con- remember that when the Democratic party But if you assume or presume that the war has National House of Representatives—and forever taken out of our politics the question of trol of the of a single controlled it, with the exception State rights you make a great mistake. The war it has doctrine Congress, for the past twelve years—the did undoubtedly forever . destroy the claimed the front again, of State rights was brought to right to secede ; it did abolish slavery and make controlling the legis- from its position there, all our people free. But the little incident which and what the of the country, we are able to see occurred the other day in Macon, and to which lation of the Democracy is, and what the Dem- the distinguished gentleman has referred, shows true spirit into full possession ocratic party wiU do if it comes you full well that the early doctrines of Thomas Government, control of all departments of the Jefferson, which were amplified by Calhoun, have and Senate as well as the House of Repre- not been forgotten by the people of the South. holding the Department It sentatives, and the Executive They still cling to what they call the reserved the people of this country—and particu- rights of the States. toehooves commonwealth of larly the people of the great " ;

A T BROOKLYN, N. Y., OCT. ag, 9 8 SPEECM OP HON. WARNER MILLER,

I count and beyond out to the Territories, can 153 New York I say it behooves the intelligent — the Democratic electoral votes for any candidate people of New York and of this great city, to any regard to quali- party may nominate, without pause and consider what damage may come to the ad- principles or platform, and that m country, what injury may come to them as mem- fications, only necessary to dition to these 153 votes it is bers of this business community, if the Demo- York, Connecticut add to them the votes of New cratic party should, at the end of the next election, duty as Republi- and New Jersey, certainly your be found in possession of all the branches and de- If there had been an cans is quite apparent partments of the Federal Government, and ready honest return honest vote, a fair election, and an again to bow down to the doctrine of the reserved Republican party would the South in 1884, the as defined in the resolutions in rights of the States States. carried at least half the Southern of '98. have Responsibility. What We are Going to do About It ? If this subject had been well considered by the do about it, Do you ask what are we going to people of this city and New York in 1884, surely are going to do aU we Democrats ? I answer, we the Presidency of the United States wcmld not and the Laws. about it under the Constitution have gone from the RepubUcan party by the can party will never lay I answer, that the Republican votes of these two cities : for it so happens, fellow the political field untU it down its arms and leave citizens, that Grover Cleveland is President by work. When it freed has accomplished its great failure of the Republicans of this city and the just begun its four millions of slaves it had but York to do their full duty in that contest New end until, in addi- mission. Its mission will not and I have no doubt that in the coming contest shall be made cer- tion to that glorious work, it the final settlement will be made by the votes cast citizen everywhere in tain that every American in this corner of the State. When you consider Stars and Stripes this country—wherever the the real condition of affairs, when you see that the privilege of float—shall have the right and one portion of our country, beginning at the Po- molestation, and his vote without fear or tomac River and running west to the Mississippi, casiing A T BROOKL YN, N. Y., OCT. 29, 1887 II lO SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, Not party would not permit it to exist And why? know that when it is so cast it shall be counted were opposed to banks, but, on the dnd returned without fraud. When that happy that they under the Constitution there was no condition shall be brought about, then perhaps theory that power granted to Congress to charter a National we may be willing to disband our forces. We the that they could only be chartered by will answer that question when that time, shall Bank, of the " Reserved Rights come. States. This was one the present Nati(Mi- The Proof. of the States." And so when the Demo- al Banking system was established I said a moment ago that the Democratic party and when cratic party opposed its esUblishment ; now in power has by no means abandoned its old to expire a few years ago bank charters began doctrines of State rights : on the contrary, it holds Republican under the twenty year limitation, the firmly to them, as may be seen in its attitude on banks party tried to pass a law permitting these many questions of vital importance. Need I re- Re- continue their existence. It passed the fer you, in proof of.this, to the attempted legisla- to Senate, and coming to the Democratic tion of the present Democratic House of Repre- pubUcan persistently for weeks House it was fought there sentatives or of its failure to legislate in certain months. The Democratic party, particularly directions? The Republican party established and that portion of it, took the ground the National Banking system. The Democratic the Southern should National Banks were unconstitutional and party from its very beginning has been opposed to continued. After a long fight of several National Banks. When Alexander Hamilton not be months, when a great panic seemed staring us in proposed the establishment of National Banks the by a very the face, the bill was finally passed then followers of Thomas Jefferson opposed it from small majority, and we were thus saved unanimously. Have you forgotten how, after the United States Bank Charter had expired, the Dem- disaster. Good Results. ocratic party under Andrew Jackson refused to Under our present law, with a reduced rate of renew the charter, and the Bank of the United there is interest upon bonds, it is simply a fact that States ceased to exist because the Democratic F., OCT. t8»r 13 12 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, A T BROOKL YN, N. gg, no longer anything to prevent any bank buying Business Needs Neglected. bonds and putting out currency, and as a result able to do nothing for the bua- of this condition the circulation of the National We have been country as it ought to be Banks gradually increased some thirty-six millions ness interests of this to be done. During the of dollars. The National Bank system is grow- donfe, and when it ought been standing still, because, ing in favor with the people of this country. I past ten years we have Democratic, needed legislation need not say to the intelligent people of Brooklyn the House being obtained. If our business affairs that the National banking system is the one could not be great disaster during the great institution that makes all our commerce, and have not met with a is no credit to the Demo- ail our manufacturing, and all our trade move past few years, it That party has failed to do anything gently and safely—it is the great balance-wheel cratic party. situation, and whatever of of our commercial affairs. But we are confronted for the relief of any with must be credited by the Democratic party of the South which does prosperity we are blessed of the measures of finance not beheve in the National Banks, and so they solely to the v/isdom passed by the Republican stand, holding out and refusing to give any relief, and banking and tariff years when it held the entire and now the currency of the country is being party during the and which the Demo- contracted. I might refer you to a score of im- control of the government, to repeal or destroy. portant measures which have failed in the last ten crats have been unable opposes is it that the Democratic party years in Congress ; measures of vast concern to Why you thought of it? our people, such as have been spoken of here a protective tariff? Have interested in free trade, as to-night, such as the failure to take care of our Democrats are no more themselves individually, than you or 1. merchant marine and build it up—and you will a profit to slavery which they thought find that the failure of all these great measures The old system of profitable to the South has passed lies at the door of the Democratic party in every made free trade are opening up mines in case. away, and to-day they built up the South and great industries are being 5

BROOKLYN, N. Y., OCT. 2g, 1887. 1 14 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT

discussion of the tariff here to-night, and there. Why do their great statesmen and leaders lengthy great manufacturing city— oppose a protective tariff? Simply upon the I assume that in this so many thousands of skilled ground of which I have already spoken. Theo- a city containing of that there is laborers— it is not necessary; the great mass retical entirely : they take the ground protectionists. I have no power under the Constitution to levy a tariff for the people of this city are rights of the States been told that a few of our good people in protection ; that the reserved has given power Brooklyn are a little tender-footed upon the pro- prevents it ; that the Constitution but I have only one doctrine to the Federal Government to levy taxes for rev- tective tariff system, this theoretical doctrine, to preach on that question, either in New York enue only ; and it is upon in the country. The position of and this only, that their leaders in the Senate and the or Brooklyn, or question has always House have been aiding against our protective the Republican party on that for the and above board. The Republican tariff system and against their own interest been open has never resorted to any subterfuge, and last twelve years. party I trust never will And if all the people of this A Logical Conclusion. great city and this great State who believe in a the tariff system would only vote with the We are met, then, with this condition : protective consistently for that prin- Constitution of the United States forbids the party which has stood have a majority for protection in levying of duties by any of the individual ciple, we would this ques- intersUte and foreign com- this State of more than 200,000. And States : it puts both — important one ^a vital merce under the control of the Congress of the tion of the tariff is an all of the American people to-day. United States. If the American people have no one to the interests fully weighing my words. power to levy a protective tariff, then the power I say this advisedly, not exist among our people at all So the does The Present Condition. Democratic party in denying it to Congress, and moment at the present con- upon what they claim to be constitutional grounds, Let us look for a any dition of affairs. We have a protective i:ariff denies it to us entirely. I cannot go into 7

WARNER MILLER, AT BROOKLYN, N. Y., OCT. 29, 1887. 1 1 6 SPEECH OF HON. half Repub- has been in power ? For two and a system put in force and adopted by the since it Executive Internal Revenue years that party has had control of tiie lican party, and along with it an of taxation of the government, and of the House system, and between these two systems of branch where all bills relating to the bringing into the Federal treasury about Representatives, we are have and tariff must originate. What one hundred miUion dollars per annum more than revenue nothing, and includ- attempted ?. They have done the ordinary expenses of our government, they see the pensions attempted to do nothing, though they ing the interest upon the public debt and have known reason that situation cleariy before them. They to our soldiers. Now, it stands to year that all long go on with- that upon the first day of July of this this condition of things cannot be paid and in- and per cent, bonds would out bringing serious trouble to all the business the 3 3>i 1889. of cur- that no other bonds were due until July, terests of this country. If this amount of busi- rency shall be taken out of the channels Part of Wisdom is the Real Plan. tell, who can The ness for only one year, who shall to not had been wise and had known how prophecy, what terrible financial disaster may If they and had During the government and the country, come to the interests of the country ? treat the interests of the people, they would three months there was a threatened sur- cared for the last But remind you brought in some measure of relief. plus of twenty millions. Need I have no agree- York was nothing of the kind. There has been that this great business centre of New the Democrats in the House of kept constantly on the anxious seat fearing some ment among withdrawal Representatives as to what the relief should be. trouble to her business because of this can be the the Govern- And so they have gone on. What of currency? And it was only by yourselves that ques- ? Have you asked ment's going into the markets and buying bonds reason ? Certainly they are from a ? Is it incompetency for the sinking fund that we were saved tion of affairs. in this way without experience and knowledge ereat disaster. But we cannot go on not do anything or to has it have they declined to —the issue must sometime be met. Why Why failed attempt ? I charge that they have not been met ahready by the Democratic party make any iSi? 19 AT BROOKLYN, N. Y.. OCT. 39, 1 8 SPEECH OF HON, WARNER MILLER,

it was known followers, were determined, and to do anything to reduce the revenues of this his internal tax- Washington that no reduction of country and to prevent this surplus into in coming tanfl men be consented to, until the the Treasury with the deliberate intention of ation would agree with them to a reduc- this country would allowing it to accumulate and of bringing a strin- of is the posi- our import duties. And this gency upon the money market, and upon the tion of party—the position that tion of the Democratic great North, and bringing upon us such a pressure, December. met when Congress meets in that the North, in order to reduce the surplus, has to be would consent to a reduction practically to the Must be Met. destruction of the protective tariff system. That North are demand- The business interests of the is what they are attempting to force upon the whUe they of relief in these matters, American people. ing measures protective tariff sys- do not want to break down the ground Mr. Carlisle and Trying to Force Tariff Reduction. tem. And it is on this this measure. followers propose to compromise During the last few weeks of the last session his serious question- we meet it ? It is a Congress the party could have How shall of Democratic can be met must be met by statesmanship. It brought into the House, at any time, a bill tak- it believe that the inteUigence in no other way. I ing off the tariff on tobacco, which amounts to Republican North, the intelligence of the thirty millions a year, which could have passed of the the great majonty of the party, the intelligence of the House in a day and the Senate in less time. warrant the Democratic party of the North, wiU But the Speaker of the House of Representatives our Congress in refusing to cut down absolutely refused to recognize any man to take incoming your representatives protective tariff duties-that a bill of that kind. and his party knew up He interests of all represent your interests and the perfectly well that by taking off that tax alone will of the revenue people by forcing a reduction be reduced for the following our the surplus would propose to take your another basis. 1 do not year thirty millions of dollars. The Democratic on discussion of how the to-night in going into a leaders in the House, including Mr. Carlisle and time 21 20 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, A T BROOKL YN, N. F.. OCT. aQ* time to at the time, and from that revenue shall be reduced. I have no doubt, how- ficient reduction on applyii^ surplus to the ever, that if it were left to the Republican party this we have gone three per cent bonds until they the whole question would be met and settled with- payment of the Such, in short, is the way out difificulty—^met as other questions have been have all disappeared. the party has met the question of repeatedly met since the war, for this is not the the Republican exi- practically, according to the first time there has been a threatened surplus. The surplus—met it Democratic party has done Repuiican party has never failed to make a proper gency of the time. The the surplus question, the tax reduction of taxation when it apjjeared from the nothing either on question, and it stancte financial statements that there would be a surplus question, or the tariff hand, threatenmg all the ensuing year. holding the country in its with disaster by business and commercial intwests propose to release its Republicaa Work. this surplus, and it does not compelled the men of this coun- To-day the only internal tax levied is upon grasp until it has demands and break down the tobacco and malt and spirituous liquora In 1^80, try to yield to its altt^ether. when we elected President Garfield, we also elect- protective system ed, for the first time in four or six years, a Repub- A Fatal Plan. lican House of Representatives, and then we were into any extensive argument to in power and we were enabled to enact legislation I need not go be this plan if they persist in and were proceeding in that Congress to make a show how fatal would You well understand that if the revision of the Internal Revenue laws. We re- carrying it out to any considerable extent on duced the tax on tobacco one-half, and made other duties were reduced re- products, it would not bring a reductions of the tariff without affecting its pro- manufactured knows revenue. The Democratic party tection principle at all. We made a reduction in duction of cannot be reduced in that the spring of 1883, which, estimated upon the then very weU the surplus holds out that plan to the country. imports of the country, amounted to about thirty- way, although it redui^ion in the duties received five million dollars per annum, and that was a suf- Any considerable ;

Y., OCT. 2g, 23 22 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER. AT BROOKLYN, N. 1887.

believe that from imported goods can only be made by putting the purification of our civil service. I your good people voted with the Demo- a larger percentage of goods on the free list. The many of they thought it would make Republican party has already put on the free list cratic party because thorough and complete than the nearly all raw materials not produced in this the reform more What has-been the re- country, and you can go no farther in this reduc- Repulican party would. the reform most thorough tion of the revenue without increasing the free list. sult ? They have made great leader of civil service re- But I know that in these busy times, in these great in one sense. The President in this country has stated that the cities, when all the people are employed . in their form expectations of his friends. industries and conmiercial pursuits, they are apt has disappointed the by these men,, what thoughtlessly to satisfy their political consciences If so much can be admitted the entire Democratic party ? It that there is no difference between the parties, shall we say of the expectation of its friends most and to realize no danger till it is upon them. I has met demanding the removal of have shown you something of the fundamentai thoroughly, too, by what his position might differences between the two great parties as they every official, no matter every case succeeded in have existed in the past and as they exist now be, and it has in almost about. The Democratic party has and I might call your attention to the record of bringing it to carry out its pledges as to civil each, to show you the inevitable fruit of its princi- utterly failed in judgment, nothing far- ples. But the record of the Democratic party service reform, and my heard in that direction until the party during the two and a half years last past I think is ther will be originated the law shall be returned to power sufficient to condemn it before all intelligent people, which operation. and ought to be sufficient to drive it out of power and put it into hon^ at the next election. Republican Honesty. V The Civil Service. The Republican party does not abate one jot or to an honest administration of The people of Brooklyn will particularly remem- tittie in its devotion service reform. It stands ber the pledges of the administration in regard to public affairs and civil AT BROOKLYN, N. F., OCT. 29, 1S87. 2 5 24 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, honestly advocating both to-day, and it will so con- Look at it All. « tinue to stand until it shall be restored to power standpoint Look at all these questions from any smd have the opportunity to perfect their reforms. Re- you will—go back and take the record of the The Democratic party has been very successful in to the publican party from its organization down making a change in the offices particularly so far nothing like — 4th of March, 1885, and you can find concerned. as the veterans of the late war are or of the human it in the history of any country veterans of the Union army Notwithstanding the build up the waste places race. It has done more to the United States were protected by a statute of the Republican party than all. I do not claim that the Democratic party has hunted them out and mistakes, but I is perfect, or that it never made any ob- has removed them from office. We have not twenty-five years that do claim for it that during the of Confederate soldiers jected to the appointment to meet any emergency it held sway it never failed at all, for there seemed a sort of justice in the ad- point me with wisdom and courage. If you can States with ministration appointing men from the attention to a case to a failure, if you can call my 153 solid electoral votes—at least it was to be ex- refused to where the Republican party failed, or pected. But what we do object to is Union soldiers emer- meet an emergency like the present surplus being turned out to put Confederates in. And we wait for an gency, I will be glad to pause and do also object to the unjust and unnecessary veto can be cited answer. But I know no such case messages of the President in regard to a large against it number of private pension bills. They were Conclusion. both Houses of Congress after the passed by men. I Now, in conclusion, I submit to business the most careful examination, and I r^et that question submit to labwing men of Brooklyn, the President should have brought so much sorrow out of whether or not a party after having been defenders of the and suffering to poor and worthy restored by power for twenty-five years and then country for sake of the petty economy advocated and a the votes of a free people, which for two in these vetoes. pledge made half years has failed to keep a single OCT. 29, 1887- 27 26 SPEECH OF HON. WARNER MILLER, AT BROOKLYN, N. Y., com- do your duty here fully and to the people, is a proper party to retain in power ber ; and if you cities-if you shall con- — party which has failed to make any serious pletely in these two great questions, presented to you attempt to keep any pledge made to the people, sider well these great the public press, and failed to do anything promotive of anything in the on this platform and through can as American citizens, I interests of the people—is it a fit party to be do your full duties good people of the ruml dis- trusted and continued in power ? assure you that the share in bringing about a The Republican party asks return to power tricts will do their full of the victory and a return upon its record—^its achievements, and also upon dorious Republican State in November of this the failure and manifest incompetency of its oppo- Lrty to power in the National Government m Novem- nent, which has proved its inability to accomplish year, and in the anything for the good of the people. This question ber of next yean is to be submitted to you for your votes on the 8th of November next ; and while it is only a State election no man can say what effect that election may have on the coming election next year, and no one here will doubt that if the Republican party shall carry this State this year by a fair majority there is not a reasonable doubt it will

carry it next year by a vastly increased majority.

It is for you people of Brooklyn, then, not only to care for your city government, which I know is

dear to you all, but to look also to the interests of country the State and the Nation ; and we of the to their appeal to the Republicans of Brooklyn do \ honest vote full duty to the last man ; to poll every which belongs to the party on the 8th of Novem- The President's Message—A Criticism.

By WARNER MILLER.

Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, Jan. 25,- 1S88. Thomas M. Nichol,

334 Fifth Avenue :

My Dear Sir,—Since the preceding addresses were deliv- ered, and since you infcNrmed me of your intention to or- ganize the Republican Publishing Company, and of its plan, and your purpose to publish these speeches as one of the documents of the Company, Congress has convened and the President's message has been delivered. As that re- markable document confirms and emphasizes the charges made in these speeches, that the intention of the Democ-

racy, and pu^icularly of the present administration, led by President Cleveland and Speaker Carlisle, is to break down

our protective tariff system, a brief criticism of the mes-

sage will not be out of place or taste, as an appendix to

. this publication.

A Remarkable Message. As has been pointed out by Senator Sherman in his

conclusive answer to it, this message is a most rcmarka- PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. 3 2 A CRITICISM ON THE tendencies the Treasury is even bolder in its free-trade ble one, ignoring all precedents of all presidents of all design in the than the message itself, showing concert of parties, as well as the constitutional requirement that the same direction by President and Secretary. President lay before Congress each year, at its convening, of the Ways and Means Com- Again : the organization a message of full information on the general sUte of the majority since its mittee, and the action of its Democratic country. It is the first time a President has confined him- intentions organization, doubly emphasizes the free-trade self to one subject, and delivered what is, and was intended has been re- of the administration. The way the message to be, a bold political campaign document, for the purpose country and ceived and lauded by free-traders aU over the of defining a campaign issue and forcing his party to accept a free-trade docu- in Europe shows either that it must be the hazard of division and his position as its position, at document ment, or that free-traders don't know a free-trade defeat. It is a bold move and shows President Cleveland when they see it. to be a man of nerve. It is one of those audacious dashes

which if made in the heat of conflict inspires followers England's Delight. toward the has ever been with enthusiasm and courage and does much No official document issued in this country as achievement of victory—but Mr. Cleveland must have for- received with such manifestations of delight in England

is purely manu- gotten for the time that the Presidential office has marked the reception of this message. The however than executive. Coming so long before the conflict, facturers of England look forward more hopefully now will have a large brilliant, it will be worn out and its last echo ever before, to the enjoyment of our markets for of next November. the protection of ceased to resound long before the election class of goods, now made at home under excluded by the tariff. the tariff, and from which they are now A Free-Trade Message. This brings us to a very plain and practical phase of the patriotic subject—one so plain that it amazes me why any It cannot be ignored that this message is a decided free- American citizen who desires the prosperity of his own trade document. The President's most intimate advisers country can be a free-trader. If English manufacturers are the prominent free-traders of his party—Carlisle, Mor- our own factories, now producing the while get these markets, rison, Mills, Scott and others of the same sentiments, and perhaps become worthless prop- both goods, must close up, Randall is relegated to a back seat in the councils of over the erty, while their operatives will be scattered President and party. Then the Report of the Secretary of 4 A CRITICISM ON THE PRESIDENT*S MESSAGE 5

country, seeking employment in other fields already over- and per cent, of the many industries it is equal to 50 75

crowded. This, or cut down wages to the starvation standard, it more to produce iron entire cost of production. If costs the only alternative. I need not stop to argue it is because we pay would be and steel in this country than abroad ~ of manufacturing here is coal in the mines the point that the reason the cost higher wages. The value of iron-ore and so much more than in Europe is the higher rate of wages abroad. But the cost of mining is no greater here than indeed, the President admits this. wages paid. to paid here— and transporting is much greater. The Another suggestion of the President's message is, that the cost of making iron operatives are greater. In short : raw material should be admitted free of duty to enable of wages and capital, which iron is almost entirely the cost our own manufacturers to produce goods here as cheaply of the cost of the finished pro- make 75 to 90 per cent, in Europe. says that they could then enter manufacturing or com- as they do He duct. Any one at all familiar with markets of the world instead of being confined to home cannot hope to the mercial operations will see at once that we This is the stock argument of all free-traders. manufacturers in the markets. enter into competition with foreign

in it. reduced to the There is absolutely nothing markets of the world, unless our wages are abroad. ssune standard as the wages paid The Factors of Manufactures.

The three principal factors in the problem of manufac- The Key to the Tariff Question.

turing are, first : raw material ; second : labor or wages tariff question,' and' ; Wages, then, is the key to the

: cost of capital. if had free raw maiterial, men that he third Now, we although the President assures the laboring that is, if our manufacturers secured their raw material at standard paid abroad, doesn't want wages reduced to the

same price as the manufacturers of England or any if their wages are the he proceeds to argue with them that country of Europe, we would not be able to enter into less price under the other reduced they will be able to buy at a with them in the markets of the world so long proposition is thftt competition new order of things. The answer to that as we continued to pay the present rate of wages and ;so these low wages do not the laborers of Europe who receive long as the cost of capital is higher here than it is in workingmen. The con- live nearly so well as American Europe. products by sumption of farm products and manufactured is the principal factor in. manufacturing. In consumption of double W^es 60,000,000 Americans is equal to the ;

MESSAGE. 6 A CRITlaSM ON THE PRESIDENTS _7 prohibition. Mr. to the amount of the number of persons in Europe. This is due to the higher They have7ro»«tion more of workers that out of 17,000,000 or rate of wages that we pay. Our people wear more clothing, Cleveland argues are engaged in mining or manufacturmg and better clothing and consume more food—and better only those who are only amount to protective tariff, and these food than any other people in the world. If we break down benefited by a 172,000 black- There are 375,000 carpenters, the tariff and reduce wages we shall break down our own J 600 000. others masons and plasterers, and many markets by curtailing the capacity and ability of the people sinitte, .25,000 protective system are not benefited by the to consume the products of the farm and factory. who he argues, products. They are never- is no duty on their Investigations made by scientific men show that our beciluse there than those engaged m protected more absolutely laboring people consume at least 25 per cent, more of nour- theless in woolen establishments. The workers ishing food than do the same classes in Europe. This is manufacturing present duties establishments affected by the undoubtedly the chief reason why our laboring people are manufacturing workers in the woolen into competition with able to do more work in a given period than European are brought |40,ooo,ooo of foreign woolen Europe, for more than laborers. Break down the tariff system, reduce wages milk of sold in compet.- brought in here last year and thereby, and you not only break down the home market, goods were same principle holds our native product. The but you break down the labor of the country itself by tion with and, in fact, all regard to iron, steel, silk, cotton, reducing its capacity for production. The question of good with no direct fore.gn manufactured products. But there is wages- and consumption is the most vital one with which an and blacksmiths. with our carpenters, masons executive or a government has to deal. competition made. You cannot import houses ready

All Laborers Protected by the Tariff. Highest Wages Paut Under protection the non-protected industries suffer, he the President chums have no All these laborers who claims : and This is a question that enables me to ^ak of really a protection that in a protective tariff have another of the President's mistakes. He says carpenters, interest competition with their product to prohibition of blacksmiths, masons, and so on, are not protected. He calls amounts of wages it appears reference to the official tables them the " non-protected industries." As a fact, these are the and by wages, in this country, of they are paid, too, the highest only people who are absolutely protected in this country. that 8 A CRITICISM ON THE PMESIDENT'S MESSAGE 9

all present system of customs the trades—much higher wages than are paid the opera- try is more prosperous under the were abolished. tives in the mills who meet foreign competition in spite of a taxation than it would be if that system protective in a nutshell, and it prac- tariff ; and two to four times higher than the That is the whole tariff question is no man in the wages paid for similar work in Europe. It is the building tically answers -itself, because there the con- up of towns and cities around manufacturing establishments country so ignorant that he doesn't know that superior that is encouraged by protection that enables carpenters dition of the people of this country is immeasurably other country. and masons to receive this high rate of wages. Why, under to the condition of the people in any .

the tariff of 1857, down to i860, carpenters who now receive

to a day were glad to get a ail $3 $4 $1 day ; and other The. War Tariff. artisans received wages in the same proportion. All the the present It is charged by the free-traders that people in this country who labor at all are benefited twenty-five system of taxation is a war tariff, and that as directly in their increased rate of wages by protection. The years have passed away since the war, it should be abol- only class of people who would be benefited by the over- reasoning, ished as no longer necessary. This is fallacious throw of protection are those who do not work, but live on because of the fact that taxation that was made necessary fixed incomes derived from the investment of fortunes by the war has not yet ceased to be necessary. We accumulated by the labors of their ancestors. debt to pay, the still have about $1,200,000,000 of war a interest on which alone amounts to about $50,000,000 to The Surplus. year. The annual payments for pensions amount contributions to the sinking The principal reason given by free-traders for remov- $75,000,000 per annum. The or $40,000,000 more. ing the present tariff is that we have a surplus in the fund amount to some $30,000,000 present time Treasury, and are collecting more money than we need Thus there are expenses of government at the amounting to over $150,- for the expenses of the government. It by no means directly attributable to the war that, the cry that the tariff should follows that because we have a surplus we. should abolish 000,000 per annum. So ground. the means by which that abolished because the war is over falls to the surplus was created : but, as a be a war tax it is the fact, we have no surplus so long as we have a debt to pay. If any system of taxation may be called history has only been The direct and vital question involved is.whether the coun- Internal Revenue system, which in all PRESIDENTS MESSAGE, II 10 A CRITICISM ON THE as regards the vast goods and some woolen goods, but levied in times of war, or until the indebtedness incurred of the world we arc the majority of the industrial products for war has been paid off. equal of any other country.

The End of War Taxes. Much to Reduce Taxation. " How and How Garfield,- in one of his memorable speeches, said : The hands that we are collecting more It is admitted on all end of battles and peace is not the end of war ; for the dead government, includ- than we need for the expenses of must be buried, and the cost of the conflict must be paid." money named for the interest on ing the expenses I have already It is pure demagogy to howl about war taxes. We have for contributions to the war debt, for pensions, and war taxes, and we Will a)ntinue to have them till every the dispute is how to reduce fund. The only point of dollar of the war debt is paid, and the last pensioner of the sinking shall reduce it. the tariff and how much we war is buried. according to President During the last fiscal year, lofaat Industries. surplus revenue amounted to a Cleveland's message, the Infant Industries is another fallacious sneer used by According to the estimates of his little over $55,ooo,ooo. a free-traders. the present fiscal year will show officers, it is stated that The industries of this country are not infant indus- $100,000,000. It would surplus equal to or exceeding of tries. The President in his message intimated that the UrifE to the entire amount hardly be wise to r«iduce the of the manufacturers are still claiming that their industries are that if the business the surplus, for the reason in an infantile condition and must have the aid of govern- any other reason we should country should fall off, or if for ment protection. This is not the case at all. Only free- no loager be a surplus, but have hard times, there wottW not traders who desire to ridicule and break down our tariff deficit The revenue should instead there would be a system talk about our infant industries. The fact is that $85,000,000 at the be reduced more than $75,0°°.°°° ^ the value of our manufactures is greater than that of- utmost. England or any other country. Our manufacturers are not Internal Revenue RcviMoa. now asking protection on the ground that their industries that because there is no President Cleveland suggests are undeveloped. Some few products are not yet fully revenue system of taxation it complaint as to the internal developed, as for instance, some high grades of cotton PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 13 12 A CRITICISM ON THE produc- by encouragmg home producers was not a success should left it is. be as I do not agree with him. If his out of the Tre««.iy and we should be paymg nothing plan L were adopted the revenue reduction would be made of hfe at a secure one of the necessities the people would only on the customs duty. The revenue received from the now paying. much lower rate than they are customs duties last year amounted to $204,000,000. If a the free^ist revised by putting on The tariff should be reduction of $75,000,000 or $100,000,000 be made from that own country. not a product of our all raw materials s(nirce it will be seen that the whole protective tarilf necess,ta^ system made that would not Other changes might be would be broken down. Wisdom would seem to dictate people whi^ of any of our working a rednction of wages that the decrease in the revenue, should be made both in .The the must and should be avoided. the one thing that customs and in the internal revenue system. is before ^« hand anaand wm*^which wUl accumulate surplus now on hana If the internal revenue tax on leaf tobacco , 1^ not beh*» and spirits go into effect, should change in the laws can for mechanical arts any to and medicinal purposes should be public inip«>venient, but usL any extravagance of abolished at least one-half of the surplus would be cannot, m disposed national debt. We plfo? a portion of the of. If the consumers of leaf tobacco are not complaining have any surplus as long as we Tuth, be said to have any about the tax on it, the farmers who grow tobacco are com- portion of debt unpaid. plaining, and very bitterly at a tax that is levied on their product when there is no need of it. Many of our manu- a Surplus. Pov^rer to Keep D®wb facturers would be aided and benefited if the tax on alcohol now of the Treasury power which they use in their various process.es were removed. The law gives the Secretary hoarding it his duty bonds. Instead of to buy and cancel to the channels of com- this money is returned Tariff Revision. is to L that pr^nt done by buying bonds. The merce, which can be The tariff should be carefully revised by the passed people in authority, because it was secretary objects to the sympathy with it and brought into harmony with the present of the most^ bill. But some rider on an appropriation a were condition of the country. If the tariff on sugar were on the statute-books important la^s ever placed such^ entirely removed or reduced .on the bounty plan our people held that a law givmg It has always been p^d. the would get cheaper sugar and the producer would not be be put in force when Verity or disoetion ^ould injured, and if it should be found that a bounty given to .

PRESIDENT S MESSAGE^^______14 A CRITICISM ON THE ' ^ they J ? K*»- without work eUheO (or ioo. ™ in the public ezigeacies demand it. There is such an exigency a«o«i have no money t» now. .omd «bete of "cheap price. The present administration came into power denounc- interest ^ any ing, the Republican party for holding a surplus in the exactly -"at f^j«^ Treasury, which then amounted only to $20,000,000. Bot Tto is ^ ^ ^ having he did Mr. Cleveland's Secretary did not issue a call for bonds for wL asted why for"^^^e in IreUnd cooldn't over six months after he came into office and until the buy ..g^eause I then, he repUed in Ireland surplus had increased to $80,000,000. The present surplus ^ " get the si"!*'"* cheap, accumulation is being held in the Treasury as % wm»ot some things a time m g So free trade for ^„ki„g and threat against the business of the entire country and in thous»^ put thousands upon but it would order to force Congress to break down our tariff system. If get the sixpence. ^„ple «here they couldn't the menace fails, as fait it will, and if Congress fails to pass any law, the Treasury will pay out the accumulation for Coaclusion. bonds in order to make money plenty on the eve of a Presi- dential election. one posiUon - ^ere is hut ^^^^^ZX^ revenue for it tn ISloughb producedr:at himhome, But Qm Point be ^ expenses of the ^o^^^:;:^^^ the The President's whole argument makes but one weak ,be :^^^..^ of expend the s.^^« than enough, . point—that our people could get their clothing cheaper -re people. Buy lx,n^ government and . under free trade, or some intermediate jugglery of the o needed ,n,provements 1^^ tariff. As I have said before; if they could they would either ^^^^ navy and build a decent interest have to buy them abroad or have them made cheaper at ^rine; erect government home by lowering wages. Wages cannot be lowered and may he in adjusted to the standard of European competition. The - -rirTor Who a loyal son. result would be our factories would close—our people would -er would for ^S.' r~a^<^Tl- be out of work and it would make no difference how cheap 1 6 CRITICISM ON THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.

All these avenues are open for the honest and honorable * expenditure of money, by means of which all the surplus resulting from perfect protection can be immediately re- turned to the channels of business in a way to do good to all classes. But at all hazards let the policy of protection SPECIAL NOTICE. be maintained until it is fully realized as the policy oif the American RepubUc and the American people—as fully THE next document issued by The Republi- as specie payment is recognized their as financial policy^—as can Publishing Company will probably be fully as liberty and union are recognized, and till free trade composed of the speeches of Senators Sherman, Frye becomes as much the groan of a reminiscence as fiat money, and Piatt, on the President's Message, and Senator slavery and secession. This square-toed position, in my Edmund's article from Harpers Magazine—il leave can judgment, is the only one for Republicans to take—it is latter. These combined will both safe and right. be obtained to use the

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