Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1888 — INGERSOLL ON FREE TRADE. [ARTICLE]

INGERSOLL ON FREE TRADE.

gpaMh at Now York’* Great KntiflcaUop Mooting—A DUtmrlicr Silenced. Tho greatest and t xrandcst ratification meeting hi tho history *jf tho Republican party in New York was held in tho Metropolitan Opera house. Ten Thousand voters were inside and several thousand more were unablo to get in. Tho enthusiasm was unprecedented. Col. Robert Ingersoll was the principjQ orator, and here ore some ol the incidents of his speech: “And now,” said Mr. Ingersoll, “we reach another principle enunciated in this wonderful! j jlatfoim. for it is full of good things—protection for American labor. ” When Mr. Ingersoll uttered, this sentence the audience roso in its places and cheered agajn and again. “I want this republic," he continued, ‘‘separate and widespread of the rest of the world, so that if every port were blockaded wo would be covered with prosperity as a mantel. Ido not want to soe us a country producing, merely raw materials. The mere producer of raw materials is always a pauper; “A country that saya you shall manufacture and sell your products will grow intelligent and rich. Haw materials are nothing, labor is everything. Take a locomotive and cxnniiao it, What are the raw materials in it worth smoldering in tho ground where tlvey-kavOr-lakLfor centuries? What are they worth?” A Voice—Not a dollar.

“Well, we will say $5. Tho locomotive completed, made a living thing with ribs of iron and steel and breath of fire, is worth $12,000. Eleven thousand nine hundred and ninety-live dollars represents the labor of man in its production. This is what Americans want protected. This is what the Republican party declares it will protect. [Great cheers.] “The south sells its raw cotton. The Republican party wants to see tho south covered wifli mills with their shuttles busy manufacturing their cotton into goods for sale and consumption. As long as they remain mero producers of raw material they will remain poor, ignorant and Democratic.” [Laughter and applause.] “We are fighting a manly,- open battle in this subject. Our adversaries are in the rifle pits of office, we in the open field. But with solid breastworks wo plant onr flag, and that flag will sweep away the batteries of the Democratic

party. ‘•‘l do not believe in protecting any individual, but in the protecting diversified labor. I believe in protection that will prevent another nation from malting us merely customers of their own. They cry trusts, and say wo will build up enormous monopolies” An occupant of a box shouted: “Protection and trusts.” Col. Ingersoll proceeded to say that when tho trusts became dangerous they would take the tariff off. “That’s what the Democratic party wants," shouted tho man in the box, “Put him out! He.is an Englishman!” aame from all parts of the house. When quiet was restored, Col. Ingersoll said: “No, gentlemen, I believe my friend honestly differs with me. Let’s have honest discussion.” Then, turning to the box, ho said, “I know the Democratic party wants freo trade. “That is what I am talking about. We want to protect our laboring men and make them happy, intelligent and prosperous. " “They will be better off under, free tf&flb,** Bald’ho In the box. ————- Again tho audience cried,: "Put him outr’ and again Col. Ingersoll rebuked them. . :. n “Let me ask the honorable gentleman One question,” he said. Then, again addressing the box, ho askod: “If the laborer is better off in freo trade countries, why doesn’t he emigrate to Europe?” The sally brought the house to its feet. It went wild with the loud cheers. Again and again they cheered him, and try as hard as ho could, they would not let him speak. For fully ten minutes the cheering lasted. When order was again restored Col. IngersoH proceedeA-to a further elaboration of the platform, and concluded by saying it was the best one the Repub, lican party had ever adopted. WARNES 4111,1 .Eli' SPEAKS. President Bartlett then introduced exSenator Warner Miller. ■' ThdTssue'TjoT6i'Crthß'”peoplo ) ” her said, “ ■ “is the industrial issuo. That is the issue tho nations of tho world are battling with, in the fight. Great Britain has given up fighting for honor and glory, and now aims to retain her hold on oriental lands where her wealth and power are. being built up. There is no reason,” he said, “why we should, to please British capitalists, depart from the system which has > been handed down to us and under’which no nation ever made such rapid progress. “The Americans of today are better clothed, better fed, better housed and better educated than those of any other nation in the world. The Democrats would have all this changed, but before we consent to tho change we must have reasons that have not yet been given us.” - » — i — ; Mr. Kobert T. Lincoln, who has been spending his vacation in England, says of the English that "they are nearly all free traders, and they would like to see the Democrats win; the English are nearly all Democrats. It is to their interest to be so. They will be more benefited than anybody else if the Democratic theory of free trade is adopted here”