Speech #590008301

Now. we are here dealing with a great many interesting things. The other Massachusetts man -and I am so much of a "kid" here that I may make mistakes as to names -in his very eloquent speech. when he was worked up to a little pitch by somebody interrupting. as they are in the habit sometimes of doing here when a gentleman is making a speech. something was said about the laborers. and he tiptoed beautifully and said. "I think tile American farm laborers and mechanics are abundantly able to take care of themselves." Why not? I agree to that proposition. but I do not agree with it at all if you are going to have a power somewhere in the country to decree that the laborer of this country shall not take care of himself here. but shall be put in competition with the pauper labor of other countries of the world. If you let them alone they can take care of themselves. but if you insist on that propositionthat comes from some great sympathizing philanthropist. somebody who had gotten higher than belongs to common humanity. who had passed into a stage of Christian civilization never reached beforethat is a different thing. There are some free traders who insist upon the claim that the way to get prosperity in this country. to get people in foreign lands to buy of us. is to quit producing at home and turn our laborers out and go there and buy of them.