We are now asked to desert the old ship of state that has carried this nation through many storms, through many conflicts, and invariably anchored us in the snug harbor of safety and maintained our country on the map of the world, and added many stars to the old flag. We are asked by these new and false prophets of finance to destroy this grand old ship, freighted with the hopes and ambitions of seventy millions of free American citizens; this old ship tested by time, tried by adversity, taut and trim as a May queen and invincible as a Bessemer steel iron cladder, a ship that was launched by Washington and the patriots of 100 years ago, and piloted by such noble men as Lincoln, Grant, Garfield and Hayes. We are asked to desert this ship of known safety, and embark in an untried craft and sail away on the turged waters of an unknown sea. A craft manned by a free silver captain, piloted by free tradeism, and ballasted with bombs of anarchy and repudiation; a craft whose very slimy plank is reeking with condemnation; whose mutinous crew are ready to scuttle her in mid ocean; whose worthless and shoddy sails are fanned by the angry breath of high heaven; and whose nearest port is bankruptcy and perdition. (Long continued applause.) MY FELLOW CITIZENS, THE TRUE SOLUTION OF THE PRESENT FINANCIAL DEPRESSION LIES ALONG OTHER LINES, AND THIS BRINGS US FACE TO FACE WITH THE REAL PROBLEM. Perhaps you have noticed already in this campaign that no one is quite so disgusted with remarks on the tariff as a Byranized democrat or a populist? The impoverished condition of the country, resulting from the free trade crime of 1893 is so apparent on every hand that when we lay the skeletons at their doors they frankly confess judgment, but tell us that other questions of more vital importance are now before the people. MY FRIENDS, THE ENDLESS CHAIN OF AMERICAN PROSPERITY HAS BEEN BROKEN AND NEVER WILL BE MENDED UNTIL THE DRAWN FIRES FROM OUR FURNACES ARE REKINDLED AND THE FREE TRADE SMOKE CONSUMERS ARE REMOVED FROM THE TALL CHIMNEYS IN OUR MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. (APPLAUSE.) A PRINCIPLE UPHELD BY STATESMEN. It is not in any exulting spirit that we refer to a protective tariff, but rather because it is a great and underlying principle of national prosperity; a principle bequeated to this nation by Washington, upheld by Henry Clay, fostered by Abraham Lincoln, championed by William McKinley, and supported by the reciprocity of James J. Blaine. Prior to the free trade crime of 1892, we heard nothing about a diminished gold reserve. IN THOSE HALCYON DAYS CONFIDENCE FLEW ABROAD IN THE LAND ON THE WINGS OF PROSPERITY.