The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln ... together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations, and the closing scenes connected with his life and death. By Henry J. Raymond. To which are added anecdotes and personal reminiscences of President Lincoln, by Frank B. Carpenter.

138 THE LIFE, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND
Union, or which will prove inimical to the liberties of the people, or to
the peace of the whole country. And, furthermore, when the time
arrives for nle to speak on this great subject, I hope I may say nothing
to disappoint the people generally throughout the country, especially if
the expectation lias been 1,based upon any thing which I may have heretofore said. Notwitlstanding the troubles across the river-(the speaker
pointing soutlthwirdly across the Monongahela, and smiling)-there is no
crisis but an artificial one. Wlhat is there now to warrant the condition
of affairs presented 1y our friends over the river? Take even their own
view of the (luestions involved, and there is nothing to justify the course
they are pursuinlg. I repeat, then, there is no crisis, excepting such a
one as may be gotten up at any time by turbulent men, aided by designing politicians. My advice to them, under such circumstances, is to keep
cool. If thle great American people only keep their temper on both sides
of the line, the troubles will come to an end, and the question which
now distracts tlhe country will be settled, just as surely as all other difficulties t' a like character which have originated in this Government
have been adjusted. Let the people on both sides keep their self-possession, and just as other clouds have cleared away in due time, so will this
great nation continue to prosper as lheretofore. But, fellow-citizens, I
have spoken longer on this subject than I intended at tlhe outset.
It is often said that the Tariff is the specialty of Pennsylvania.
Assuming that direct taxation is not to be adopted, the Tariff question
must be as durable as the Government itself. It is a question of national
housekeeping. It is to the Government what replenishing the meal-tub
is to the family. Every varying circumstance will require frequent
modifications as to the amount needed, and the sources of supply. So
far there is little difference of opinion among the people. It is only
whether, and how far, the duties on imports shall be adjusted to favor
home productions. In the home market that controversy begins. One
party insists that too much protection oppresses one class for the advantage of anotller, while the other party argues that with all its incidents,
in the long run, all classes are benefited. In the Chicago Platform there
is a plank upon this subject, wlich should be a general law to the incoming Administration. We should do neither more nor less than we gave
the people reason to believe we would when they gave us their votes.
That plank is as I now read.
Mr. Linc(ln's private secretary then read section twelfth of the Chicago
Platform, as follows:That while providing revenue for the support of the General Government, by duties upon imports, sound policy requires such an adjustment
of these imports as will encourage the development of the industrial
interest of the whole country; and we commend that policy of national
exchanges which secures to working-men liberal wages, to agriculture
remunerative prices, to mechanics and manufacturers adequate reward