The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-25


My competitor In this canvass is distin-
guiehed gentleman, formally declared by his
friends TO be the only man In all the district
qualified to represent it in the Congress of the
nation. II this be indeed the case, it becomes
their duty to place some bright aud precocious
youth from the High School in training with the
Judge upon whose shoulders his mantle may
descend, lest by iDdisposition or other unavoid-
able provldential interposition he might become
ipcapaciated for the performance of his duties,
and utter distraction therefore come upon u.s.
My first recollection of Judge Kelley was at
country village near 9y where , 1hen S resided
bers of the Democratic party, though / had
avowed myself in favor of free soil, free speech
and free men, the principles, as understood
them. of that great statesman and champion of
liberty. Thomas Jefferson. whom always wor-
shipped as my political idol. (Applause.) The
Judge at that meeting delivered a speech which
abounded in the most extravagant laudations of
the institution of slavery and denunciatOn of
those who had the temerity to oppose its extern
sion TO new territory. He continued q consis-
tent member of the Democratic party, sustain
ing the institution of slavery and denouncing
those who opposed it. until the year 1919, when,
having submitted bis name to the Judicial Con-
veDtOn of that party as a candidate for seat
on the Common Pleas bench, and having, by
written document, pledged himself to abide by
its decision and support its nominee, he was
thrown overheard, and in violation of his pledge
accepted another nomination. and was elected.
How long the Judge would have continued to
obtaining the Democratic nomination for the
judgeship, it is not necessary now to inquire.
The speaker also declared himself to be in fa-
vor of a repeal in the income tax and spoke as
follows in regard to Judge Kelley's position on
this subject
In the discussion in the Com of the
Whole upon the Te-enactment of the income tax,
General Logan asked the Judge why If he was
opposed to the tax, he did not so vote in the
Committee of Ways and Means, when it was un-
der consideration in that committee. The Judge
replied q quote his own language): II did not
at the first vote IN favor of the entire abolition
of the income tax" He was in favor, during
the early consideration of the subject of con-
tinuing the tax in the modified and more objec-
tionable form in which it intimately passed the
House Or in other words, be was in favor of
letting off portion of the tax to satisfy the
then partially developed sentiment against it,
while keeping its inquistorial features, and
above all, retaining the entire army of office
holders, which were essential to his nomination,
and whow would have been dischaged, had the law
not been re-enacted. Applause
In regard to the tax on coal General Thomas
spoke as follows-A combination existed in the
coal regions to enhance the price of coal by
diminishing the supply. The conspirators sue
ceeded thereby in bolstering up the price of coal
from fifty to one hundred per cent. above what
it should be furnished to the consumer. This is
matter of small consideration with the rich,
but to the poor man, with his limited income,
cheap coal is an article of prime necessity. Our
| only remedy is in the repeal of the duty on i'm
ported coal, until the dog in the manger"
policy of the operatives in the coal region is
abandoned. Judge Kelley voted against the
repeal of this duty, and in favor of compelling
all our citizens, rich and poor, to pay double
price for their fuel.
In regard to protective tariff he said:-
Protection itself needs to be protected. But
has that been done in Congress? Judge Kelley's
array of figures looks well on paper, but so far
as we know, they have convinced no member OF
Congress who is opposed TO the interests of
Pennsylvania. On the contrary, his course has
resulted in bringing against our special indus
tries the iDveterate hatred and jealousy of all
the rival interests of the West and New England,
and instead OF concliating enemies he has really
alienated friends. j charge against him that he
has attempted the impossible, and has there
fore, endangered the possible In proof of this
| point to the tariff bill now before Congress,
which does not give satisfaction to the people
of this city and State, and which will inevitably
! fail to give the manufacturers of this important
| district the permanent protection they desire.
l would adopt tariff such scale Of duties
as would produce the largest possible sum that
could be obtained without doing injustice to any
! department of industry or any considerable
! division of the people. Applause In the
! imposition of these duties l would discriminate
so as to give protection to such interests as
could be aided without injury to others, and so
! as to collect the greatest revenue from articles
of luxury, which are mainly consumed by the
! rich. At the same time would admit the absO-
! lutte necessaries of life free Applause.
General Thomas closed his speech as follows
| ! have spoken very frankly upon this subject
for it is right that / should express your views
in nominating me, and my own reasons for ac-
cepting the honor. OF my own position may
say few words in conclusion. / have labored
with others for forty-fiye years to buld up what
is now called the Republican party to promote,
as hoped it would, the true Jeffersoniau Demo-
cratic doctrine of human liberty and human
rights and in this have not been disappointed.
With very few exceptions have voted for all
the candidates presented TO me by the Republi-
can conventions. voted for General Grant at
the last Presidential election, and labored to
secure his election, and yet the friends of Judge
| Kelley have assumed to strike my name from
the registry of the party, and have closed the
doors of Spring Garden Hall, hall belonging
| TO the people, against nay friends because they
contemplated my election to Congress. APP
| plause.
A mechanic here arose and announced that
be had been desired by some of the mechanics
and workiRgmen present TO ask General
Thomas to define his position on the contract
system of coolie labor and the indiscriminate
| granting of lands to chartered monopolies.
| General Thomas answered that he was opposed
to both. He also said that he thought that the
time had come for a general amnesty towards
| the late rebels.
The meeting then adjourned amid great en-
| thusiasm and loud cheers for General w. b.
Thomas as candidate for Congress from the
Fourth District.
THE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN.