Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-09-06
MR PESpLErON's SPEECH.

The speech wnlcl senator TENDLS-
TON delivered at st. Clairsyille, yester-
day, should be placed in the hands OF
every voter in Ohio. 1t was most
temperate and argumentative presenta-
ton of the issues before the people;
there were no fireworks in it, no APP
peals to passion or prejudice, no raking
up of old scores, no revival OF dead
issues; from beginning to end 1t was
calm, dispassionate, logical and con-
yincing. The public record Of the Re-
publican party since it became respon-
sible for government, was fairly re-
viewed, its promises noted and its fail
ures to keep them pointed out The dis
tinguished Senator followed the fashion
set by Senator DAVIS in his Keyser
speech, last Saturday, and which ought
to be observed as the fashion in politi-
cal discussion. His appeals were 20 the
common sense and the judgment OF his
hearers, and not TO their prejudices.
Every charge he made was sustained
BY ineontrovertible facts and indisputs-
bic figures. Passing over his criticisms
Of the Republican policy in Ohio, on
purely State questions, which We shall
notice fully hereafter, We come to his
arraignment Of the party on national
issues, which more nearly concern the
people OF West Virginia.
Brief allusiOn was made to the prom
ises on which the people were induced
to elect GARFIELD. There were to Oe
reforms all along the line. The civil
service was to be reformed, there were
to be no more campaign assessments,
taxation was to be reduced so that the
enormous surplus in the treasury might
gradually disappear and the popular
grievances be eorrespOndingly de-
creased American commerce was to be
stimulated by the encouragement Of
ship building, and IN general the bur
dens that bore heavily on the people
were to be removed. These promises
were not fulfilled. This we know. Mr..
PENDLETON argues that they could not
be fulfilled. THE Republican party"
he says, "by the very law of its princi-
Piles and organization, could not realize
the promises" of the stump speakers.
And he gives this reason for the state
ment he advances: "It believes in the
theory OF paternal government. 1t be-
lieves in the theory Of a latitudinarian
construction Of the Constitution.
1t believes that government has the
power, and ought to exercise it, to con-
fer blessings on the people, not to clear
the way that their own right arm and
determined will may earn blessings for
1t believes in the theory
of protection in its largest sense, not
merely when applied to the cOnstruc-
ton of a tariff. 1t believes in the theo-
~ of the greatest good to the greatest
number, wherebya minority or an in-
dividual may begrestly wronged, andnot
in that better, nobler, juster theory that
the true function of government is to
distribute the burdens and impediments
necessarily imposed for the maintenance
Of social order so exactly and fairly that
each man shall have an even chance,
so far as God and nature have equipped
him, with every other man in the race
of life" Herein lies the whole diff
Guilty. Paternalism in government
comes high; it demands large appropri-
ations; large appropriations mean high
taxation; high taxation leeds to full
treasury, and a full treasury is the
natural condition under which eXtrav-
agance, waste, reckless expenditures
and jobs flourish.
Senator PENDLETON declares, and we
believe the whole country agrees with
him, that the most urgent demand Of
the presents time is the proper and
equitable adjustment OF our system Of
taxation. In fact,it may be laiddown as
a proposition that il there was any one
question ofpublic policy which urgent
" demanded the attention Of Congress
when it assembled, it was the question
of taxation. "The tariff, IS now adj
justed," says Mr.. PENDLEToN, sis an
acknowledgements, unfair, crude and
intricate in the extreme. Its parts can
not be reconeiled." During the Presi-
Dental campaign promises without
number were made to the people that
reform would be instituted under the
new administration, and yet when the
time came Congress abdieated its func-
tions, abandoned its duty and referred
the whole subject to a commission
madeup of men who believe in higher
protection for special industries, higher
taxation, and consequently al larger
annual surplus in the treasury to tempt
jobbers and claim agents, and even
members Of the law-making branch Of
the Government. The one thing need
ed by the people was therefore set
aside while the Republican party, with
q working majority in both Houses, set
itself TO the performance Of what 1t
always believes, to be the paramount
duty OF strengthening itself by corrupt
bargains in Southern States, theejeetiOn
ofduly elected members Of Congress,
the passage Of huge Jobs, and enormous
appropriations =
To show how steadily and alarming
ly the natural burdens have grown I'M
der Republican rule, We quote the dis
tinguished Senator's analysis of the sp-
plopriations passed by the session of
Congress which has recently come to a
close: 81 hold in my hand" he said, "a
carefully prepared speech made by the
Chairman Of the Committee Of Appro-
priations Of the Senate Senator ALL
SON, of Iowa on the last night Of the
session. 1t shows that the grand total
appropriations for the current year is
Ss94, PAS, 097. S6-and that the excess Of