The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-11
THE SPIRIT OF OLD HICKORY

CLEVELAND, Jan. 8.-The sixty
eighth anniversary of the battle of
New Orleans was celebrated here to-
night in an imposing manner, under
the auspices of the Andrew jackson
club. A grand reception and ball
were given in the city armory, which
was deliberately decorated, and a
sumptuous banquet to distinguished
guests was given at the Weddell
House. Many eminent Democrats
from Ohio and elsewhere made
speeches, and letters were received
from s. j Tilden, Gen. Hancock, Gen.
Mcclellan, Gov. Pattiscn, of Pennsyl.
vania, Gov. Ludlow, of New York.
5. j. Randall, Abram s. Hewitt and
scores of other leaders, all breathing
the same sentiment. The celebration
WassA brilliant success in all respects.
The spirit of the utterances of the
Speakers will be found in the follow
ing extracts from 4 few of the more
conspicuous addresses: Hon. NJ. A.
FarOn, cOngreSSman-elect from this
district, presided at the armOry meet
ing. ~dnd, among other things, said /:
In the near future the Democratic
party will be the peoples servant and
will remain so as long as it respects
the peoples will. 1t might be well for
us, then, as Democrats, to heed the
lesson which the people have recently
taught the Republican party. 1t is
not enough that we stand between the
masses and the encroachments
OF hydra-headed monopoly; that
we throw round the toll
ing millions such protection as
will prevent them being made the
victims of griding eXactions of aggre-
gated wealth. More than this is de-
manded-more than even purity and
economy in the administration of the
gOVeTnment-and that is that the
party should never seek to dominate
the people or seek to perpetuate power
at the expense of the people,"
Hon. Ii. T.. Payne presided at the
banquet and said in speech referring
to national politics: In my judg-
ment the peril which more than all
others menaceS the harmony and sue
cess of the Democratic party is the
wide difference and bitter conflicts of
opinion on the tariff policy. Differ
ence of opinion exists, and the right
to differ must be recognized
IL,
in the United States senate.
voted for the talif of 1924,
and subsequently, as president, de-
clared himself in favor of a judicious
tariff. What. then, is Just or jul
diciOuS tariff? Most certainly not
high protection or tariff for protec-
ton only, for such generate and ag-
grandize monopOlies; nor, on the
other hand, is it free trade or tariff
for revenue only. Free trade, strictly
interpreted, requires a uniform ad
valOrem duty on all imports, and
transferring an item to the free list
or the impo ing of specific duty
mars and defeats the working of the
theory. Free trade has never been
accepted by the governments of civil
lied nations, and is impracticable and
impossible. These words, for reve-
nue. only unwisely inserted in the
platform of 1880, lost the De-
mocracy the presidency and all
which that loss implied, and like
fatality will assuredly follow Il repeti-
ton of the folly in future campaigns.
Frequently We hear Il Democratic
speaker timidly, in a subdued voice.
as though fearing to compromise
himself, advocate tariff for revenue
with incidental protection. Why such
indecision and cowardice, in view Of
the ineXhaustiDle and unreasonable
resources of the country in coal, iron.
copper, wool, and coin-abundant
under the fostering care of the
government to supply the wants
of not only population of
fifty millions or one hundred millions,
which many of you will live to wit
ness, but of five hundred or one
thousand millions, which it is prob
able the future national census will
enumerate, and of the populations of
Mexico and Central America and the
South American republics, whose
markets ought long since to have been
opened to our manufactures. 1t is
difficult to understand why our states
men should thus hesitate and vacil-
late in the discharge of their duty"