The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-18
Opening Speech OF Mr.. Hen Tricks.

The first regular Democratic mass
! meeting of the campaign in IndianapC-
lis was held on the night of August 50.
An address was first read to Mr. Hen
bricks from the committee in charge
Mr.. Hendricks, in replying, said ne
recognized the duty of speaking frankly
and without concealment. He asked
! their attention to the necessity and i'm
portance o. revenue reform. The power
to levy and collect taxes ne regarded as
among the highest and most RESPONSE
BILE attributes of government. In an
swer to the question, How far may Gov
eminent 90 in the exercise of the pow
er to tax the people? he said that all
should freely and cheerfully answer
| that there shall be no limitation and re-
Straint this side the absolute and entire
maintenance of public authority, with
all its faculties and functions unim-
paired. Whatever the Government can
lawfully do. and of right should do, the
taxpayers will furnish it the means to
accomplish. Beyond this is the prov
ince of private right. to invade which
is usurpation. The Government econ
omically administered shall he sup
ported.
Mr.. Hendricks referred then to the
war, at which time taxation was neces-
sarily and rightfully increased But
when the war ceased and its conse-
quent expenditures had passed the ne
cessity for 3 war standard of taxation
passed. But it had been continued.
He cited the message of President Ar
thur in 1884 to show that the Chief Ex-
ecutive himself, Notwithstanding he
was the head of the party, called for
revenue reform. But Congress gave
no heed to the recommendation. In
his annual report Esd December lasO
the Secretary OF the Treasury estimates
the surplus for the current year at
$50, 000, 900, and adds: $50 the question
still presses-What legislation is neces-
sary to relieve the people of unnecessary
taXeSP
Mr.. Hendricks, answering the Secre-
tary'S question, replied: ''Yes, it is the
question of So, 100000 unnecessary
taxes in one year. The accumulation
is constant. Continuing, he said:
"Revenue reform must come from 9TH
er quarters. 1t can not come from
the representations of favored classes,
who ask inequality in legislation that
there may be unjust inc luality in the
profits OF the varied pursuits of the
people"
He gave an exhaustive review of the
principles enunciated by the platform
of the Chicago National Democratic
Convention, concluding that, ''when
expressed in the laws, their beneicient
;,,..r hn.Av,,n yft yrn nj
yerSal. Lower taxes will signify light
er burdens upon the people; money re-
turning to the channels of trade enter
prise restored and stimulated; renewed
demand for the products of industry,
and the consequent increased demand
for labor and universal prosperity. If
the $500, 000,00 now locked up in the
Treasury were restored to the channels
of trade and commerce, who can doubt
that labor would find employment and
the manufacturer market for his fab
RESP"
Touching upon the condition OF
American ocean commerce, he said it
was disgraceful. Practically there was
no merchant marine. The obituary of
the American navy is written in the
tariff and shipping laws He cited SEN
ator Harrison. a Republican, in proof
of his assertion that our navy is rotting
down. He asked what party held the
reins while these things were going on,
and asserted that nothing in the histo-
ry of the Democratic party could be
brought out to show that it was OPP
posed to the maintaining of the navy.
What remedy" he asked, s. for the
correction of abuses in public affairs can
there be except in change in the con-
troll and management of public afairs:?"
He appealed to their Judgment that a
change was necessary. Suspicion justi
fed the conclusion that the ways are
dark. The books should be opened.
Mr. Hendricks then asked their at
tention to the probable foreign policy of
the Presidential candidates. The South
American policy OF Mr.. Blaine was not
of Il nature to Justify the suppOsitiOn-
as claimed-that he would be either
American or dashing People knew
well enough what vote that was in
ten led to catch, but it would fail. He
quoted the Democratic platform on the
foreign policy which would be carried
out in case of the elect on of their candi
date, and stated the policy that the
Democratic party had carried out when
it was in power. Let" ne said, 1.-The
merit of this claim be decided upon the
comparison and contrast of two cases,
one under Demo rate administration,
and the other under Mr.. Blaine as Sec
rotary of State
On the one side was the Martin
Koszta case, in l849. He was not even
a citizen of the United States. Engaged
in the Hungarian revolt against Aus
tr;a, he fed to the United States. He
declared his intention to become citi
zen, but never completed his naturaliZa-
ton papers. Returning to Europe, he
was seized by Austrian euissaries. His
release was demanded and refused. An
American sloop of war was prepared
for action. and by the prompt and en-
phatIc steps of the Government he was
released and remanded to the United
States. This was during the Demo-
cratic Administration of Franklin
Pierce.
In striking contrast he referred to
the case of McSweeney. which occurred
when Mr.. Blaine was Secretary of Sts.e
in the Cabinet of Mr.. Garfield. He sad:
at is not alleged that McSweeney had
committed any crime or violated any
law He being an American citizen. he
Immediately forwarded his naturaliza-
ton papers, together with a solemn
protest against this British outrage: to
the American Minister at London. Mrs
McSweeney's communication and APP
peal were made TO the Secretary of
State direct while Mr.. Blaine held that
office, and when, as l suppose. he was
in the discharge o. many of the duties
of the President. That appeal was not