The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-10-06
GOV, JOHNsON's SPEECH.

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Gov. johnson arrived here last Sat-
urday morning to fill an appointment
to speak to the democrats of Lafayette
county. He was met at the depot by
a committee of citizens and escorted to
the Commercial hotel, where many
citizens called npon him. The day was
a bright and beautiful one and the tenn
perature was delightful, and a large
number of farmers came in to hear one
of the oracles of Missouri democracy.
AT two o'clock a large crowd assembled
at the court house, consisting of all
classes. The laborers and the farmers
and the business men were there, and
Gov. johnson was introduced to a
crowded house, and was received with
applause. The speech was an able
one. The governor drew a line of
distinction between the republican and
democratic parties and showed up the
record of each in their true light He said
the republican party was one OF extrava-
gance and reckless expenditures; that
the internal taxes levied during the
trying periods OF the war, upon manu-
features, railroad incomes and banks,
which produced hundreds of millions
of dollars to the government, had all
been taken off, while the tariff taxes,
levied upon all articles of necessity,
remained; the government was now
collecting, annually, 800, 900 900 more
evenue than was necessary to meet its
expenses, and this would either lie
idle in the treasury, be withdrawn
from circulation, or would be squan-
dered in useless jobs, but the people
had 10 pay it; the democratic party
proposed to reduce the income by tax
ing the tax off the necessities the
average tariff upon woollen goods was
now seventy per cent, and the Mills
| bill, a democratic measure, reduced il
to forty per cent; the duty on sugar
was now seventy nine per cent, and
the Mills bill reduced it to slxty-one; il
these two articles, which were used il
every family, the saving to the people
would be $24 900 900 every year; lum
Der and salt were put upon the fret
list, and this would enable the
people to build cheaper houses and buy
salt at reduced rates. Many othel
articles were referred to, showing tina
the total reduction of duties in thu
interest of the people would be $4,000,
900. He said that the republican part!
was the party OF the wealthy ant
monopolists, and had given ava!
1863 ,000, 900 acres of the public land
to railroads that should have been hel(
for settlement by the people; tina
80, 900, coo acres of this land had beer
reclaimed by the democratic party ant
restored to the people, and that Is, 900,
600 more would be restored before tn,
end of this administrations; this wa
enough TO make four such states a
Missouri. He referred TO the charge
that the democratic party was for fret
trade, and that a reduction of the tariff
would reduce the wages Of laborinl
men, and said these statements wcr
the most damnable demogogism eve
spoken to the American people. Ill
paid a tribute 10 President CLEVELAND
for his ability, craftsmanship, an,
answering devotion to principle hi
administration had not brought fort
any Robesons, Belknaps or Dorseys
but the business of the government
was now III the hands of honest ant
capable men. Throughout his speecl
and at its conclusion he was ioudI,
~applauded, and he received the appre
~ciative congratulations of many VIII
had the pleasure to hear him.