Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-08
A SPLENDID SPEECH.
spcRETARY OF THE INTERTOR
YILAS SPEAKS At MILWAUREE.


Issues of the Issues of the Day
History of the Republican Party-I
Record in Late Years One of al
structIon and Querulousncss-Wis
and Economical Democratic Legi
lature-Some Facts and Figures Give,
MILWAUKEE, Wis, September 15.-Co
william F. Villas, Secretary OF the interior
opened the Democratic campaign in VIII
.consin tonight, with speech at Wes
Side Turner Hall. The Junea, Jefferao
and Jackson clubs, representing the Demo
cratic organizations of the three division
.of the city, escorted him to the hal
where there was an audience OF abou
1900 persons. He spoke as follows:
SPEECH OF SECRETARY Villas.
After referring to the duty OF voters ant
challenging criticism OF President Cleye
lands administration, he said: I invit,
YOU to contrast the conditions OF the prin.
ciples and professions OF the opposing par
ties in this contest, and the promise of tn,
future offered by them respectively. What
is the Republican party OF to-day? Is il
better or more worthy of confidence thar
il was in 1SS4P 1t was in the begiunins
more Of a popular uprising than a polite q
yarty. 1t found origin and Quickeninp
power in the high appeal OF justice and
tenderness for human brethren in oppres.
sion, and in the honest zeal OF deep con.
vicion. Its following was well nigh fanat.
icaL 1t was crusade against great ma.
tional wrong, and it fell upon a time ap.
pointed OF heaven.
Like whirlwind it swept on it's course oI
destructive, though wholesome violence.
Within decade the evil which had engen-
dered its being was more than destroyed,
and land was
srREwN WITH MIGHTY WRECKS,
where, in fantastic chaos lay seals, consti-
tutions, and people amid the wide flung
havoc OF war. That was the logical period
of the partY's existence. It stood upon or
possessed no doctrine of government, no
principles for the guidance OF institutions
OF freedom in the repose of peace. 1t was
not national but sectional. A party for
civil war, not for national fraternity.
But the heart OF a victorious people was
in it's grasp, and the rage OF war was long
uns ent. It was the opportunity OF op.
portunities for political free-booters, and
never for one moment did they suspend
their efforts nor ever spare the exhausted
people. Upon one pretext and another,
from almost the earliest grasp OF the re-
publican dominion,
CORRUPTION BEGAN ITS WORK,
and schemes for dishonest enrichp,ent OF
the few began to prevail.
It was in 1862 that, pursuing the senti.
ment that the national defense signed. q
transContinental highway, the Pacific rail-
road legislation began, and eliminated in
1884, that was unrelenting in ingenuity
and it was so amended to diabolical per-
lection, that the Government really built
roads and gave them, with land enough
for an empire, to the successful conspira-
tors.
they also began one OF the earliest acts
for laying taxes and afterwards continued
with greed that heightened with each new
gluttony. Every revenue measure was pre-
vented and distorted by ingenious touches
imperceptible to any but the practiced eye
bywhich the tribute was extorted from the
people five times greater than the tax that
went TO the treasury.
Then it was that the
INDUSTRIOUS VAMPIRE HIDDEN In THE TARIFF. |
which seductively fans with wings of pro-
sucks, was begotten in sin to rob the toll |
ing Produces iH the fields and forests, OF |
the wealth they create. And when the war |
had ceased, q great people, with its Golfers |
unlocked and it's resources exposed, lay |
before the spoiler, while in the exhaustion |
Of the struggle and the heat OF rage, the
national guardianship was gone. Then /
followed such seizure of National wealth
by various devices--so rapacious, SO |
gigantic, 80 ingenious in methods by which
the grasp was laid-as has never been ex-
hibited in history. Nothing is comparable
to it but India under Warren Hastings.
Other nations have been depleted by |
conquerors in the opened force OF unlicensed
conquest, but this was a people robbed by |
the devilish manipulation OF it's own legis-
lation and the emergencies OF an admins
tration
IN THE HANDS OF ITS SUPPOSED FRIENDS.
The Secretary then referred to the cor
ruption in public contracts, touching upon
the partnership of Grant & Ward, to the
Custom House scandals, the under-valra-
tions on imports, navy jobs, and Star
Route contracts, and declared that these
and other things OF like character had
driven the best men in the Republican
party out OF it, among whom were Sum-
ner, Chase, Greely, Trumbuli and Beecher.
Hedeelared that the only policy Of the only
branch OF the Government remaining Re-
publican since 1884, the Senate, was COM
prised in two word, obstruction and mis-
representation as to everything Tor the
general good; and he instanced the tardy
confirmation OF Chief Justice Fuller; the
rejection OF the fisheries treaty, and the
delay in passing the retaliation measures
asked for by Presidan Cleveland.
Turning to
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
the speaker said: In the Department Of
State you find everywhere that the
national dignity has been maintained, the
national rights to protection in the re.
public in peace and good will with all
powers of earth, save only as Republicah
obstruction leaves us needless hostility
with our northern neighbor. ii ycu take
the Treasury, it's guardianship oil our
fnancialinterests commanded respect on
every hand. The collections OF internal
revenue for the fiscal year 1885 (the last
Republican year, were $llZ,ooo,uvV; oo Ior
600, in 1887, $119, 900, 900, and in 1888,
$125, ,OOO, 900. The cost OF collection, ne
said. had largely decreased under the pres
sent administration.
The secretary then compared the naval
administrations under the two parties, tne
restoration OF lands to the public domain,
the removal OF cattlemen from Oklahoma.
Much has been said OF
PRIVATE PENSION BILLS,
and much Of the efforts to maintain
theory of ill.will to the soldiers on the
Presidents part because OF his vetoes;
Yet, slready more of such bills have passed
into enacted law under him than during the
administration OF both Arthur and hayes,
and by the end Of his first term the number
will be larger than that during the admin
istrations OF Grant, Hayes and Arthur al
together.
Another thing to the credit of the admin,
istration, was the second emancipation OF
the colored man, his emancipation rom
the far. off Republican party, and MS resto
ration to the dominion OF peace ana ira
ternity in the land.
The Speaker then took up
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
and dwelt upon it at great length, to show
tue danger and injustice OF high protect
i've tariff, and the advantages which |