The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-23

LADIES AND GES1LEMEN:-Will you
allow me to keep my cape on? ["Of
course, certainly."l l am afraid with
this cold north wind, it might do me
some harm ii | went bare headed; and
although | om perfectly willing to un-
cover my head before the people, still |
do not want TO break down Mt the be-
ginning OF the campaign. Voices,
"Keep your cape on."J My friends, this
is the first time in my life that have
had the honor to speak in your city. l
esteem it great privilege to be able 10
address you to-day. [Applause. 1t is
not necessary for me before | pro-
ceed to the main subject, to speak Of
the President OF the United States
and his administration more than Il
very few words. | defy any man who
has regard for the truth to say that Gro
yer Cleveland has not made a good
President OF the United States. APP
plausc.] A brave, intelligent, level
headed, noble man. He has had clean
and upright and successful adminis-
tration. Applause and voice, "Hur-
rah for Cleveland VI -Four years ago he
was elected. In the canvass that pre-
ccdcd his election his opponents pre-
dicted all manner Of evils in case he
should succeed. He did succeed and,
pray, what has become OF their pre-
dictions? Where is the ruin that was
to follow the election of Grover ClevGs
land? Where is the disgrace that
was TO follow his eiectionP On the con-
trary, the country has been more quiet,
more peaceable, more prosperous than
it has been for many years that have
gone by. [Applause.l Now, l know
the man; ] know him well; tell you,
my fellow citizens. that more upright
and wise man | do not believe dwells
within the limits Of the United States.
[Applause. Now, my friends, having
said this much about the administration,
let me proceed to that question to which
| have alluded, commonly called the
tariff question.
presume there is not person with
in the sound OF my voice who does not
know what is meant by the tariff. And
yet it may aid us to-day il give n clear
and precise definition OF what tariff is.
A tariff, my friends, is nothing in the
world but tax; u tax levied by the gem
eral government upon every article OF
commerce that enters into the United
States and that is intended for sale
within her borders, and which incident
ally raises the price, and therefore be-
comes a tax or u burden upon every ar
tiCle OF domestic manufacture OF a like
nature with those which pay the tariff.
Now we have at this moment, according
to the last advices l have seen, about
$ll5,0O0,OO0 called surplus revenue
that is, taxes collected from the
people beyond the necessities OF the
Government. Those dollars (Sll5,0O0,-
00O) are lying perfectly idle in the vault
OF the Treasury OF the United States
of no service TO any human being, draw
ing no interest, earning no profits, but
taken from the pockets OF the people
where they properly belong, and where,
il they were now found, thousands and
tens OF thousands, and hundreds OF
thousands OF the people OF the United
States, would put them to good use and
improve their condition and prosperity.
Now, the Democratic party says that
this is n wrong condition OF afiairsi that
that money ought not to be like the tai
ents OF the men we are told OF
in the Scriptures, buried in the
ground that this is n very poor
use to make OF the money OF the
people, and, therefore, the Democratic
party says that this surplus revenue
which is produced in the main by these
tariff taxes, ought to be reduced, and
that the taxes should be reduced SO that
this surplus will not continue to accu-
mulate. [Applause.l 0uropponents on
the other hand say It is better to let the
surplus accumulate; it is better to take
the money from the pockets OF the peo.
pie; it is better to pile it up in the vaults
Of the treasury, although il does no good
whatever, and 1t is great harm; it is
better to dothat than to touch the tariff
laws OF the United States. We say on
the contrary TO relieve an overtaxed peo-
pie is to reduce the taxes; We say TINT
the way to treat people honestly, fair
ly and wisely is to take no more taxes
out their pockets than the government
actually needs for its expenditures.
tAppiause.l Now just think OF it for
Oue luOIlclts we uTc lOlu luAl
high tariff makes n country richer, us il
it were possible to make a country
rich by oppressively taxing its people.
! fAppinuse. Amt that a new way to
make man rich? To run your hand
into his pocket and take out what you
find there and that without any Just
reason whatsoever for doing so? Is not
that u singular way to make anybody
rich? Applause.
Judge Thurman continued in this
vein at great length, being frequently
interrupted by applause. II was mas
terly speech and splendid presenta
ton OF the tariff issue from his stand
point.
Why is it dangerous to 60 out il
spring? Because the trees shoot IN