The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-13

that there should not be an overfowing
treasury. The Democratic party, my friends,
mas gwen the country an issue in this cam
pmgn. 1t is an issue which has attracted
Worldwide attention. We are in favor OF
revision OF the tariff principally upon
two points. First, We think that the raw
material, wherever it is possible 80 to do,
should be admitted free Of duty. We be-
lleve, in the second place, that the taxes
upon the necessaries OF life should be made
as light as possible. Upon those two points
we may confidently appeal TO the people
in this campaign. | don't propose to argue
to you at any length IN favor of the pro-
priety OF what is known as the Mills bill.
You, by this time in the campaign, are "a
miliar with the details OF that measure.
am not here to say that il is perfect in all
its details; but, in the main, it is meas
ure reasonably free from objection. Itisa
measure intended to subserye the best in
terests of the country. 1t is a measure in
the interests OF the taxpayers. the con-
sumers, the farmers, the mechanics and
the laborlng men OF our country. My
| friends, when this question was first pre-
sented to Congress last December; and you
will recollect it was presented to Congress
In message by the President of the
United States, Grover Cleveland. You
will recollcct what he told the country in
reference TO the necessity OF some relief
for the people. Have you forgotten how
that message was received by our oppo-
ncnts in aud out OF CongreSs2 In the first
place, they said there was no surplus. In
the second place they said, ii there was
surplus il did not matter. They said
| ut is better, is 1t not, that We should have
a surplus than q deficiency" They said,
| at is unwise to disturb the business in
terests Of the country by tinkering with
the tariff and they neglected no oppor-
tunity to discourage the presentation OF
this question to the people Of the United
States. Nevertheless that message, which
startled the country somewhat be-
cause OF its boldness, its honesty, its
candor, was acted upon by our Democratic
representatives in the lower house OF Con-
grcss. They framed bill known as the
Mills bill, designed TO relieve the country
from unnecessary taxation. We believe,
that is the Democratic creed, that unnec-
essary taxation ought no longer TO exist
| The bill was opposed at every step, but
our gallant Democratic members OF Con-
grcss persisted in the fight. They said 10
their opponents: Propose better meas
ure; give us a better substitute; do some
thing for the relief OF an oyerburdened,
tax.ridden people," But our appeal 10
them WIS made in vain; they offered no
substitute. They presented no other bill.
| They discussed the question week after
| week aud month after month, raising the
same cry that the question ought not To be
considered at all. Finally. when the vote
came, they contcntcd themselves with Of.
lefing few amendments. Then when
these were voted down they simply
voted against the measure. II then
went 20 the Senate OF our coun-
try, the Republican Senate. They
hcsitatcd in regard 10 il; discussion OF Il
was postponed, and finally, my friends, in
the month OF October, on the eve OF this
| presidential election. when the country
| has been considering this matter for many
long months, when they saw that de-
mand lor tariff reform was sweeping over
the country at this eleventh hour, what do
| they do? They then propose measure
| for the reduction OF the tariff aud rcduc-
| ton OF taxation. The majority Of the
| finance committee OF the Senate made a
nport 90 which desire 90 call your attcn.
| tion from the admissions made in IL. By
that report they say that they find that the
| revenues ui the government are excessive.
| II seems 10 me We heard something like
! that In President Cloyclnnd's message last
/ December. Laughtcrl They said that
| the demand Tor reduction Of the tariil
seems 10 be- imperative. We have heard
| that before. CONTINUED laughter They
| said there was necessity Tor rcyi. ion, ~
| that the inequalities OF the tariff should no
| longer bc pyrpCiuaivd. Then they pre-
scntcd their bill. am not here 10 dis
/ cuss the wisdom OF the details oi that
| bill, but ana here TO say. In the light oi
these claims. in the light Of these facts, In
| the light oi the attitude Ofihc Republicans
in Congress and out 0i Congress, that thr
rport ui thc majority Ot the Senate COM
miilcc and the presentation ol any bill
whatever by them Is a confession oi judg-
ment In favor OF all the positions taken by
! President Cleveland aud thc Democratic
party in December last. Applause. Now
they conccdc the propncty ol the discus.
.sion Of this question. They now propose
to tinker with the tHrin themselves; thcy
now propose 90 disturb what they say j.
the business interests Of this county by
taking MP this question themselves.
| Laughter aud applause.
Nv friends, Il IL too light. The cry iol
taia reform, which has been spreading
over this country. has received such au
impetus that IL viii again placc Mr. Cluyu
land la the Presidential chair. prolonged
cheers said did not propose 10 dis.
cuss the details oi the Mills bill, and do
not There are some things, however
YOU will permit me to nlIudc b.. What
earthly objection can there be upon the
part ol the farmers the Wofkingmcn aud
the laboring men Of this great State o
Indiana 10 placing salt upon the irUc lisi,
what injury can this be to your induslric.
aud 10 your iuicpsls2 salt IL one ol the
ncccsarics OF life, used by every family
aud when thc Democratic party proposes
to place this upon the free lisi they au
acting IN your interest aud not 10 suhsurN,
any selfish interest ot their own. ln piaif
words. my friends, tho Democratic pifty
IN this campaign il fighting the fc.lishnct
OF the country IN behalf ui the mps-u
oi the people. lChccnl Why, We hay,
heard this same cry made before, that u th,
tarin was changed at all the business in
tcrgsls uf thC country would be- ruined
lat me give YOU an illustration. AbUu
twelve or fifteen years agO-l forget ihl
precise datc-lhofc was demand up0i
the par, Of the people that hides should ID
placed upon the Tree list. some OF lhu
tanners Of the country objected, other
doubted the prOproty Of H. II WI
claimed that IL would seriously affect th
people Of this country 30 have raw hidr
put upon the free list, but Congress. II
one Of IT, lucid intervals, was finally per
suaded 10 place this article upon the ire
] llaI Tim rn.ulI Lna hmm ILnI In.lIr Ihnr.