The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-01-14
NIB. ECKELS'S ADDRESS.

The New York Times gives the follow
ing synopsis Of the address by James Fl.
Eckles, Esq, OF this city at the opening OF
the new hall of the Harlem democratic
club Of that city recently. The Star of the
same city also gave considerable space to
the speech, under the coption, I" Sound
Democracy" We select the 7imes's review
as presenting the two main thoughts Of the
address more pointedly than did the Star.
The subject Of the address was 1.-Two
Principles Essentially Democratic" The
Timess synopsis Is as follows;
These two principles wers State rights
or local sell. government and the Democra-
tic doctrine with respect TO the tariff. He
would treat Of them together, he said, be-
cause the misconstruction OF one question
by the Republican Party as a matter Of
course leads 10 miscOnstruction OF the
other. The Republican Party has only two
clearly defined policies-the Capitalization
of power and protective tariff. 1t has
reversed the natural order of things In
tracing the power of the General Govern
ment at Washington to the State capital,
thence 70 the county seat thence 10 the
town meeting, and from that TO the invivl-
dual. The reserved rights Of the States
have been done away with In many in
stances. In the enlargement of the powers
of the Government beyond what strict
construction Of the Constitution warrants,
Hamilton and Blaine have found authority
for protective tariff have found authority,
he said, to rob one State for the benefit Of
another ; TO rob honest labor instead Of pro.
tecting II. It would seem that the PROPOSE.
ton that Government has no right 70 tax
the public beyond the needs of an economi-
cal administration, Is so plain that It's
statement should be sufficient for Its accep.
lance. The taking OF tax which passes
beyond the prescribed limits of the Con-
stitution IL as much robbery as the act of
the footpai. The mere difference in the
manner OF collection Is of no consequence
whether II be through the Custom House
or by direct levy. Every Democrat knows
that the power TO tax Is granted to the
Government for the purpose of carrying
itself on, and not for the purpose of promot
ing this or that industrial enterprise. APP
plauss
The Democratic Party has never been
an advocate of free trade, but 1t says that
until system of direct taxation is put In
operation the revenues Of the Government
shall be raised not by taxing the necessaries
Of life but by taxing the luxuries OF life
The Republican Party took advantage OF
the exigencies of the war to tax over 4,OOC
articles, and created system of taxation as
unequal In Its operations as 1t is unjust, as
unjust as 1t Is lawless, unauthorized by the
Constitution and unwarranted by the needs
Of the country. "Why should you and l,
he continued, "pay bounty on all we eat
and wear to some favored few! The Re
publicans say We must protect labor, and
this can be done only by protective tariff
The legitimate result Of protection has
never been to raise the wages OF the labor
Ing man. American labor Is better paid
than foreign labor because 1t Is the most
intelligent, most energetic, most effective
and most productive in the world. II the
laboring men have been so blessed by the
protective tariff why do they find II neces
sary TO enter into labor unions and 60 or
strikes? Protectionists say that the pro-
ducts of labor are cheapened by their tariff
but the fact that a tariff is laid proves that
the products can be produced cheaper by
the amount of that tariff
THE Presidant of the United States
with a courage worthy of his manliness
and sense OF right and justice COMFORTING
with that courage, has set forth the Issue
upon which the contest Of the future must
be fought and won. Let Democrats pre-
pare to meet the position Of the opposition
The Administration of President Cleveland
has been OF such character 20 to hf'
politics Into higher and better atmos-