Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-02-08
Senator John E. Kenna, of West Va, re-
plies to Senator Sherman.

Senator John E. Kenna, OF West Va, re-
plies to Senator Sherman.
On Thursday last, Senator Kenna replied
to the speech of Senator Sherman, in which
Sherman assailed the policy of the Presi-
dents Message. He exposed the inconsis-
tency of Sherman and ably sustained the
policy recommended by President Cleve-
land. We have room only for the following
He (Mr. Kenna) had no further purpose
in the discussion than to indicate his CO.
operation with the President in the interests
of the people. The bill to reform the reve-
nue. system and to reduce taxation would
come into the House of Representatives,
and he did not doubt that it would be franz
ed in a spirit of conservative fairness to all
sections of the country and to all interests
The crv of the demagogue that the Presi
dent and his policy were aiming at a lessen
inp of the lust reward of labor was as indie
cent as it was false. The system Of taxa
ton in this country for the last twenty years
had been standing menace and source
of constant injury to the laborer himself
Who would deny that the system which had
prevailed under the Republican administra-
lions in this country, and for years past,
had made more strikes, driven more men
from employment, filed the country with
more tramps, aggravated more distress,
created more discomfort, and produced more
starvation and death than any other system
the country ever saw? Was itnot time for
a changer And yet when the President,
confronting bravely the solemn require
ments of his high office and daring to pre-
serve a patriotic regard for his public re-
sponsibilities ventured the suggestion of
remedy which had over and over again been
presented and demanded by one admins
tration after another, he was assailed by
one of the acknowledged leaders of the Re-
publican organization as frivolous in his ac-
ton or bent ON destruction. 1t might as
we'll be understood now as hereafter that
this movement for reform and the relief OF
public burdens in which the President had
calamity and manfully taken the lead
meant practical result. The country was
aroused to the justice of its demands; the
ranks would be closed; spirit of fairness
and of Justice would prevail in all things,
and both the benefits and burdens of our
system of taxation would be distributed
fairly. That system, both internal and ex-
ternal, would be treated as whole. The
tax on tobacco would, he had no doubt, be
reduced or wholly repealed. Iron and coal
and wool and other products of labor and
care and enterprise would not be sacrificed.
In the revision they would stand as other
industries of the country stood, subject to
their fair share in the benefits of whatever
system might be so revised and bearing
their fair share of the burdens of the COM
mon lot. There was ample room for re-
duction of existing taxes without violence
to any interest. No extremes needed to be
resorted to. The measure of duty which
filled the difference between the cost of
production in the United States and abroad
with the cost of transportation was protec-
ton to labor and fair competition to the
employer. The measure that went beyond
that was monopoly to the employer and I'M
fair competition to labor. The Democratic
party had never been the enemy of labor,
maintaining the ancient doctrine of home
rule-special privileges to none and equality
before the law. 1t had ever been, as it ever
would be, the safest guardian of the poor
and humble. Labor would find under it's
control of the Government a fair and securer
and better reward, but the monopoly, forti-
fed and entrenched behind twenty years
and more of Republican exaction and mis-
rule, would have to go. Its citadel would
be stormed and in this Congress it's exac-
tions would be denied. Its hold on the
Threats of the masses would be broken; the
mask of Republican protection would be
torn. from the face of hypocrisy, and deceit
and extortion.
In conclusion Mr.. Kenna said the ques-
ton before US at this time is the bare refer
ence of the Presidents message. The de-
bate upon that question has been precipi-
tated and calculated to alarm and terrify
the country; but the country has been long
preparing for this conflict. 1t is now ready |
for the fray. 1t is nay candid judgment that |
the great masses of the people will endorse |
and support this brave struggle for their |
rights and for the relief of their bondage
Our people are becoming more and more
intelligent day by day. Information is bet |
ter disseminated and onr action here is SUBJ
jected to daily scrutiny which would not
have been dreamed of twenty years ago. A
generation of young men is rising up about
US who are to control the destinies of the re-
public. They are its pride and its hope
While places of power and position are
open to their aspirations. they are to be
taught that the password to their future
advancement is equality before the law;
they are to realize their obligations to the
country; but they ale to realize aud cherish
as we'll the obligations of the country to
them. The child of labor and the child of
fortune, linked in common destiny, bound
by ties which should know no breaking, are
to go on together, guided by the spirit of
our institutions and inspired by the genius
of our country's freedom. These are to
constitute the men of the republic.
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