Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-02
PRENTlSS ALL RIGHT.
The Unanimous Verdict of All Who
Heard Him Last Night.
A Brilliant and Convincing Tariff
speech Before an Audience OF I'm
mense Numbers = A Thoroughly
Popular Candidate.

Hon. Vim. Prentiss. democratic candi-
date for congress in the Eleventh con.
gressional district, made his only speech in
the city of Rock Island during this CAM
paign. last night and it seemed as if the
whole town swarmed to Harper's theatre
to hear him. There was an immense turn
out, the house being packed to the doors.
Previous to the meeting Mr.. Prentiss was
serenaded at the Harper house by Bleu-
er's band and the Island City and Sunny
side clubs, and then escorted by these
organizations down Second avenue to the
theatre, the Island City club bearing its
new magnificent banner and the Sunny
sides beautiful silk American flag.
The meeting at the theatre was called
to order after a prelude by the band, by
Chairman Geo. W. Vinton of the demo
cratic county committee, who introduced
Mr.. Ben. T. Cable as chairman of the
meeting. The announcement was received
with a great demonstration of approval
and as Mr., Gable stepped forward he re>
ceived an exceedingly complimentary
ovation. Mr.. Cable stated that it was
not his purpose or intention to make
speech on this occasion 1t was his sim
pie duty and his great pleasure to intro
duce the next congressman from this dis
trict, Hon. VIM. Prentiss As Mr. Prem
tiss arose shout went up that was fairly
deafening. He walked down to the front
of the stage amid storm OF enthusiasm
never before eauslled In Harpers theatre.
1t must have been highly gratifying to
Mr.. Prenliss to have received such a
welcome in a city where such desperate
means have been resorted to, to create
the impression that nobody need expect
to be elected to congress who was not
nominated by the republicans of Rock
Island.
In commencing. Mr. Prentiss spoke of
the pleasure it afforded him to see so
many of the citizens of Rock Island as
were gathered on this occasion. He had
visited Rock Island on several occasions,
but had not had the pleasure of address,
ing the people here before. The cam
paign. he said, which had lasted so long
was fast drawing to Il close, and the PEG
PIE of the country would have opportunity
soon to decide for themselves upon men
and measures, according to their ballots
This was the first time in years that the
| people of this country had had an op.
portuuity to decide for themselves upon
economic questions. He defined the oh
jects and necessities of government
which becomes burden upoa the people
at best, for the reason that we do not all
of us live up TO the golden rule and do Il
others as we would be done by. TIL,
government being burden upon the PEG
pie necessarily, should be made to bear Al
lightly upon the people as possible
Those having the best means and oppor
tunities TO bear the greater share of thu
therefore. brings US down to the question
of taxation, and this is the matter that i,
of the most vital interest to the people Of
this country today. He traced the histo
~ OF taxes from the time they were frs
levied at the time of the founding of tn
republic up TO the present time and tn
graduation of the same according to tn
ability of those taxed TO bear them. There
are two modes of taxation-one the Im
port tax and the other the internal tax
The one of these from which the govern
ment derives the more benefit is the i'm
port tax. This tax, or tariff as it il
called, is not regulated according to
mans property, but rather according t
the consumption Of the individual or in
diyidusls taxed In the little republic o
Switzerland, the man who is unmarried
the bachelor-psys the heaviest PORTO
of the taxes. The man who is marie
and has but one child pays the next high
est proportion. and as his family increase
his taxes decrease. In this country. un
der the present system of taxation. th
exact reverse of this is true: The ma
who has the largest family and the leas
means pays the heaviest tsxes-th
masses of the people lay the taxes for Ii
few; the poor pay the taxes of the rich
The necessities of life are taxed to pa
the tax on the Injuries.
All concede that there is an unnece
sary surplus in the treasury and TIL
taxes must be reduced in some directiC
to get rid of this surplus. One par
says reduce the tax on the necessaries
life; the other party says take it off Il
Injuries. The republican party refus
to meet the democratic party in joi
discussion as to which of these ~
methods is better for the good of Il
: people and best interests of the republic
Some years before the war a low tar
was introduced in congress providing
a reduction in the taxes of the peop
1t was in 1s46 that this tariff reducti
law was proposed and carried to success
full enactment. The republican par
was not then for high tariff, and in 10
both parties Joined hands in another tar
reduction bill. The country thriy
under this system; there was no objt
ton to it from any source, But the "
came; funds were necessary to bear /
" increased expenses of the governme
A bill for temporary increase was int
duced and it was reality met by the pt
pile, as the government needed it. T
war ended; the war tariff is no Ion,
needed. Yet today there is still tax
AZ per cent, and because President Gle
land asks for reduction of this tax ur
, the people, and the democratic party p
vides for reduction of five per cent.
is heralded through the country as "f
trade" In 1857 when the reduction
the tariff became necessary there was
much money in the treasury. A red
| tinp uas pacocoaru Or dive J;s,r,o. -