The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-17

taxation in this country? l need not argue be-
| fore this intelligent audience of the danger to
the people in an overflowing treasury. You
have heard this question discussed mt length,
and you, undoubtedly, have made up your
mind on the question, but | say this-and but
echo, j think, the sentiments of the American
| peOple-ihat we do not believe that the best
or truest interests of this country will longer be
subseryed by having an overlooking treasury.
We believe, in a word, that the place for the
! surplus taxation is in the pockets of the people
| and not in the federal treasury. lGreat ap-
/ plause We believe that in times of peace
there should be no longer imposed upon
us taxes. Applause.1 We found our
4 selves at the advent into power of
a democratic national administration with
a system of taxation which was bringing
| into the federal treasury an amount far in ex-
cess OF its needs. The question was presented.
| 1t could not well be avoided. A less strong, a
| less brave, less patriotic man than President
| Cleveland might have avoided the issue. APP
! plausel. But il confronted him and he met it.
| grandly and nobly. And that question is
presented for the consideration of the Ameri-
can people. Last December in message
/ which was bold and able, strong and patriotic,
/ he presented the question TO the American con-
| gress. lie pointed out the duty OF that con-
greSs; he pointed out the needs of the people;
he pointed the way for n relief for taxpayers
and consumers of our country; certain recon-
mendatiOnS were made in the interest of the
people.
Following that, what was done in congress?
1 want TO call your attention at the outset of
my remarks 10 the attitude then assumed by
our opponents in and out of congress. The
first response they made to that message was
that there was no necessity for any action
the part OF congress or the people. They
said, and appeal 10 you, my fellOw-citHens TO
examine the republican papers of that date in
last December and see if | am not correct, they
said to you: CD That there was no surplus;
~ that II there was surplus IL did not matter;
10 that any attempt 10 revise the tariff would
disturb the business interests of the country
and II ought not TO be entered upon. | do not
mistake the republican position upon that
question in and out of congress. They as
sumed TO treat the question in a trifiing man.
ner. They did not think that the storm was
going 10 be a great one, and they imagined it
would soon blow over. But, my friends, the
storm that was then started has not yet blown
over: 1t is sweeping not only the prairies of the
West, but il is sweeping all the middle states
OF our country. [Applause.l
measure was introduced in that congress
known the Mills bill. II is a bill in the in
terest of the people. 1t is bill that attacks
selhshneSs in some places. 1t is bill which is
intended to subServe the best and trueSt
interests of our country. 1t may have its de-
iects; no measure Is without them; but in the
main II is bill free from reasonable objection;
a bill which is intended to do something for
the relief practically of the taxpayers of the
country. tApplause.l Our gallant democratic
congressman said TO their opponents: Assist
us now IN this measure for the relief of the
country" But, my friends, you and know
that If this question had been proceeded
with in calm, quiet, impartial and nom
partisan way, there would have been no diff
hcuity In framing measure acceptable for the
whole people. But what position was taken?
You have not forgotten the speeches that were
made They voted down at every opportunity
the consideration OF the question. The Mills
bill was killed. When the final vote came in
congress, no substitute was offered for il, no
other bills suggested in it place; few amend
ments were offered. The majority of the re-
publican party took the position which they
now occupy, namely, as the party ofoppOsition
that simply would oppose the democratic
measure, but had nothing to substitute IN its
place for the benefit of the people. | claim
because of these things that ii is TO the
democracy in congress and 10 the democratic
party that we are indebted for the advanced
position assumed on this question. APP
plause.
The bill finally passed the democratic house
OF representatives and went to republican
senate. / know not what that senate may do
with this bill. PROFESSIONALLY it will be
| beaten. But | call your attention to the POI
| sitiOn of that republican senate. This ques-
| ton has now been before the American people
| since last December. How they have changed
| their position since then! Let me call your
attention to a few points. The majority of the
finance committee of the senate made report
IN which they said, substantially, THAT the de-
| mand for n careful revision of our revneue
| laws is imperative. Second, TO reduce the ma
! tiOnal revenues, which are now excessive.
Third, they desire to remedy the anomalies and
lncOngruites which have been from time to
time discovered in the present tariff schedules.
Ii strikes me and you that we have heard all
these suggestions before put in stronger terms
IN President Cleyeland'S message of December
last. Applause. l insist that this position
taken by the senate committee, and upon
which they have now at the eleventh hour
framed a bill to meet this imperative demand,
is an entire change of front on the part of the
republican party. Applause. / insist to you
that this statement of the majority OF the COM
mittee, followed by the presentation of their
bill, is in sum and substance a confession of
judgment upon the whole question involved in
this campaign. [Applause.l
| said did not know what the republican
senate may do upon this question; but before
discussing this question further permit me to
branch Oft and give you one or two reasons why
they will probably defeat it and why the re-
publicans to-day hold majority in the U. 5.
senate. Permit me to branch off upon this
subject for a single moment. My friends, the
senate of the United States does not to-day
represent majority of the people of this coun-
try. Applause / desire 10 state that they
maintain their ascendency in the senate of the
United States by reason OF means that will not
4
Union. The state of New York has been DEM
ocrauc now for several years. We have car
RED that state by malOrlties from LOO to
1000 and 5000, and one year 100000 and
over. lApplause.l But notwithstanding
that fact, our opponents keep control of the
legislature of that state. Let me tell YOU how
they do 1t. The constitution of our state re-
qulreS that every ten years there shall be an
enumeration of the inhabitants of the state
and that enumeration shall be followed by a
reapportiOnment of the senate and assembly
districts. And in defiance OF those plain pro-
visions of the constitution the republicans
have retained control of the senate and as
sembly OF our state, have refused to carry out
their constitutional obligations and refused to
order an enumeration and refuse to reappor-
ton the senate and assembly districts of that
state. And Tor that reason and that reason alone
the great Empire state of the Union is misrep-
resented by two republican senators in the
Y. ). senate. lApplause.l They don't reflect
the honest sentiments of the majority of the
people OF that state. Applause.
In the state OF Connecticut how do they keep
control and keep two u. ). senators there by
the opposite party? BY a system of retaining
borough representation, whereby little towns
having only from three to five hundred voters
have as man representatives in the senate and
assembly of that state as have the large cities
OF New Haven ard Hartford. And by that
system of representation they keep control of
that state, and keep two u. ). senators to mis-
represent the people OF that state. Applause
There is another state TO which desire to
call attention where they have kept two IT, s.
senators in the senate of the United States to
misrepresent the people. | point 10 the little
state OF Rhode Island, state in New England
Ii is that section OF the country where the dis
guishcd gentleman who addressed the citizens
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