Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-02-09

product of the wOOl-growers, he may now
feel impelled TO pull the wool over their
eyes Ishould not use such an expression,
Mr.. President, lift were not for the state
ment made in open Senate and in the
hearing of the country by the honorable
Senator in 1881, and / quote his words
/ that anything that will beat down that
party and build up our own is justifable
in morals and in law"
But, Mr. President, both the internal
and external tax systems will be treated as
a whole. The tax on tobacco will, / do
not doubt, be reduced or wholly repealed;
of this l shall be glad, and my vote on the
subject will be governed by what deem
to be the fairness of the general revision.
Iron and coal and the wool and other pro-
ducts of labor and of care and of enter
prise will not be sacrificed in this revision.
They will stand as other industries of the
country stand, subject to their fair share
in the benefits of whatever the system may
be as revised, and bearing as they ought
to bear, their fair share of the
burdens of the common lot. Why
should the Senator from Ohio be
appTehensive on this subject when he is
surrounded in this Chamber by a majority
Of his swn party friends. Why should he
seek to alarm the wool. growers or the pro-
ducers of the country when a majority of
his own way of thinking stand here ready
to obey his behest for their safety? Is it
because of the honorable Senators having
once voted to reduce the duty on wool, or
is it because he declared in 1882 that
whether there is a majority Of the Senate
is a question always OF doubt and unceT-
tainty."
Even if il turn out, Mr. President, in
the fluctuations of politics, and the uncer-
tain quality of the calculations of men that
the honorable Senator should find himself
at the head of minority instead of ma
jOrity on this question here, as in the other
! House, shall be pardoned for assuring
him in his own language that
1--WE acknowledge their power, we pay
Obesiance to it, we respect their power"
Mr.. President, there is
AMPLE ROOM FOR A REDUCTION
of The existing taxes and the burdens of
the people without violence TO any inter
est No extremes need be Tesorted to.
/ The measure of duty which fills the differ
ence between the cost of production here
and production abroad and transportation
to our shores is protection to labor and fair
competition to his employer. The meas
ure which goes beyond that limit is
monopoly to the employer and unfair COM
petition to labor.
The labOring man need not heed the
suggestion Of the Republican orator who
looks him in the face and declares: 81
am better than my brother" The Demo-
cratic party has never been the enemy
of labor. Maintaining the ancient doctrine
of home rule, special privileges to
none, and equality before the law it has
ever been, as it ever will be, the safest
guardian of the poor and the humble.
Labor will find under its control of the
Government fair, and, l trust, a securer
and better reward; but monopoly forti-
fed and entrenched behind twenty years
and more of Republican exaction and mis-
rule, will have to 90. Its citadel will be
stormSd, and in this Congress. It's exac-
tious will be denied It's hold on the
threats of the masses will be broken. The
mask of Republican protection will be
torn from the face of hypocrisy and de-
ceit and extOrtion.
The system which, in the language of
the honorable Senator from Ohio, has
brough a vast army of industrious la
bOreIs TO our shores" will be so modified
that that vast array, whether engaged in
the line of pursuits TO be found in the East,
or in the broader expanses of the great
West, shall not be starved in the interests
of money and monopoly when here The
details will suggest themselves for our con-
sideratiOn when the House shall have sent
MS bill We will then look, as | believe
the House will look, to the generous and
equitable treatment of every product in
the list.
The question before us at this time is the
bare reference of the Presidents message.
The debate upon that question has been
precipitated and calculated to alarm and
terrify the country. But the country has
long been preparing for this conflict. 1t is
now ready for the fray. 1t is my candid
Judgment that the great masses Of the peo-
pie will endorse and support this brave
struggle for their rights, and for the reliefof
their bondage. Our people are becoming
more and more intelligent day by day.
Information is better disseminated and our
action here is subjected to a 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
fought that the password to their future
advancement is equality before the law"
They are 10 realize their obligations to
country, but they are to realize and cherish
as well the obligations Of country to them.
The child of labor and the child Of fortune,
linked in a common destiny, bound by the
ties which should know no breaking, are
to 90 on together guided by the spirit Of our