Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-06-10
THE BATTLE In COMMITTEE.
How the COntsnding Elements Came to an
Agreement

LOUISVILLE, Ky >, June 9.-The Wat
terson and Democratic clubs, headed by
q band of music sni followed by q con-
course of citizens, serensded Mr.. Henry
Wstterson at his home in this city this
evening on his retu rnlfrom st. Louis. He
spoke reviewing the work of the
convention, the platform, the ticket and
so on. The following are the more nota-
BILE passages in hiz remarks, absent the
tariff anu the platform:
He went to ths ST. Louis Convention
with the single pdrpose to urge that the
line of battle should be drawn on the mes
sage of the President and the position Of
our friends in Cor gress.
IL met there formidable array in favor
of limiting our pltn of campaign to SIM
pie re-affirmatior of the platform of
1884, aud q general Endorsement Of the
administration. There was, from first to
last no other issus raised. 1t is true that l
helped make the platform of 1884, and it
is true that SPOKE for it in the National
Convention of thai year. 1t is true, that
for four years, nave put upon it con-
structiOn which thought to be Justified
by the plain letter of its meaning, but it is
also true that the country accepted it as
straddle, and that this Interpretation
has stereotyped itself in the public mind,
merely to reiterate it therefore, was to lose
sll that we have since gained to traverse q
policy which, in Congress at least, has
brought us union where there were only
diyirsions, to surrender an entrenched
position, and to fly the field in the face Of
the enemy. could not consent tothis. But
it is not true that 1 proposed any advance.
On the contrary, / agreed to take the plat
form submitted by Mr. Scott and Mr.. Cor
man, word for word, if they would agree
TO strike out the first clause, which, with
out any qualification whatever, reafhrmed
the platform of 1884. There was no
other difference between us-nOne at all !;
and willis they made their argument with
extraordinary Carnestness, plausibiiity,
and power, | am bound to say they dis
closed no spirit that was not that of honest
Democrats, seeking the good Of the coun-
try and the part, and, when We finally
reached the conclusion embodied by the
platform as perfected, We stood as one man
and not az three men.
But fellow citizens, to rescue them
from the perils that befell poor Tray and
the aseription so dangerous in their part OF
the country, as it would seem OF being
caught in my company, let me haste to
suggest that there may be some
mistake about my opinions and
purposes. have certainly done
all | could do to fix the
attention of the people upon the ruinous
exactions of tariff, the most unscieutitic-
ally laid in the world. have sought to
force upon the authors of that tariff a re-
demption of the pledges they made when
they enacted chat it should not out
last the eXigencies that brought
it into being, and it may he
that in the course of the agitation |
have not always been very squeamish
about the terms used, described as legal
lied robbery" But, now, have proposed
ANYTHING extreme or destructive? L am a
builder by preference, conservative by
nature, and no more than the President, no
more than Mr. Carlisle, no more than my
friends German and Scott would proceed
in the work of reform with any rash pre-
cipitaney, am the friend not the enemy
of manufacturers; on mining and indus
trial developments; of labor in the sense OF
honest work for honest wages, and if the
demands Of New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut wonld take what l think
from my my own lips and not at second,
from lips puckered to lie for a considers-
ton, they would hear nothing to friRhten
or to iniure them.
Rome was not built in day, the pro-
tectiye system cannot be got rid of for
wears TO come. The Mills bill, which l
support, is a protection not free trade meas
ure. As for free trade, it is not now at stake
and never will be realized, If 1t be ever
realized until the manufacturers put them.
selves at the head of the movement, and
put it through. The menace. like the
chimera of the Rebel Brigadiers, is fig
ment of sectional and partisan malvolenee,
got up by the Republicans for campaign
purposes.