Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-10-25
HILL IN INDIANA.
Speeches at Mitchell, Seymour and
Indianapolis.

| Indianapolis.
| New York's Distinguished Governor En-
| ulightens the Hoosiers on Tariff Reform
and Tells Them why Excessive
Taxation Is Pernicious.
Governor Hill, of New York, began his
series of stump speeches in Indiana at
Mitchell on Friday, October IL, nearly 5000
| strangers being in town to receive him.
| After a few Introductory remarks he said:
"My friends, the Democratic rarity proposes
revision of the tariff 1t does not propose the
| destruction OF the tariff but it proposes simply
mod fcation of 1t. Tariff revision Is not tar Fl
destruction. We believe that the time has come
when the excessive revenues of the Gover$
ment should be diminished. We believe that
the best and truest interests of our country
will be subserved by reduction of the present
high rate OF taxation. We have suffered long
enough under war taxation, and we think the
time has come-the time of peace-when war
| taxation should cease Need argue before an
intelligent audience like this that it is best for
this country that there should not be an over.
flowing Treasury?
I've are in favor of a revision OF the tariff
principally upon two points: First, we think
that raw material wherever it is possible SO to
do, should be admitted free of duty. We be-
lieve, in the second place, that the taxes upon
the necessaries of life should be made as light
as possible. Upon these two points we may
confidently appeal to the people in this cam
paign don't propose to argue to you at any
length in favor of the propriety of what is
known as the Mills bill You, by this time in
the campaign, are familiar with the details of
that measure. 1 am not here to say that it is
perfect in ali its detail; but in the main, it is
measure reasonably free from objection. 1t is
measure intended to subserve the best in
terests OF the country. It is a measure in the
interests OF the taxpayers, the consumers, the
farmers, the mechanics and the laboring men
OF the country.
my friends, when this question was first
presented to Congress last December in a mes
sage by the President have you forgotten how
that message was received by our opponents
In and out Of Congress? In the first place, they
said there was no surplus; in the second place,
they said il there was surplus it did not mat
ter. They said: 1T Is better, is it not, that we
should have q surplus than deficiency? They
said: 1t is unwlse to disturb the business inter-
ests of the country by tinkerlng with the tariff
and they neglected no opportun ty to discour-
age the presentation of this question to the peo-
pie of the United States. Nevertheless that
message, which startled the country somewhat
because of its boldness, its honesty, its candor,
was acted upon by our Democratic representa-
tiveS in the lower House of Congress. They
framed bill known the Mills H. de-
signed to relieve the country from unneces-
sary taxation. The bill was opposed at every
step, but our gallant Democratic members of
Congress persisted in the fight. They said to
their opponents: " Propose a better measure
give US better substitute; do something for
the relief of an overburdened and tAx-r.dden
people. But our appeal to them was made in
| vain-they offered no substitute. They pre-
sented no other bill. They discussed the ques-
ton week after week and month after month";
raising the same cry that the question
ought not to be considered at all. Finally when
the vote came they contented themselves with
offering few amendments Then, when these
were voted down, they simply voted against
the measure.
ut then went to the Senate OF our country
the Republican Senate. That body hesitated
in regard to it; discussion of it was postponed;
and finally, my friends, in the month of Oc-
tober, on the eve of this Presidential election,
when the country has been considering this
matter for many long months, when they saw
that a demand for tariff reform was sweeping
over the country, at this eleventh hour, what
do they do? They then propose measure for
the reduction Of the tariff and reduction OF
taxation. The majority of the Finance Com
mittee Of the Senate made q report to which
desire to call your attention from the ad-
missions made IN it. By that report they say
that they find that the revenues OF the Govern
ment are excessive. 1t seems to me we heard
something like that in President Clevelands
message last December. TLaughterl They said
that the demand for a reduction of the
tariff seems to be imperative. We have
heard that before. Continuous laugh
ter. Tney SAID tnere was q necessity
for revision so that the inequalities
of the tariff should no longer be perpetuated.
Then they presented Their bill am not here
to discuss the wisdom of the details of that
bill, but am here to say, in the light of these
claims. in the light OF these facts, in
the light of the attitude OF the Repub-
licans in Congress and out of Congress, that the
report of the majority of the Senate commit
tee and the presentation of any bill whatever
by them is a confession of judgment in favor of
%o1ro rvIoxya ~
and the Democrat party in December last
IApplause.1 Now they concede the propriety of
the discussion Of this gu estion. They now pro-
pose TO tinker with the tariff themselves; they
now propose to disturb what they say
are the business interests of this coun-
try by taking up this question them
selves. Laughter and applause. My
friends, it is too late. The cry for tariff re-
form which has been spreading over this. coun-
try has rece we'd such an impetus that it will
again place Mr.. Cleveland in the Presidential
char. prolonged cheers.1
1T said did not propose to discuss the de-
tails Of the Mills bill, and do not. There are
some things, however, you will permit me TO
allude to. What earthly objection can there
be upon the part of the farmers, the working
men and the laboring men of this great State
of Indiana to placing salt upon the free list?
What injury can this be to your Industries and
to your interests? Salt is one of the neces-
sares of life used by every family and VIA
the Democratic party proposes to place this Oh
the free list, they arc acting in your interest,
and not subscribing selfish interests of their
own. In plain words, the Democratic party in
this campaign is fighting the selfish Of the
country on behalf of the masses of the PEG
pie. ICheers.l Why, we have heard this same
cry made before that, if the tar. II was changed
at all, the business interests of the country
would be injured. Let me give you an
illustration. About twelve thirteen years
ago-I forget the precise date-there
was demand on the part Of
tie people that hides should be placed
upoa the free list Some of the tanners
of the country objected; others doubted the
propr ETY. of it, II was claimed that it would
seriousy affect the people OF this country to
have raw hides put upon the free list, but Con-
gress in one of its lucid intervals, was finally
persuaded to place this article upon the free
list. The result has been that to-day there is
not tanner anywhere engaged in business in
the land but what is glad that It was done, and
he would not have the duty restored If it were
possible TO do so. The result has been your
tanning interests have been increased; they
have prospered as never before, and we arc ex-
porting more leather to-day than ever before
in the history of this country. What is true in
reference to this one article is true, as We
think, in reference to others. The same argu-
nents, my friends. which were urged then
against a reduction of tariff taxation are urged
now, and che same arguments which they
urged now can be urged in five years from now,
in ten years from now, and in fifteen years
from now. They were unsound then; they are
/ unsound now.
snow. my friends, I came to the State OF In
diana in order that might see the Democracy
with you n this great National campaign. l
came 10 bring YOU good word from the Empire