San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-11-03
COL. BELKNAP'S SPEECH.
Delivered at Lampasas Friday,
October 25th.
From the News-Dispatch.


tional fair, so soon to be held in my adopted
city, San Antonio, aud while having Upon
my hands very important personal interests
requiring my attention, have been suddenly
and UNEXPECTEDLY Contronted with question
OF duty as q citizen OF the state, winch has
caused ma no little concern and anxiety
Knowing that the protect onists OF the Tenth
congressional district mad wisely decided upon
the man to run for congress in this district as
a representative of their ideas, had given
myself no personal concern for this canvass
beyon that of Il private citizen, deeply inter
G ted In protecting the WOO! and cat
tie interests OF my district Late on the even
ing of the 18th instant, while resting at home
after a hard Gay work on the Ialr grounds,
was notified by party of gentlemen thar my
presence was required in town. No lntima-
ton being given for what purpose was
wanted. On presenting myself before them,
| was notified that an adjourned session of
the republican convention just held the call
for which had now stated that cOngre Sc Onal
nomination was 10 he IN ide, had be zen uuani-
mousiy nominated TO represent the prOtec.
tion sentiment of their district. ana to make
the race upon that platform a one. This nOti-
tiCatiOn of the responsibility so UNEXPECTEDLY
thrust upon me, and so entirely unsolicited
on my par, was 10 me exceedingly rmDar-
RAISING. | did not desire the position, nor
d d feel at liberty to refuse, realizing that
my own interests were a. STAKE as well rs the
interests Of Others. and that, rs II c'IiZeD,
il was a grave question how far it was right
for me TO refuse daty so palNly set before
me. After some hours OF serious dellhCratlrn,
and only in view of the urgeLcy OF the Situa.
ton and the unanimity of the call consented
to accept The nomination and enter the field as
;hl csud dale of hO.t, VINO believe IN the Drp-
tecr,0n OF nome industries and home labor.
Did not neartiiy avCU q with their senti-
menus | wou not OF before YOU today Nv
time has heretofore been gwen to active bust.
ness pursuits and rhc furthtr4nCc OF those
pub iC enterprises cor tnc benefit of south
west Texas. which here 80 iltrly engrossed
the attention OF Our min .spir.cd cIriZruS
I have had no l,isIir,. 10 enter InirIisCly
INTO the study O. tho great economic questions
involved in the canvass, and H. the short time
that has rlapspI since Glyesting myself of
business AFFAIRS for me present purDOSP |
huvc hren roo ,,uslly en- AIRED in making the
acGnaintance of the voters Of our district. to
do SO. i shaiI therefore eater inro no Iab1ri.
nus line Of argument ,In0n MI. question. h,II
csn assure Won have lOuL. AID mo iphlful.y
considered fnP s.TI. IN, fer tlIrtG of he -uI,ipCt
aud am now in uOsiIiou t. do 50.
During rhe pAsI llrart, five, years there
hnv,. been no Questions OF sOvir,i npOrtaurp
to the prGplp 6f this district and iuvu y,.d IL
their political action as the ore now be
fore us Political economists Starpsln-n and
nOIiticiaus in this as in other cauntrias have
disculrsed learnedlv concerning free. trade
and protection and have attempted all meth
DDS of i;s S,iutiOn That they hay. arrived M
no better conclusion is due solely to the off
fereut staudpOints from which the subject h.
been viewed and tu, relation sustained by
those interested in us discussion in the com.
merciaI exchanges Of the world These di-
verse and antagOnistic views concern US all
and should comman1 our earnest attention
and influence our political action without re-
gard 10 Questions of a Dilrely partisan char.
acter
You will go to the polls in a few days to dis
charge your duty ana to exercise your rights
as American citizens. In the exercise If that
RIGHT Won must deuOsit yOEr ballot for one or
the Oth,r Are YOU prepared to do so, fully
understandings thu, great importance attach
ing to YOUR vote? Are YOU prepared to say
nv that ballot thar free ira lie is For the liner,
eSts Of our peOpIe here or elsewhere? Are
Won prepared TO say that the policy OF prOtec-
ton which for he past IS wears has so foster
ed our national industries that we stand today
in the front rank ST all producing countries
Is to be abandoned?
Do vOu.Oelieve that it IS best to legislate
ont of ey,stance the pOlicv which has so
palpably and wonderfully developed our IT a
terial resources? Rather! do YOU not decide
that il is wise to let well enough alone and by
voting to continue the protection policy OF
the government insure a continuance of that
growth and DrOSueritv so vital tn the whole
country and in which Our own district il per-
hans more deeDIy interested than any other
These are the considerations presented to
Won in the campaign The facts of free
trade and nrOtection in their reSults uDOn the
increase or decrease Of values in this conn.
try are the facts Won must graDple with and
if OIL are wise v0TIr votes will foiIoW yOur in.
teinpent Judgment upon these facts and not
he cast at the dictation of mere Darty feeling
The literature of rhIs sDbiect has haen great
w mnitinIiad within the nast few mSnthS
rThr,, is NOR. general infOrmgtiOn among the
I.-o,,i,. today Inon the results of frea tTeIe
and protectiOn notifies in this and other
countries than ever before II ia no longer n
| secret Tuestion for fine DOiitician who mysti-
| ties that ne may mislead Ii is a question for
| the npOnle for HIl The neo,Ie. and nqrficuIlrIy
| for those whose indus;ries are threat.
ened with destrnctton ask your
| carefll! Study and th0nghtfuI consideration of
| the facts as Submitted TO Won in the speeches
| and campaiFn literature of this election. I
honrstIy helieye that IN this diStric- every
| farmer. csttIemau, flock master every me-