Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-10-04
TARIFF AND WAGES.
Speaker Carlisle Discusses the
Topic Of the Day.
Why Tariff Reform Would i'm No Way In
jure American Industries = The
Dangers of . Treasury Surplus
and Excessive Taxation.


Speaker Carlisle was for the seventh
time renominated for Congress at Coving-
ton, KY; the other day. After thanking
his constituents for the honor conferred on
him, he spoke thus about the effect Of the
tariff on wages, the Treasury surplus and
kindred matters:
Mr. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
CONVENTIONS: I scarcely know in what
terms to thank the Democracy Of this dis
trict for its action to days Twelve years
ago was nominated for Congress in this
hall, and since then the Democracy of this
district have chosen me six times in sue
cession to represent them in the House of
Representatives Of the United States. No
man could be insensible of such devotion
on the part of his friends, and I assure
you, gentlemen, that feel most profound
you and the people whom you represent.
TCheers.l
accept your nomination and shall en-
deavor to meet as many of you as possible
between this and the election, although my
duties at Washington prevent me from
giving much attention to my own district
not only accept your nomination, gentle
men, but indorse to the fullest extent the
resolutions you have just adopted, except
that part OF them that relates to me per-
sonally. [Applause.l
The great question before this country is
the question of Federal taxation. It makes
but little difference whether I am elected
60 Congress or not, but it is of overwhelm-'
ing Importance TO the people that the next
House of Representatives should be Dem
Dcratic [applause], and that the next Presi-
dent should be Democrat ALSO Cheers.
The two political parties have nominated
their candidates and made formal declara-
ton of their principles, and you will be
called upon next November to decide be-
tween them. The Republican party has
chosen as it's standard bearer Mr. Harri-
son. a respectable lawyer of Indianapolis,
for President and for Vice-President,
Levi P. Morton, a very rich banker in
Wall street The Democratic party has
selected the true and tried, the incorrupt-
ible President who now fills the chair, the
man who has brought the Administration
back to the ways Of the constitution, and
given to this people a clean, conservative
and faithful administration Of the law.
[Cheers.l With him they have associated
Mr.. Thurman fcheers], who for many long
years has been the best and truest repre-
sentative Of our Western Demo cracy.
But it is not. gentlemen, my purpose to
make aspeech. Many Of you want to return
to your homes on the afternoon train, and
many of you are anxious for your dinner.
] want to call your attention, though, to
the overwhelming Importance of the great
question which is now presented for the
decision Of the people; and congratulate
you on the fact that at last, after many
long years OF struggle, We have got this
question fairly and squarely before the
people. [Cheers.l It is declared in the
Democratic platform that unnecessary
taxation is unjust taxation; and by that
declaration the Democratic party will
stand or fall in this contest. When Presi-
dent Cleveland was inaugurated;o ION the 4th
Of March, 1885, he found on the statute
books laws passed by Republican Con-
crosses under which there was being an
nually collected from the people nearly
$1OO, 900 900 in excess Of the actual
found a large surplus accumulated
in the vaults of the treasury, and that
all the public debt in control OF the Gov
eminent, except about 1896 600, 600 of 3-pex-
cent. bonds, had been paid. What was to
be done2 Year after year some OF us have
struggled in the House of Representatives
to secure q reduction Of this enormous
burden on the people, and have predicted
that the time would surely come when this
money would accumulate in the public
Treasury to such an extent as TO paralyze
all the business enterprises of the country
and bring ruin and disaster upon our in
dustries and all engaged in them
We are not responsible for the existence
of these laws, but we felt, as the repre-
sponsibility rested upon US, in some meas
ure at least, to see if it could not be rem
edied. We failed. The money went on
accommodating in the Treasury at the rate
of $4,000 600 per month. and is still &C
cumulating at that rate. The Secretary OF
the Treasury told me just before left the
City of Washington that the surplus rev.
enue collected during the first fifteen days
of the present month, over and above the
expenses of the Government, was 81, 600,
coo. At the rate of several hundred thou
sand dollars every day and night the
money OF the people, money which they
need in their business, is being poured into
the public Treasury where it is not needed
[Cheers.l
To relieve the Treasury Of this enormous
amount and to prevent disaster to the bust
ness of the country the Administration is
compelled to purchase the outstanding
bonds of the Government at an enormous
premium. Within the last few months
$1,000 600 OF these bonds have been bought
at a premium on the per cents Of some CSC.
60 CSC. on the dollar, and on the 412s at &C. &C.
and &c., so that the bondholder is, by rea-
son of the unfortunate situation in which
the revenue laws have been left, taking
from the people millions and millions Of
dollars in excess of the amount which his
obligation calls for, and our friend, Mr.
Harrison, in his recent letter of accept
ance, says that this process should go on,
and the money should continue to be paid
to the bondholder. Mr. Sherman, the for
mer Secretary Of the Treasury, takes sub
stanially the same grounds. and criticises
in a harsh manner the action Of the pres
ent Administration in deposfting part of
this money in the National banks so that
it can be loaned to the people and go thus
into the channels Of trade. The records Of
the department will sustain the statement
that while Mr.. Sherman was Secretary Of
the Treasury he had at one time in sim
gle National bank more money than this
Administration has to-day in all the
National banks Of the United States
(Cheers.
Now, the great question you are to de-
eide is whether this system Of taxation
shall be continued indefinitely or whether