The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-10-24
DEMOCRATIC SPEECH.
Hon. john +. Massey Opens the Cam
pnign at Big Stone Gap and Delivers
an Interesting Argument on the
Issues or the Day.

The Hon. .Jno. Z. Massey spoke to a
large crowd ut the new building OF y.
SummerficId on Wood avenue last Friday
evening. MrIrvine introduced the speaker
ms one of the noblest men of the grandcst
old State in the union. In response to which
GOV. Massey said 1--WE claim Kentucky as
one of Virginia 5 daughters. and | feel at
home among the kentuckians. Ii is a
great pleasure for me to be with You to-
night. although ! did not expect when
came to your city to have the honor to he
called on 10 address YOU, and shall speak
promiscuously and not merely politically.
Nine wears ago | spoke TO the citizens of
this county under a large tree near this
place, tho place ! pointed out to 4 friend
TODAY while 4ridinE. There was noshfng
here then. Since thnt time you have
made gsAas praSress arA ! congratulate
pou mast heartily On whot YOU have done
and the seeouIces with which von are
surrounded. When the late unpleasant
ness ended" he said ''the South was
almost annihlatcd and destitute. but the
South went braycly to work, and has not
depended OH the government for aid, but
relied on its own merits. and what was
once regarded as misfortune was per-
haps for the best, for the men who make
the most of this life are the men who
rely on themselves, and the South is now
coming to the front and being recognized
by the commercial world Virginia has
the brightest prospects before her. She
is now one of the most prominent States,
and will soon take the rank where she
stood wears and years ago. When ! was
here before, was discussing State affairs
and the finance of Virginia. People were
not willing to come here and invest their
money, because they thought Virginia was
not able TO meet her obligations, and their
property would lie taxed too heavily.
That is one question that is being agitated
BY capitalists out of Virginia to-day.
| He explained the first principles of the
government, and said that nothing should
be adopted as policy that was not honest
aud equal between man an man, and man
and government. each individual is ex-
pected to contribute his portion for the
maintenance OF the government, and If he
sifaiis to do that he fails to meet his obliSa-
tions as moral citizen, and then he has
"a right to expect from the government its
protection. If we were here tonight TO
form government we would want to make
d il equally just to ALL But every man has
+ right to form his opinion and they can
y not be alike. Tie government has right
\ to call upon her citizens for sufficient
II amount 10 run it economically. Now If it
4 has taken more than that there is some
ssthing wrong somewhere. There are three
Hways OF raising this money: by direct tax
4 atiom, which MANY advocate as being the
Il pest way to run the government, but there
n sometimes difficulty in getting the prop
n ,rty assessed properly. The poor man
yh0 has only Il COW, u horse and few
lslomestic implements is sure to be assessed
Cor everything he has, while the rich man
|@nay withhold his bonds, stocks, notes and
ES;aluables from notice
"Then there is the internal revenue
1ssystenl, which ] don't think meets the
OF any bat those who live by
the people. And last is the tariff,
Fsir imposed duties, which is the best and
ar most economical way to run the gov
rnment. The expenses of the govern
/ ,ent, including the pension bills, amount
5#p four hundred and fifty millions of dol
FAIRS, and the democrats are in favor of
aising every dollar of that money by
ariB and incidentally TO protect our home
4 u adustries. How can they call tina. free
3staaey The argument ON the other hand
4 that our home industries need aspecial
;Fotecfion. ] can understand why the
Producer is in favor or high tariff, but |
annot understand @hy the consumer is in
Iyor If II ron put il on the nlaliu.
sctnrer he puts II OH the Manufactured
rtieies.o
He gave the following illustration in
,eaking0 of The fnrmsrs iii tafoy OF pro-
etiye fafiGi "a MAN departed this life
|ead vent down to the lower regions before
~ was expected. The master laid; I sas
: HI booking for you mid haze not accom-.
n