Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-10-30

By extravaganl unwaffanted, unnecessary
appropriations they have actually been reduc-
ing the surplus and redeeming these promises.
lLaughter and applause.l So that now the
spectacle 10 presented that possibly there mar
be deficiency IN the Federal Treasury instead
OF the surplus which was there under the Dem
ocratic Administration. But this surplus has
been taken out Of the Treasury and IL being
taken out OF the Treasury, By appropriations
which hayS been greater during the last two
years than almost in any other period IN the his.
tory OF the country, save that ofthe war tHii
We believe II is the duty OF the Government
20 legislate 10 the interest OF the great masses
OF the people. The Democratic party stands
opposed 10 class legislation. We favor iegtsia.
tlon for the masses rs against tho classes IN
this country IApplause.l We believe that
there should be no partnership between this
Government and certain favored interests we
believe that as far as possible there should be
little Governmentalpower or influence exerted
N behalf OF any mans business. We believe
IL Is the business OF the Government 10 pass
laws calculated to subserye the interests OF
the great body OF the people, the consumers Of
the country. The party 10 which belong never
believed in the doctrine that national debtwas
a national blessing. daughter and applause.l
We believe that there should be tariff for the
purposes OF revenue. i'ItH - Naii
Then we are willing to say. and do say most
heartily, that In the adjustment of that tariff
we have the right 10 make determinations
proper and just In the FIRST place deny that
the Democratic party has ever committed it
self TO free trade. but do sny that we stand
stronger than any other party that ever existed
In the history Of the Government or that ex-
lists to-day, in favor OF protection tc American
labor. loud and continued applause Let
me state TO you what mean by that. Capital
Nan fol Of potn hhorh rvIiI
take care OF the interests ofthe capitalists, but
II is for the Democratic party TO take care OF the
interests OF the masses. tApplause
In the determination OF what amount Of tariff
shall be placed upon given article, we have q
right In raising the amount OF money necessary
for the needs OF Government and within those
limits 10 recognize the demand Of labor. We
recognize the fact that for many years there has
existed a difference in the rate OF wages paid In
this country and In other countries, and the
Democratic party in its platform OF 1884 reiter-
ated in 1885, expressly provided therefor. In
advocating q reduction OF taxes we said then,
and say now, 1t is not proposed to injure any
domestic industries, but rather to promote
their healthy growth.
The necessary reduction in taxation can and
must be without depriving American labor Of
the ability TO compete successfully with foreign
labor, and they must not lower rates Of duty
more than will be ample to cover any increased
cost OF production which may exist in conse-
Quence OF the high rate OF wages prevailing In
this country. In other words, to make 1t plain,
the Democratic party, recognizing that fact Of
the difference between wages in some countries
and In this, says that there shall be placed up
on those articles an amount which shall be suf-
ficient to make it equal, and that Is what mean
when say the Democratic party Is really the
champion OF the protection of labor in this
country. loud and continued applause
Therefore, when our friends upon the
other side say that the Democratic party
is opposed to the high wages OF laboring men,
they misstate the Democratic platform OF 1883.
They misstate the position which we have ad-
vocated for many long years. The Democratic
party, my friends, are not opposed to the inter-
ests OF the laboring men. Go where you will in
any part OF this country and address Demo-
cratic audiences, and you will find the majority
OF them everywhere are composed Of the work
ingmen Of the country. [Applause.l You recol-
lect In 1888 there was great discussion over
what was known as the Mills bill 1t was q bill
framed as submit to you, In the best interests
Of the country. 1t was a bill intended to sub
serve your interests-you, the consumers Of the
land. 1t was assailed the same as every meas
ure that has been introduced for the reduction
OF taxation for the past ten years has been as
sailed. N
Now, upon this one question in reference to
the amount Of tariff taxation-tariff duties Inn
posed upon articles in that Mills bill--I desire
to make this statement. There was not a SIN
gle item in that Mills bill upon which duty was
reduced Not speaking of the free list,
upon which there was not still left a sufficient
duty to represent the difference between the
cost found in the production of that article 30
far as labor was concerned. Imake that state
ment, and let the orators who are to address the
people In this vicinity hereafter point out to you
o single article upon which that can not be just
ly said. II that be true then may fairly claim
the proposition as established that the Demo-
cratic party in the great meas
ure known as the Mills = bill,
amply, sufficiently and justly protected the
interests Of every laboring man in the country.
LApplause.l make that statement, desiring
TO be accurate might go further and say
within bounds that not only is that true, but
with reference TO the majority Of articles men
toned in that Mills bill there was not only left
sufficient duty to represent the difference be.
tween the amount Of wages paid in other coun-
tries, but two three and sometimes four times
the difference.
In framing tariff measures. my friends, there
are certain fundamental principles which ought
to be observed, and stated think fairly the
position OF the Democratic party In that re-
should be little no tariff upon the necessaries
OF life.
Secondly, we insist that as far as possible,
there should be no tax upon raw material nec-
essary to be used in manufacturing.
These two principles we submit are essential
for the best interests Of this country and upon
those principles the Democratic party is will
ing to go into this contest and into every con-
test that awaits US in the future. Applause. |
We have nailed our flag to the mast, and there
we shall remain until victory awaits US. Loud
applause.l
know that there are those who say so long
as every body receives some portion of tariff
taxation that therefore no injustice Is DONE. I
make so long as tariff bill gives every body a
little protection, as it is called; therefore no
body should complain 1t is possible, my
friends, that to some extent whatever benefits
are conferred upon one portion of a community
to certain extent, limited though 1t may be-,
| 1t inures to the benefit Of TIERS
1t is possible that II every man in this town
| was taxed Is, and that money was to be given
| to one ofyour leading citizens, and he proposed
to invest that money in your town, it might to o
| limited degree and in an indirect manner be Of
| some benefit TO your people; but do not be-
| lieve in the doctrine of ''fobbing Peter to pay
Paul" [Applause.l believe it an abuse OF
| the power Of taxation to take money from one
| mans pocket and placing it in another's and l
believe that it is the duty of the Government to
deal Justly and exactly with the interests OF
all, not unduly favoring any. know there are
| some old arguments in favor of the doctrine OF
having every bodys interests represented in a
| tariff bill, and know that the other side rely
upon the fact that by examining their tariff bill
that every body apparently has got some In