, 1890-09-03


matter.
The Democratic platform declares fol
eight hours as a working day, going far
Their than the state constitution in this di-
r~ection. For a law to protect the lives OF
miners. For a law to enforce prompt and
fixed payment Of wages.
Mr.. CortheIl said he thought he had
read enough of the platforms to show
winch party was progressive. Some
times conditions arose when a bit of ret
repression would come into good play.
The debt of the city OF Laramie during a
Republican administration of three or
four years lad increased nearly SIS, 900,
and this in the face Of the fact that the
legislature had given the town a conces-
siol Of county licenses. Albany county
had by Republican mlsmauagement ac-
quired a debt of $lI6, 900, with rev.
enue increasing right along. While
in control Of the finances
OF Wyoming Territory Republi-
can economists had wiped out since 1885
a surplus of s3l. 900 and replaced it with
a debt of $500, 900. Somebody should
put on the brakes. In this respect we are
willing to plead guilty to the charge, for
we will put on the brakes.
Mr.. Corthell dealt clearly and in a few
words with national debt and taxation.
He said he would leave elaboration Of this
suhiect fo another sneakar
HON. oHAs. S. THOMAS,
The Colorado orator, who resided in the
centennial state when that grand com
monwealth was a dependency, congratu-
lated the people on Wyoming's release
from territorial vassalage. They are no
longer subjected to the whims of a distant
power. 1t is true that the Republicans
did it. That great party is Dow at the
helm and shapes the policy and moulds
the destiny for the time of the American
people. But don't think for a moment
that the promptinRs of generosity or
philanthropy, nor yet even of Justice, are
responsible for the breaking of chains
and the setting up of a territory as a
sovereign state, Congress felt pretty
certain that Wyoming was Republican by
a safe majority. Hence claims that sense
OF gratitude should now govern political
action are not well taken. Selfshncss
was the motive. Let the people consider
well this thing. In acting on the bill for
Wyoming's admission the national legis.
lature gave no thought to patriotism, to
the good of posterity or the welfare of
the people. These are cold, political
facts.
In 1885, after another party had ruled
the nation uninterrupteulY for twenty-five
years, the Democratic party came into
power. Material things long neglected
received attention. Business was stag
nant. Taxation was onerous. The people
were dissatisfied. For a year or two moth
ing happened except that the clarion
tones of honesty and integrity, long
strangers in Washington, reverberated in
the balls of the capitol. At the head of
affairs was a master hand, a Courageous
statesman who directed the government
honestly, in~telllgently and without favor.
In 1887 there had been placed in the
national treasury a surplus of 800, 0OO,-
900. Taxation unnecessarily levied was
responsible for this vast accumulation.
Then came with greater force than ever
the conviction that the import tax of
1862 81 was too great under changed
conditions. How to-contract the revenues
was the question and it was one that de-
manded immediate attention. Grover
Cleveland, the unflinching man of the
people, promulgated his immortal mess
age of 1887 1t was a document worthy
a place beside the greatest epistles of all
literature. 1t called attention to the vast
surplus and suggested a remedy for the
financial difficulty. And what did it pro-
pose2 Simply a reduction by a few
cents of the impost tax on
necessities. What a wall was therel A
cry went up that this procedure was a
blow at the liberties and prosperity of the
American people. Who protested2 Why
a very small body OF men who wished to
add IS OF the peoples money to their own
purses while placing 81 in the United
States treasury. All articles used mostly
by the poor and middle classes were taxed
heaviest. The monopolist proposed free
whisky and tobacco.
The Mills bill only reduced impost levy
from As or 49 per cent to A or As per
cent, yet the cry of free trade was raised
and the protected millionaire
manipulators of industries fostered by
the tariff yelled that the Mills bill
would bankrupt manufacturers and
starve the ~workingmen. Their cry of
woe was a parallel to the case of the edu-
Gated topper who promised to be a tetot-
aler and then said he'd abstain on the Re-
publican free trade plan, that he formerly
took forty nine drinks a day and would
stint himself to torty-four.
Mr.. Thomas went deep into the ques-
ton of revenue and taxation which sub
ject he has studied for.years. In COM
munities sufficient tax was levied to satisfy
the needs OF the local government. Any
freebooter would at once declare that
further taxation was robbery. If this
thing was carried on it could not be other
than a conspiracy of individuals, and tax
alton for a private purpose was worse
than piracy. Still "a man who opposed
this was branded a free trader, was
accused of advocating his honest ideas
Just to earn British gold.