Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-10-25
THE SPEECH
OF Governor David Il. Hill-A Mastery
Political Argument.


MIR. PRESIDENT, AND FELLOW CIrI-
ZENs OF THE CITY OF WHEELING:-l
thank you for this kind reception, and |
accept it. not as mere personal cOmpli-
ment to myself, but more as a compli-
ment TO the sterling Democracy OF the
Empire State of New York. | need
scarcely assure you that l am pleased to
be present on this occasion. This is my
first visit To the State of West Virginia.
| congratulate you that you live in
favored section of the country. OBJ
serve on every hand the evidences OF
vour industry, your thrift and your en-
terprise. am here tonight TO testify,
more by my presence than by any words
that | can utter, my interest in the cam
paign in your State. 1t is campaign
i'm which the Democracy of the whole
country is interested, and we are watch
ING il in other States, with deep con-
cern. 1t is important, because on this
State may depend the complexion of the
lower House of Congress, to say nothing
of the Legislature. Applause.
The theme which is to open my ad-
dress tonight is the great subject OF
Federal taxation, and | promise to give
YOU nv views-which | conceive to be
also the views of the Democratic party,
upon this question. At this slate day, it
is not necessary for us to enter into any
argument TO demonstrate that Il tariff
duty is not tax. Two or three years
ago our Republican friends ridiculed
that statement, but in the light OF the
camuaign of education which has been
going on since then, in view especially
of the advance in prices which you are
beginning to pay, prices increased by
the changes in the tariff-no argument
is necessary TO convince you that the
tariff is a tax, and that tax is a bur-
den. Applause. Neither do desire
10 take up much time over the question
rs 70 the best methods OF raising
the amount of money necessary for
the running of the government. There
is no ouestion but that the best manner
of raising this money is by system OF
tariff tax. The Democratic National
platform, in 1884, supplemented by that
os 1sSs, settled that question conclu-
sivelv so far as the Democratic party is
concerned. 1t declares, nearly IN so
many words. that it has been the Gus
tom of this government since its founda-
tion. to raise the money necessary TO its
existence. by levying custom duties.
That must continue to be the custom OF
this government, and that is the ex-
plicit statement of the Democratic plat
form. There may be, here and there,
some individuals with extreme views,
who propose ton abolish the custom
houses. but they do not represent the
Democratic party; they represent no
one but themselves. (Applause.) But
while il follows that the best way TO
raise money for the support of the gov
ernment is by tariff, it does not follow
that these duties should be exorbitant,
or so high as TO be a burden on the peo-
ple. The primary object OF the tariff IS
TO raise money to support the govern
ment. Whatever duty follows that ar
pument is well enough, but we main
tain that this primary object OF sup
porting the government economically
administered is all that is to be accom-
plished, and no greater sum is to be inn
nosed than that That is a plain, sim
ple. abstract proposition. 1t Is
one that all can understand.
II is an abuse of power by Congress, ii
il seeks to impose duties for other pur-
noses than this. The government has
no right to enter into a partnership
with private citizens and place burdens