Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-20


lures OF that measure here tonight. You
are familiar with them and you are fa-
n.iiar with the great contest which was
hsm M IN the Congress of the United States.
Inc distinguished United States senator
from the State of Indiana sits udon this
platform and he Is entitled to your thanks
as well as the thanks of the coun-
sy tor, the distinguished part that
ue TOOK with other Senators in
, its defeat. 1t was q most dangerous
Dill, dangerous to the liberties Of the
country. 1t would have established a
precedent, which would have gradually
taken away from the people the right to
control their own elections. In form tho
r,ght would be continued. but, in fact, the
people would be deprived Of the full and
free expression of suffrage.
iarn not here TO say that the danger ia
July passed--but l am here to say that
tnere - every prospect that no such bill
VIII pass the next House Of Representa-
tves. Llughter.l
Ihe question of the force bill was dis
cussed last fall, and the question OF exces-
sive taxation was fully discussed every
where. We went to the people in tb same
old manly fashion that our party always
goes before thr people, telling them what
the dangers are, what the remedies are,
anu what we propose.
TIE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION.
Last fall We discussed these questions
wherever elections were to be held. The
people, as we say, understood the ques-
tions. What was the resultl A gratifying
and most favorable result-Republica
state after Republican State wheeled into
the Democratic column. Republican
governors were succeeded by Democratic
Large gains were made III the Senate of
the United States. A slight Republican
majority Of ten or twelve in the last Con-
gress IL to he followed by q two-thirds
Democratic majority. Now they tell us in
those States where elections arc 10 be
held that the people did not understand
the Questions upon which they were to
pass. They tell US that in some manner
they were fooled: that they were deceived;
that they were hoodwinked by Democratic
orators and the Democratic press. l deny
IT. submit that the people of this coun-
try las fall understood entirely the ques-
tlons upon which they were passing, and
that they did 1t with their eyes open and
inteligently. They understood those
questions III that campaign of education
which bore fruits last fall. And now they
want Us to open the case-to rediscuss
these questions which are involved. We
ale wiling 90 TO do if necessary; We have
nothing TO take back.
OPPOSED TO REPUBLICAN, IYTBAvAGAscE.
The people are not only opposed to the
Republican party upon the two questions
TO which have referred, but they are OPP
posed 10 II upon the question of extrava-
gancc. They understand exactly what ia
meant when we speak of the Billion Dol
lar CONGRESS" | know that in the heated
debate in the great State of Ohio to-day.
acd elsewhere, 1t Is being said that the
people after while will he used to what
~ callod the Mckinley bill" II is said
tia; the more we have OF these exactions
tho better We will like them. l don't
believe it. 1 believe the bill from
thc s'art was an imposition upon the
American people, and it will continue so
mt go end. Notwithstanding the ver-
dict Of tho people last fall. the Republican
COn.T -ss met last december anc II refused
to repeal the III. Notwithstanding this
MAMIE tation of what the people wanted
they refused TO take ANY action. Notwlth-
standing that they rebuked the arbitrary
rul - of an arbitrary Speaker. yet, never
thele "a our Republican friends sustained
nim eui applauGed his conduct. Such a
nan station of public sentiment as cha
rac;euzcd the result of last fall if it had
taken place IN England would have result
ell n change n the policy OF the Gov
ernment and in change of the ministry
DEiIrD PUBLIC sESTIMENT.
But here our Republican friends con-
clulel still to DEFY public sentiment. |
know what they say IN regard to this
measure. upon which will speak to you
just O few moments.
They say they enlarged the free list
They exempted more articles in the tariff
Iiil than were ever exempted before. In
the number OF articles this NAV be so. but
in the value OF fho articles to the people L
deny it A bare inspection OF few OF
them shows as plainly as can be that many
of these exemptions are not Of, any special
benefit TO the American people. and are in-
consistent with any principle upon which
the bill can be sustained. Just let mo call
-..t.nti0n 81 q fer ~ the amusing things
contained III this free list TO show you how
grateful YOU should be 10 the hepullcan
party for the boon 10 you III eXcmptlng
these articles from taxation. One of the
first things that strikes me about this free
list i, that they have put acorns upon the
free list. lLaughter.l The next thing dis.
cover they put on the free list Is pam-leat
fans: they have also put on an article
called ipecac.
FREE CHLOaOFORy AND ARSENIC.
They have placed chloroform upon the
free list. and ! suppose. thinking that.
having looked over the bill, the American
people. su1,r n under its exactlons.
might want To do suddenly, they have
placed arsenic upon the free list. Iney
nave placed sn ariiclc-and this shows TO
some extent the sectional character OF the
bill, while the theory of the bill is that
they propose TO protect American indus
try-called tar. and they have placed that
upOn the freo list because II Is manufac-
tIirad in some of the sou hern States, and
therefore they could lose no votes by
putting it on the free list. They placed
raw silk on the free list. for the benefit. |
suppose, of you farmers and working-men
who buy silk dresses for your wives every
day or two. Laughter.l And yet they
refuse to put raw wool upon the free list
for the benefit of the people. Here ~ one
Of tho ridiculous things about 1t: They
have actually placed sauer-k -kraut upon the
free list. (Contlnued laughter.l
/ asked Senator Voorhees, this after
noon why they did that, and he told me
the Republicans were trying 10 catch the
German vote. And then here Is another
article. / think this ~ especially for the
benefit OF our Republican friends-they
have placed leeches upon the free list
Fossils aud pauper bees IL cents;
Fossils are placed upon the tree list ana
tnen we find. looking over it further;
that they have placed an article called
bee-wax on the free list. 1t strikes
me that that was little singular.
Talking about protection to industries,
| ask you what Is the matter with the
American bee? Why are they not entitled
be protected from the internal activity OF
the pauper pees of Europe! Laughter
The bill is inconsistent IN itself; 1t is not
based upon anv sound, Just or equitable
principle Put am not here to ask you
about this bill 30 FAR as its detail Is con
cerned. We object to 1t because 1t Is
based upon the principle that the Govern
ment has O right to tax people Tor private
instead of public purposes. We do not
believe in the doctrine that you have
right to rob Peter to pay Paul. We DO not
believe that the Government by It's strong
hand can put its hand IN my pocket TOR
the purpose of especially and directly aid
ing the business of some one else.
We arc not here 10 say that custom
houses should be abolished. We believe
that the best and easiest way to raise the
moneys necessary for the support OF the
Government il by taxation upon Imported