Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-25
DEMOCRATIC DOINGS.
The Spokane Convention a
Great Success.
The State of Washington Com
pletely Organized.
Addresses by Senator Faulkner and
Congressman Bynum.
Hhe BnIiOn-Dollar Congress and It's
Evil Effects ElOquently Exposed.
Letters of Regret from Prom
inent Democrats.
Ausociated Press Dispatches.

began this morning. Henry Drum and
George Hazard, of Tacoma, were elected
respectively president and secretary. @.
III. Warner, of Colfax, and Francis
Henry, of Olympia, were respectively
chosen vice-president and treasurer.
Next years convention viii be held in
New Whatcom. Senator Faulkner spoke
this afternoon, and Congressman By
mum tonight, closing the convention.
Mr.. Bynum said in part: "There is a
promising future for the Democratic
party in the new and partially devel-
oped regions of the country, for there
are to be found and will constantly
gather the active, thoughtful and intel
ligent young men, and wherever they
60 the triumph of Democratic principles
is assured. Free government cannot
long endure except under Democratic
influence. The Republican party. if it
ever honestly possessed, has long since
abandoned democratic ideas, and stands
TODAY the exponent OF every heresy
which threatens the destruction of pop
ular institutions"
The speaker then reviewed the aims,
promises and methods of Republican
legislation, and scored the Republican
majority in congress numerically for
unseating Democratic members that the
treasury might be looted. After review
ing the numerous outrages perpetTated
by the Billion Dollar Congress-" Mr..
Bynum said:
A'Tne great crime, however, which the
late congress committed against the
people, and for which the Republican
party must answer in the coming con-
test, was the enactment of the McKin-
ley law"
He then analyzed at length the pur-
poses and effects OF this infamous meas
ure, and the results of protection as
practiced in the United States for the
last twenty-five years, showing that it's
workings have been to benefit favored
few at the expense of the many. The
tin plate tariff, free wool and kindred
subjects were handled in a mastery
manner. Reciprocity and the bounty
system were summed up as follows:
RECIPROCITY and protection cannot
be driven together; they travel in OPP
posite directions.
''The Mckinley law is not only OBJ
noxious because of its injurious effects
upon trade and commerce, but it con-
tains a provision which is much more
dangerous than mere abuse of the tax
ing power OF the government. The
bounty clause is an open and palpable
violation of every principle OF free gov
eminent. The fundamental idea of
popular government is that the people
being the sovereign power will always
be true to their own interests and will
ion
shortly for selfish purposes. The power
of the legislative department of the
government to enact a law for the sup
port of a private industry, out OF the
public revenues, is more dan
gerous one than the power
OF taxation without representation.
The very purpose of representation is to
prevent an abuse of the taxing power.
If congress possesses the power to grant
subsidies and give bounties to one indus
try it possesses that power without
limit. Ii it is legislative prerogative,
no court can be called to say whether it
has been wisely and judiciously exer-
cised; the action of congress being final
and conclusive upon the subject. Why
a bounty to sugar producers? Why a
subsidy to ship-cwners and not to 9TH
ers? Either this bounty will be re-
pealed or it will be extended. 1t must
cease or it will grow. If the people are
not powerful enough to abolish it, other
interests will combine and soon be
strong enough to claim it's benefits.
Bounties and subsidies ale not only an
tagonistic to the principles OF our gov
ernment but they are morally wrong. If
the sugar or any other industry cannot
be conducted without contributions
from the public treasury it is positive
proof that it is not needed and that its
maintenance can be of no benefit to
the people. Industries that can only
live by public charity are des-
tructive, not beneficial to the general
welfare. The demand for bounties; for
subsidies and for appropriations from
the national treasury for private pur-
poses is growing with an alarming rapid
ity. The most casual observer cannot
fail to notice the dangerous tendencies
in public affairs. The idea that the gov
arnment is the parent and under obli-
cations to favor, support and maintain
industries and classes is becoming more
universal day by day. We seem to be
on the very bosom of current of senti-
ment which if not checked or changed
will carry us upon breakers that will
test the strength of our institutions. In
the midst of winds and storms of reefs
and rocks. there is but one safe course
for us, and that is to cling more firmly
to the vessel which has braved every
element and weathered every storm"
In conclusion Mr.. Bynum said II
would rather go down to defeatupholding
the grand old banner of Democracy than
to achieve great victory by erasing
from its face one single principle in
scribed uron it by our fathers"
Letters of regret were received from
the following gentlemen: David 3. Hill,
governor OF New York Isaac p. Gray,
x-governorof Indiana; John M. Palmer,
United States senator-elect from Illinois
DIR. George L. Miller, member national
Democratic committee from Nebraska
Frank Jones, ex-member OF congress
from New Hampshire; Robert E. Patti
son, governor of Pennsylvania; +. j.
Phelps, late minister to England; George
Ainslie, chairman of the Democratic
state central committee of Idaho; James
III. Berry, United States senator from
Arkansas General John @. Black, ex-
commissioner of pensions; Hon. Jetfer-
son Chandler, st. Louis, Mo-; Senator
John II. Reagan, of Texas; Gen. William
s. Rcsecrans; Hon. Horace Boies, gov
ernor OF Iowa; William F. Villas. United
States senator-eIect from Wisconsin ;
Hon. Joseph X. Toole, governor of Mon
%oro. Tn~s,ao Il 0ornt tba1I Oovarn0r nj