The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-06-25

al Ound which all great battles OF freedom.
have been fought. It. IS the question out
OF which will grow All the issues of govern
mcnt Until we settle this question wise
ly, permanently, justly, we build all other
reforms on IA foundation OF sand.
We and the great party we represent are
today for tariff reform because it is he
only gateway to genuine Democratic "
crnIncnt. The distinguished leader who
presided over the Republican convention
boasted that he did not know what tariff
reform is Who ever said that he did
Let us hope with that charity that
endurcth All things and believeth all
things, that lie Is truly as ignorant as he
vaunts himself 10 be-. Unfortunately the
people are not so ignorant of the meaning
of protection at least the protection which
is dealt out TO them IN the bill which bears
his name. They see that meaning writ
large today, in prOstrated agriculture,
in ShackIcd commerce, In stricken indus
tries, in the compulsory idlencss of labor,
III law made wealth, in the dis
content of the workingmcn and
the despair of the farmer. They
know by hard experience that protection
as Il system of taxation Is but the old
crafty scheme by which the rich compel the
poor to pay the expenses of government,
They know by hard experience that pro-
lection as system of tribute is but the
old crafty scheme by which the taxation of
the people is made the private property of u
iSN VI LbC pCbplC. III IClOIh W
readjust this system of taxation
and to purge away this system of tribute.
1t means that we have not reached the
goal of perfect freedom so long as any
citizen IS forced by law to pay tribute to
any other citizen and until our taxes are
proportioncd to the ability and duty of the
taxpayer rather than to his ignorance, his
weakness and his patience.
Governor Mckinley further charges that
the Democratic party believes in taxing
ourselves. | am afraid, gentlemen, we
must admit this charge. What right or
excuse have we for taxing anybody elsel
With continent for country,
with freedom and intelligence as
the instruments for its development, we
stand disgraced in the eyes of mankind If we
cannot and If we do not support our own
government. We can throw tnat support
on other people only by beggary or by
force. If we use the one we are pauper
nation; il we use the other we
are pirate nation. The Demo
cratic party does not intend that we
should be either. No more does it in
tend that they shall falsely call it taxing
other people 10 transfer our taxes from the
possessions of those who own the property
of the country TO the bellies and backs of
those who do the work of the country. 1t
believes that frugality Is the essential vir-
tue of free government. IL believes that
taxes should be limited to needs and levied
by plain justire and economy.
But, gentlemen, we are confronted now
by new cry in this campaign. The Re-
publican party, says Mr. Mckinley, now
stands for protection and reciprocity. He
was for protection alone when he framed
his bill in the house, or, rather, permitted
his beneficiaries to frame 1t for him, and
firmly resisted all efforts of the statesman
| from Maine to annex reciprocity to 1t. No
wonder that he favors the recipro-
city added by the senate. You may ex-
Of tfaAtsn
anything more supremely ludicrous than
the so-called reciprocity of the Mckinley
| bill 1t is not reciprocity ut all. 1t is re-
| taliation, and worst of al, retaliation on
our people. 1t Furnishes American citizens
| for the necessities or the follies of other
| il: You are forced by your neces-
sites, or led by your follies
to make bread higher and scarcer
| to your people; we will make shoes and
sugar higher and scarcer to our people" J"
| And now we are told that reciprocity Is to
| be their battle cry. Already we are re-
| galed with pictures of Ben Harrison clad
| in armor ana going forth To battle for re-
| ciprociJy on Il plumed steed. Simple Simon
| fishing for whales in his mothers rain bar
| rel, and in great triumph capturing an oc-
| casiohal wiggle-waggle, is the only
| true, realistic picture of the re-
| ciprocity of the Mckinley tariff We
| are for protection that pro
tects, and for the reciprocity that recipro.
Gates. We are in favor of protecting every
man in the enioymenu of the fruit of his
labor, diminished only by his proper con-
| tribution TO the support of the government
| and we are for that reciprocity, not through
dickeriug diplomacy and presidential proc
lamations, but by laws of congress, that
| removes all unnecessary obstacles between
the American producer and the markets he
! is obliged to seek for his products.
| But, gentlemen, / must not keep you
| from the work that is before you. Let us
| take up that work as brothers, as patriots,
| as Democrats. In so large convention as
| this, larger in numbers than any previous
gathering of our party, and representing a
| larger constituency than ever before as
| sembled in any convention, 1t would be
| strange, ominously strange, If there were
not some differences of opinion on matters
of policy, and some differences of judg
| ment or of preference as to the choice OF
| candidates 1t is the sign of a free Dem.
| ocracy many voiced and within the limits
of true freedom tumultuous. II wears nc
collars it serves no masters. We gan shut
| our eyes to the fact that many Who have
before followed our flag with enthusiasm
are today calling, with excusable impa-
| ticnce, for immediate relief from the evils
that encompass them. Whatever can be
| done 10 relieve the burdens, to restore,
broaden and increase the prosperity of the
| people and every part OF them, within
| the Rimits and according to the princi-
| pie of free government, that the Demo
| cratic party dares to promise that it will
do with all its might. Whatever is beyond
this, whatever is Incompatible with free
government and our historic liberty it
dares not promise to any one. Inveterate
evils III the body polite can not be cured in
| Il moment, any more than inveterate
diseases in the human system. Whoever
! Processes the power TO do SO is himself de-
\ ccived or deceiver. Our party is not q
Insly nf.n NNnr nj rrnIr1 nln
II is not for me, gentlemen, the impartial
servant of you all, to attempt to fore
| shadow what your choice should be or
ought to be in the selection of your candi-
dates You will make that selection under
your own sense of responsibility to the peo-
pie you represent and your country. One
thing only venture to say. Whoever may
bo your chosen leader in this
campaign, no telegram will flash
| across the sea from the castle of absentee
| tariff lords to congratulate him But from
the home of labor, from the fireside of the
farmer, from the abode Of justice and
equity, who wish and intend that our
matchless heritage of freedom shall be the
| commonwealth of all our people,
and the common opportunity of all
our youth, will come up prayers for his
success and recruits for the great Demo
cratic host which must strike down the
|
monopoly before we can have ever again a
peoples government, run by peoples
faithful representatives.
The roll was then ordered called for
the naming by states of their national
committeeman and members of the
notification committee.
| Mr.. Wilson closed at l2:45 and Will
liam ii. English of Indiana presented
the report of the committee on rules,
which established this order of bust
ness: Report of credentials com.
mlttee; report on permanent
organization; committee on rules;
resolutions and platform commit
tee report; nomination pres
idential and vice presidential candi-
dates. Rules of the last national
Democratic convention were adopted.
Upon motion of Mr. English the re
ports and recommendations were
adopted by the convention. The unit
rule heretofore in force therefore holds
in this convention.
Delegate Phelps of Missouri then
presented in behalf of the miners of
Missouri II gavel of zinc as protest
against the tariff upon the metal. AS
the shining hammer was held aloft by
the chairman Il great shout went up
aud hearty clapping of hands
While the list was being made up
eX-Governor Campbell of Ohio was
called for persistently and the band
played The Campbells are coming. u
Finally the ex-governor yielded,
and, taking the platform spoke
less than five minutes, closing with
this S1nonition to the national Democ-
| rarV. 'skthpu Npvnm mher rolls around