The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-07-30

sage You denver from thN national democracy
arouses within me emotions which would h,
we'll nigh overwhelming. il l dill not r,corniz,
here thu representative of a great
party who must share with me the rosponsi-
bility your mission invites. / find much relief
in the reflection that l hav, beea selected
merely to stani for the principles and purposes
TO which my party is pledged. and for thc en-
forcement and supremacy of which. all who
have any right TO claim democratic fellowship,
must constantly and Professionally labor.
Our party responsibility is indeed great. We
assume n momcntous oblig ,tion to our coua-
trymen when, in rcturu for their trust and
confidence. W. promise them a rectifcation OF
their wrongs and n better realization of the ad-
vantages. which are due TO them under our free
and beneficent institutions.
But il our responsibility is great. our party il
strong. 1t Is strong in its sympathy with the
needs Of the people. in its insistence upon the
exercise Of governmental powers strictly with
In the constitutional permission the peopl,
have granted, and in its willingness to risk its
life and hope upon the peoples intellisenc, and
patriotism.
Never has a great party. intent upou the pro-
motion of right and justice. had better incen.
tive for effort than is now presented to US.
Turning our eyes TO thu pl1iu peopls Of ths
/ md, we see them bur ieued as consumers with
a tariff system that unjustiy and relentlessly
demands from them in the purchase of ths n &C.
essaries OF life an amount scarcely met by the
wages Of hard and steady toil-while the exac-
tons thus wrung from them build up and in
crease the fortunes Of those for whose benefit
this injustice is perpetuated.
We sea the farmer listening to a delusive
story that fills his mini with visions Of advan-
tage, while his pocket ia robbed by tn, stealthy
hand of high protection. Our workingmen are
still told the tale. oft repeated in spite of its
demonstrated fals,ty. that the existing pro-
tectivo tariff il a boon 10 them. and that under
its benefcant operation their wages must in
crease-whilc as they listen. seems ara enacted
In the very abiding place Of high protection.
that destroy the hopes and attest the tender
mercy tho workingman receives from those
made selfish and sordil by unjust govern
mental favoritism.
We oppose earnestly and stubbornly the
theory upon which our opponents seek to
Justify and uphold existing tariff laws. We
need not base our attack upon questions OF
constitutional permission or Legislative power. |
We denounce this theory upon possible
when We contend that in present
its operation is uni ust and that
laws enacted in accordance with il are inequit-
able and unfair. Ours is not a destructive
party. We are not at enmity with the rights
of any OF our citizens. All are our country
men. We are not recklessly needless of any
interests. nor will we abandon our
y utIh. "a luNOhluR tHt iONe Vi I'LL
ness and justice which belongs to true Ameri-
and upon which our constitution rests.
We insist that no plan Of tariff legislation shall
be tolerated, which has for its object and pur-
pose a forced contribution from the earnings
and income of the mass Of our citizens to swell
directly the accumulation of the favored few;
nor will we permit a pretended solicitude for
American labor, or any other pretext OF benev-
olent care for others to blind the eyes OF the
people to tho selfish laws t gain unearued and
unreasonable advantages at the expense of
their fellows.
We have also assumed in our covenant with
those whose support we invite the duty OF op-
posing to the death another avowsd schsme of
our adversaries. which, under the guise of pro-
tecting the suffrage, covers but does not con
ceala design thereby to perpetuate the power
OF a Tarty afraid 10 trust its continuance to the
untrammeled and intelligent votes Of the
American people. We are pledged to resist the
legislation intended to complete this scheme. |
because we have not forgotten the saturnalia
Of theft and brutal control which followed
another federal regulation Of state suffrage;
because we know that the managers of a
party which did not scrupls to rob the people
OF a president. would not hesitate to use the
machinery created by such legislation, to re-
vive corrupt instrumentalities for partisan
because an attempt to enforce such
legislation would rekindle animosities where
peace and E~orefulness now prevail, because
an attempt would replace prosperous &C.
tivity with encouragement and dread through |
out a large section OF on: country. and would
menace. everywhere in the land, the rights re- |
served to the states and to the people, which
the safeg Yards of American liberty.
shall not attempt to specify at this time
other objects and aims of democratic endeavor
add inspiration to our mission. Trus to
its history and its creed, our party will respond
to the wants Of the people within safe linss
and guided By enlightened statesnanship.
To the troubled and inpatient within our
mem bership we ommend continued unswerv-
ing allegiance TO the PARTY whose principles in
times past have been found sufficient for
and whose aggregate wisdom and patriot
ism. their experience teaches, can always he
In a tone Of partisanship which BELTS the &C.
casion. lot me say to you as equal partners in
the campaign upon which We to-day enter. |
hat the personal fortunes OF those to whom
you have intrusted your banner are only i'm
portant as they are related to the fate of the
principles they represent and to tho party |
they lead. I cannot. therefore. forbear
you, that defeat in the pending cam |
paign, followed by the contamination of the
schemes our opponent, contem-
plate, and accompanied by such other incidents
Of their success as might more firmly FIX their
would present a most di,couraging
outlook for future democratic supremacy and
for the accomplishment OF the objects we have |
1t heart.
Moreover, every sincere democrat must be- !
icve that the interests Of his country are |
involved IN the victory of our party in
he struggle that awaits US. Thus patriotic
exalts the hope Of par~tisanship and
'hould intensity our determination to win sue
,css. This success can only be achieved by
.AI---A ~ |
III enlistei in our eau ss. Let us tell the p,o-
de plainly and honestly what we believe and
low we propose to serve the interests OF tho
ntire country. and then let Us, after the man
Ter OF true democracy, rely upon the thought
illness and patriotism Of our fellow country
men.
It only remains for me to say to Won, in ad-
-ance of a more formal response to your mes
age. that I obey tho command OF mr. party
confidently anticipate that an intelligent
nd earnest presentation Of our cause will in
ure a popular Endorsement Of the action of ths
'ody you represent.
There was one more burst of con-
applause as Grover Cleveland
ook his seat and then came the speech
# notification. made by Stephen NJ.
White, of California, to Adlai E.
The voice Of the Califor-
lia orator was powerful and every syI.
able was distinctly heard throughout
he vast hall.
Adlai z. Stevenson listened closely
the speech of Mr.. White and to the
,ficial notification read to him by Mr..
Ben. He then stepped to the extreme
,dge of the platform, and bowling to the
hunderous applause which again
forth, made o short speech in a
lear, ringing voice.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Stevenson's
Chairman Wilson. declared the
Meeting adjourned.