Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-07
CLASS LEGISLATION
A SCATHING ARRANGEMENT OF TIE REPUBLI-
. CAN PARTY BY CONGRESSMAN PENDLETON
In an Address Delivered in the Fourth Ward Last
Evening Ez-Oongressman Col. Ben
Wilson Speaks

The voters or the fourth Waru- 1ue
rock-ribbed Gibraltar of Democracy" as
Congressman Pendleton termed it
turned out in goodly numbers last
night, to listen TO two excellent speeches,
made BIZ the present Representative Of
the First District, and ex-Congressman
Col. Ben. Wilson. The meeting was
held at Bishops Hall, which was com
fortably filed.
CONGRESSMAN John o. Pendleton made
the first address. His speech, although
brief, was scathlng arraignment OF The
Republican party for its class legiSia-
ton during the thirty years it has been
in control OF the National government.
He started by calling attention to the
widespread mutteriEgs OF discomfort
throughout the country. For monthS
the columns of newspapers nave
beeen filled with records OF
strikes and lockouts, records OF
restitution and distress, such as nave
not been seen in years. Ihere must
be some underlying cause for this con-
dition of things The Democrats say II
is found in the legislation OF the last
thirty years, during which time they
have had no power TO make laws ana
Mace them on the statute books-legls-
lation which enriches the classes and
robs the masses. Since the Democratic
party has never held the reins OF Gov
eminent, it follows that the Republican
party is responsible.
The first class legislation was In favor
of the bondholders. Then, when the
war was over, and the party started to
reduce taxes, they were taken oil the
people who were best able TO bear them
they were taken off bank notes, deeds
and National banks. In 1873 the
party determined to do something
more for the bondholderS. Prior
to that time notes could be paid In
greenbacks, silver or gold, but an act Of
Congress made them payable in gold
only. Silver was no longer legal tender,
The money power OF silver was struck
down, leaving gold practically alone, so
thai the entire debtor class Of the
country who had borrowed in green
backs or silver, were compelled 10 pay
everything back on gold basis. A
man borrowed $4,000, and when he
came To pay it back, paid what was
equivalent TO $4,000.
In 1860 the Government had nearly
two thousand millions Of acres OF pub
lie lands, representing more area
than ali the farm lands in the United
States at that time. Inside Of a lew
years the Republican party gave away
TO railroad corporations q territory
equal 10 all Of the New England
States, and a half dozen others. The
Democrats introduced bills TO force
these cor poratioDS to restore eighty mill
lions of acres and tifty-four millions or
acres TO the government, but they were
fought by the Republican leaders, and
the measures allowed to sleep quietly in
the Senate.
The next piece Of class legislation was
on the tariff At the beginning Of the
wGr heavy tariff tax was placed on the
people with the understanding that 1t
would be maintained only as long as the
necessities of the war required. When
the war was over IL was found that the
tariff barOns were growing rich beyond
the extent Of reasonable profit, and an
effort was made by the Democrats
TO reduce the tariff. Every
such attempt has been bitterly
fought by the leaders OF the
Republican party. The laboring man
has been told that the tariff was kept
up and raised for his benefit, but the
tariff as AT present constituted is for
the sole purpose Of giving to few
thousand people colossal fortunes,
wrenched from the pockets of the
masses. The Democratic party aims to
reduce the tariff to revenue basis,
ample to afford needed protection to In
dustries.
Congressman Pendleton closed by
urging the Club to work, and predict
ing success for the party. Col. Ben
Wilson was then introduced and re-
ceived . rousing reception. lie made a
brief but forcible speech. He said he
was out Of politics, the only
interest he had being in the
administration OF the Govern
ment for the general good. He
spoke of the recent labor disturbances
and the general discomfort among the
masses. There was not one word of
truth, he said, In the charge that Demo-
Gratis are free traders. The party claims
that the Government has no right to
collect more than enough money to
meet the expenses of the Government.
When that amount is collected, the
tariff can be adjusted to afford needed
protection. The speaker traced the
history of tariff legislation, and showed
that the Republican idea enriched the
classes by robbing The masses. BE next
turned his attention to the Force Bill,
and after showing up that iniquitous
measure in its true light, he closed.
The meeting was very enthusiastic
one. Every point made by the speakers
was loudly cheered, and every mention
Of the name OF Grover Cleveland was
followed by prolonged applause.