Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-09-08
THE ILLINOIS CAMPAIGN.
MIR. Stevenson's Address to the
Prairie State Democrats.
The AIl-Important Issue of the Present
Political StruggIe-High Tariff and
Low Wages-The Force
Bill, Etc.

The democrats opened the campaign
in Illinois with grand rally at Bloom
ington on August 81, at which were
present some fifteen thousand people
among whom were leading democrats
from all over the state. A. E. Steven
son, the democratic candidate for
the vice presidency, Senator Palmer,
Gen. John C. Black, and others de-
livered stirring speeches, and nomina-
tions for various state offices were
made. In his speech Mr.. Stevenson
spoke upon the leading issues of the
campaign as follows:
ours is a government of the people 1t is
wisely provided IN our federal constitution that
once in four years political power shall return
TO the hands of the people. Twenty-siX times
during the 103 years of our history have the
American people, in the exercise of their rights
as electors, cast their ballots for the candidate
OF their choice for the high Office of president of
the United States We are now on the eve of
another presidential election. The responsible
ity of determining what line of public policy
shall be pursued and who shall be selected
chief magistrate is again upon
THE Importance of an intelligent and conSci-
enlious exercise Of the privilege of designating
those who are to be intrusted with high Office
cannot be overstated. In the pending struggle
for political supremacy grave public questions
are at issue. Upon the correct determination
OF these questions through the peaceful methods
prescribed by law will depend the welfare of the
people. II is all important then, that the de-
termination at the polls be the result, not Of
prejudice nor Of Misrepresentation, but of hon
est and intelligent discussion of the issues III
yolved. During the short time l shall detain
you it will be my endeavor to suggest some of
the reasons why Mr.. Cleveland should be elect
cd president and the democratic party restored
to power. The four years administration OF
President Cleveland was confessedly an honest
administration None Of the predicted evils Of
which democratic triumph to be the fore
runner followed his inauguration, In the cam
paign of 1884 the people were told by republican
speakers that democratic success would bring
blight and ruin upon the commercial interests
OF the country. Those who predicted evil from
Mr.. Cleyeland's election proved false prophets.
The democratic administration ending March
4, 1889, has gone into history economical
and able admins tratiOn of the government. No
scandals attached to any of its appointments to
Office. Under it the rights of all property-of
all sections-of all the people were recognized
and enforced
Under it the bonded debt of the government
was paid at maturity; trust funds were not
used TO avoid a treasury deficit and the gold
reserve was not meEaced by threats of invasion
to meet the current expenses of the govern
ment- Under that administration no additional
burdens were laid upon the people. At the
close of President Clevclands administration
the surplus in the treasury, exclusive of the
1t will be remembered that during the latter
half OF his administration the important queS-
ton What shall be done with the surplus
revenues: In view of the fact that the annual
revenues Of the government were then $780,,
900 900 in Of its necessities, the quotation
of practical interest to the American
people
what is the condition that now confronts US
at the end of three and a half years of repub-
lican administration: On the basis of revenues
to the government. estimated by the
taTy o. the treasury for the present fiscal year,
and of the liabilities of the government on
count of the annual and permanent appropria-
tions for the same period, there will be a deficit
| of So, OOO,COO Upon the assumption that the
law requiring s4s.0O0010 for the sinking fund
VIII be complied with there is no escaping the
deficiency 1 have mentioned. And this, too,
notwiths landing tina. the administration made
default in providing for the sinking fund to an
amount exceeding sll,OOOOOO during the last
fiscal year The bankruptcy which now threat
ems the treasury is the result. first, Of the
actment of the Mckinley tariff law, and. sec
ondly. the lavish appropriations of the Fifty
first congress.
The secretary of the treasury was con-
strained by what he regarded as the exicencies
of the financial situation to extend the payment
of s25,0J00JO OF government bonds maturing
September | OF last year. This act of re-
publican secretary OF the treasury is iii striking
contrast with that Of nj, democratic prede-
ceSsor, under whose wise and efficient admins
tratlon the bonds of the government paid
a. maturity The appropriations of the last
publican congreSS-which has gone into history
as the billion dollar congress-far exceeded
that of any of its democratic predecessors.
THE large appropriations of the first session
Of the present congress are, il the main. due to
the reckless legislation of the F'ifty-frst con-
CreSs Imposing the necessity of heavy appro-
priationS upon its successors. Much of the ap-
preparations by the late session were in pursu-
ance of the requirements Of existing laws
lny- nr1np tod Inv h1i..ar, II,
this connection it must not be forgotten that
the republican senate of the present congress
added more than s32 00O, 900 to the appropriation
bills as they originally passed the democratic
house Of representatives. The reckless
penditure of money by appropriations which no
public necessity demanded merits the condem-
nation of the people.
For twenty-fou years Immediately preced-
ing the Inauguration of President Cleveland, all
departments of the government were in the
main under the control of the republican party.
During that period the larger part of the legis-
lation which has been potent in burdening
the people with debt and taxation was enacted.
That legislation was resisted by the democratic
minority in congress. The treasury of the
United States has ever found it's most faithful
guardians in the democratic party. The tribute
of Mr.. Blaine to its old-time leaders was but
just when he said they had guarded the treas
ury with unceaSing vigilance against every at
tempt at extravaganza and corruption
THE tariff is the all-important issue OF the
campaign upon which we have now entered.
Shall there be revision Of our tariff laws. and,
a consequence of such legislation. reduc-
ton of taxation, shall it become the policy of
our government to maintain, permanently, high
protection? The position of the two leading
political parties upon that question cannot be
misunderstood. The republican party, il
Illustrated by its recent enactment of the Nc
Kinley law, stands for a high protective, in
other words, prohibitory tariff. The demo-
cratic party, as emphasized by Its utterances
and its acts, is the advocate Of tariff reform.
The issue is squarely presented Upon the one
side are the advocates OF high protective or
prohibitory policy-a policy that enriches the
few at the expense of the many On the other
the advocates of such reduction Of tariff duties
as will give to our manufacturers the benefit or
cheap raw material and lessen to the consumer
the cost OF the necessaries of life.
Long enough has the wage-earner been de-
luded by the cry that high tariff means high
wages. Tariffs have no effect upon wages ex-
cept to reduce the purchasing power The
higher the tariff the less the purchasing power
Of the wages. Wages are governed by the
great law of supply and demand. If the claim
OF the protectionist is well founded why have
not wages increased tariffs have increased?
Why constant reduction of wages in the most
highly protected establishments in the lands To
the toier the Mckinley bill has kept the word
OF promise to the ear, but broken it to the
hope
In his great speech against the high tariff
corn laws in the British parliament in Is43 the
matchless orator, Daniel OConnell said: But
what is the meaning of protection? 1t means
an additional sixpence for each loaf; that is the
Irish of it, If he had not the protection the
loaf would sell for shilling but il he has the
protection the loaf will sell for one ana six