The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-21
DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN BEGUN.
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Continued from page L.
falslty, that the existing protective
tariff is boon to them, and that under
its beneficent operation wages must in
crease, while, as they listen, scenes are
enacted in the very abiding place of
high protection that mock the hopes of
toll and attest the tender mercy the
workingmen receive from those made
selfish and sordid by unjust govern
mental favoritism. We oppose earn
estly and stubbornly the theory upon
which our opponents seek to justify and
uphold the existing tariff laws. We
need not base our attack upon the
questions of constitutional permission
or legislative power. We denounce this
theory upon the highest possible grounds
when we contend that in the present
conditions its operation is unjust and
that the laws enacted in accordance
with it arc inequitable and unfair.
"Ours is not destructive party. We
are not at enmity with the rights of any
OF our citizens. All are our countrymen.
we are not recklessly needless of any
American interests, nor will we abandon
our regard for them, but invoking the
love of fairness and justice which be-
longs to true Americanism and upon
which our constitution rests, we insist
that no plan of tariff legislation shall be
tolerated, which has for its object and
purpose, forced contribution from the
earnings and income of the mass of our
citizens, to swell directly the accumu-
lations of q favored few; nor will we
permit the pretended solicitude for
American labor, or any other specious
pretext of benevolent care for others
to blind the eyes of the people to tho
selfish schemes of those who seek,
through the aid of an unequal tariff
law, to gain unearned and unreasonable
advantages at the expense of their fell.
lows.
1--WE have also assumed in our cove
nant with those whose support we in
vite, the duty of opposing to the death
another avowed scheme of our adverse
ries which, under the guise of protecting
suffrage, covers, but does not conceal,
the design thereby to perpetuate the
power of the party afraid to trust it's
continuance to the untrammeled and.
intelligent votes of the American peo-
pie. We are pledged to resist legisla-
ton intended to complete this scheme,
because we have not forgotten the
saturnalia of theft and brutal control
which followed another Federal regula-
tion of State suffrage; because we know
that the managers of the party
who did not scruple TO rob the
people of President would
not hesitate to use the machinery
created by such legislation to revive
corrupt instrumentalities for partisan
purposes; because an attempt to enforce
such legislation would rekindle animosi-
ties where peace and hopefulness now
prevail; because such an attempt would
replace the prosperous activity with dis
couragemehS and dread throughout a
large ectipn of our country, and would
menace everywhere In the land the
rights reserved to the STATES and to the
people, which underlie the safeguards
of American liberty.
II shall not attempt to specify, at this
time, other objects and aims of Demo
cratic endeavor which add inspiration
to our mission. True to its history and
its creed our party will respond to the
wants of the people within safe lines
and guided by enlightened stateman-
ship. To the troubled and impatient
within our membership, we commend a
con tinued, answering allegiance to the
party whose principles. in all times
past, have been found sufficient for
them, and whose aggregate wisdom and
patriotism, their experience teachers,
can always be trusted.
I'm tone OF partisanship which be-
fits the occasion, let me say to you, as
equal partners in the campaign upon
which we to-day enter, that the per-
sonal fortunes of those to whom YOU
have entrusted your banners are only
important as they are related to the
fate of the principles they represent and
to the party which they lead. I can
not, therefore, forbear reminding YOU
and all those attached to the Democratic
party or supporting the principles which
we profess, that q defeat in the pending
campaign, followed by contamination
OF the legislative schemes our opponents
contemplate, and accompanied by such
other incidents OF their success as might
more firmly fix their power, would
present most discouragieg outlook for
future Democratic supremacy and for
the accomplishment of the objects we
have at heart. Moreover, every sincere
Democrat must believe that the inter
ests of his country are deeply involved
inethe victory of our party in the
struggle that awaits US.
"Thus the patriotic solicitude exalts
the hope OF partisanship and should in
tenslfy our determination to win sue
cess. This success can only be achieved
by systematic and intelligent effort on
the par OF all enlisted in our cause.
Let us tell the people plainly and hon
estly what we believe and how we pro-
pose to serve the interests of the entire
country, and then let US, after the man
ner of true Democracy, rely upon the
thoughtfulness and patriotism of our
ellow-countrymen. 1t only remains
for me to say to you, in advance to q
more formal response to your message,
that obey the command of my party
and confidently anticipate that an intel
ligent and earnest presentation of our
cause will insure popular indorse-