The state capital., 1892-07-02

demands from them in the purchase of the
essares of life an amount scarcely met by the
wages of hard and steady tol-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 see the farmer listening to delusive
story that fills his mind with visions of advan-
tage, while his pocket is robbed by the stealthy
hand of high protection. Our workingmen are
still told the tale, oft repeated in spite of its
demonstrated falsity. that the existing pro-
tective tariff is a boon to them, and that under
its beneficent operation their wages must in
crease-while as they listen. scenes are enacted
in the very abiding place Of high protection.
that destroy the hopes and attest the tender
mercy the workingman receives from those
made selfish and sordid by unjust govern
mental favoritisn
We oppose earnestly and stubbornly the
theory upon which our opponents seek to
justify and uphold existing tariff laws. We
need not base attack upon questions of
constitutional permission or legislative power.
We denounce this theory upon possible
grounds when we contend that in present
conditions its operation is uni ust and that
laws enacted in accordance with it are inequit-
able and unfair. Ours is not destructive
party. We not at enmity with the rights
of any of our citizens. All are our country
men. We ara not recklessly Needless of any
American interests, nor will we abandon our
regard for them; but invoking the love of fair
ness and justice which belongs to true Ameri-
canism, 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 pretended solicitude for
American labor, or any other pretext of benev
olent care for others to blind the eyes of the
people to the selfish laws to gain unearned 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 avowed scheme of
our adversaries, which, under the guise of pro-
tecting the suffrage covers but does not con-
ceal a design thereby to perpetuate the power
of a rarity afraid to trust it's 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
party which did not scruple to rob the people
of president. would not hesitate to use the
machinery created by such legislation, to
vive corrupt instrumentalities for partisan
purposes; because an attempt to enforce such
legislation would rekindle animosities where
peace and hopefuness now prevail because
such an attempt would replace prosperous ac
tivity with encouragement and dread through
out large section of our country, and would
menace, everywhere in the land the rights re-
served to the states and to the people, which
underlie the safeguards of American liberty.
shall not attempt to specify at this time
other objects and aims of democratic 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 craftsmanship.
To the troubled and impatient within our
membership we commend continued unswerv
ing allegiance to the party whose principles in
all times past have been found sufficient for
them, and whose aggregate wisdom and patriot
ism their experience teaches, can always be
trusted.
In tone of partisanship which BELTS the oc-
casion. let mo say to you as equal partners in
the campaign upon which to day enter,
that 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 the party
which they lead. ! cannot. therefore, forbear
reminding you, that defeat in the pending cam
paign, followed by the consummation of the
Legislative schemes our opponent contem-
plate, and accompanied by such other incidents
of their success as might moro firmly fix their
power, would present a most discouraging
outlook for future democratic supremacy and
for the accomplishment Of the objects we have
at heart.
Moreover every sincere democrat must be-
lieve that the interests Of his country are
deeply involved IN the victory of our party in
the struggle that awaits us. Thus patriotic
solicitude sxalts the hope Of partisanship and