The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-23

3 CT
hostile to our form of government as was the
principle of taxation without representation
lappausel for which our fathers rebellcd, ana
fought. and achieved Independence. The longer
we heed the cry OF protection will be TO conseils
TO the degradation OF the masses In the interest,"
OF the classes, and TO change the form and char-
acter OF ous government itself by converting lt
from a democracy-a government OF the Pe9p,e
to an aristocracy OF wealth. Appiause.l Inc
rapid concentration of the wealth OF the country
under the fostering care or protection fore.
shadows this present change. The ownership or
more than one-half the property of this greet
country by seventeen thousand persons, ana the
still more astounding fact that go OF our
One-twelfth or all the property OF our country
proves, with striking force. the necessity Tor
friends, let US so forward in this great battle
which We have commenced Let us not turn
our backs up9n tne ue ene%y IsI n. ass this the
controlling question In such manner that the
most uncducated and ignorant man who reads
the platform can understand IT, Applause
Let us continue this light until we, the people or
this country shall have reached a full and final
have determined il in favor of the struggling,
toiling millions of this land, who, too long III
ready have been the unwilling but MISGUIDED
victims OF this cruel and odious doctrine OF pro-
teotion. Applause and cries OF Time, timej
THE sTAR-EYED GODDESS wEEPs.
Mr.. Meals remarks were constantly in
terrupted with applause. When he closed
there were cries for Watterson from the
galleries, and much confusion. Mr.. Wat
terson was finally escorted to the plat
form, where his speech called forth great
applause. In his hand Mr.. Watterson held
book. As he was about to speak Mr.
Sheehan, of New York. attracted attention
bv coming up the aisle and shaking hands
with Mr.. Neal. Mr.. Watterson handed the
book to the secretary and said that he de-
sired, before he spoke. to read an extract
from the Democratic platform of 1876. The
clerk read it. Mr.. Watterson. at the close
of the reading, lmpressively said:
| This declaration OF principles comes TO us
dcton OF the spirit OF that sage and saint OF
| Democrats. Samuel j. Tilden. The mention OF
| Mr.. Tilden's name was received with prolonged
cheers, the New York delegation standing up
ana yelling.1 Twelve long years fought, upon
all occasions. and ut every opportunity, to es-
of the cardinal Democrafic faith aud finally saw
| it at last practically confirmed in three great
| Democratic tariff acts, and in the message OF
q great Democratic President. Great applause
| Finally, when saw 1t confirmed and proclaimed
| by the Democratic convention which assembled
my hight is ended: the victory is won and can
go to sleep. [Applause. shall never again be
| needed on a Democratic platform committee,
| perienced hands this work OF my life and love
| lapplausel; and when L listened TO the e%
traordnary essay We have heard from this desk
| this afternoon Igreat applausel l asked myself
| whether We were indeed in a Democratic con-
yen;ion or simply Republican convention
tion revised by James q. Blaine laughter and
appiause or Bei0amin r. Butler Tor
the this taf aeEnooa aoa s aoss aas0 dsncs stRsd
| In principle with the minority report submitted
| to the Democratic convention In 1854 by Benla-
| min +. Butler and voted down almost unani-
mously. have no dissertation to offer you. but
| simply q statement of facts which ought TO ac.
| complish one of two things-eithcr YOU should
| reject this monstrosity which has been hurled
| among you and adopt in Its place the simple,
| lucid and true amendment offered by the gentle.
| to do that; If you want to take some time think
| about it, reconmit the whole matter TO the COM
| mittee with instructions to clarity ana purge
| themselves.
| Villas wHACKs THE KENTUCKIAN.
These remarks brought out cries of mo.
no." which were followed by cries for
| Villas" who came to the stand and said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen OF the COnven-
| toni shall detain You but moment: 1 pre-,
sume there Is no gentleman here who Ia at oil
acquainted with my public record anu my pr
| ty. who does not know that every expression IN
the proposed resolutions read by the gentleman
| from Ohio, over and over again, have been reit-
| Grated from the stump and from the platform
now for these many years Cheers But also
desire to make this remark: It is impossible TO
| cay too much; il is almost impossible to say
| enough In denunciation OF the iniquitous ana
reckless tariff legislation which has been In
| ficied upon this country. There are many
things to be said with reference to It.
| There are many declarations TO he made in re-
degree rou see TT or the wearied mowers of yonr
committeeman. In hearing argument and debate,
would enable them Co sustain. But this resolll-
ton which you propose to strike out was reso-
luton reported to the convention of 1884 lcries
of THAT is right over which had the honor TO
preside and it was % rsPTIed ia by tne prince OF
plausel, and of all the eloquent voices that were
lifted in behalf OF it on that occasion none so
| none Iung with such blissful joy all ears as
that of the distinguished gentleman from Ken
tucky. ILong continued laughter and applause.l ]
MIR. Watterson walked up to Senator
Villas and handed him the report of the
| 1854 convention, and pointed out the plan X
in the platform referred to, and said TO
Senator Villas: Read that; read 1t well;
| you can read it great deal better than L
can" The best of feeling seemed TO pro-
vail between the great orators eontestin
for their respective views Dir. Watterson
leaned back upon the speakers desk with
O smile while Mr.. Villas read from the book
handed him. This is what be read:
We denounee the present tariff, levied upon
nearly four thousand articles. as a masterpiecs
| of injustice inequality and false pretense.
which yields : dwndling AID AID not not
Impoverished many industries to subsidize
| few. 1t prohibits imports that might purchase
| the products of American labor. III has degrad
| ed American commerce from the first TO an In
| ferior rank upon the high seas. 1t has cut down
| the sales OF American manufactures at home
and abroad, and has depleted the
| returns of American agriculture-an industry
followed by half our people. 1t costs the people
several times more than IL produces TO the treas
| ury, Obstructs the process or production ano
wastes the fruits of labor. Ii promotes fraud
| fosters smuggling, eDriches dishonest officials
/ hoxnrr hama han Ia dam anT
| that all customhouse taxation shall be only fol
| revenue
| Gentlemen, on that OCCASION the dis
tinguished gentleman said in reference Il
1t, it is an honest platform; entirely SO
| Laughter and applause. 1t 10 sound
platfOrm;enlinently so." And then Mr.. Villa.
| laid the book down at MI. Watterson'
side and proceeded to speak for the major
ity report
wATTEPSoY's REJoINDER.
Mr.. Watterson took the platform and TO
piled to Colonel Villas as follows:
"One word only in relation to my hon
ored and distinguished friend. the Senator
from Wisconsin. who presided over tha
convention of 1884 cries of louder, snC
that is this: In 1854 We were in the mids
of the throes of q great internecine tarlf
controversy. The party seemed to be spli
wide open. and after fifty-two hours of IN
broken discussion in the platform commit
tee the best that the moderate or conserva
tive members of the commlttee-mysel
among the numher-cOuld obtain as com