The record-union., 1892-09-20
Special to the RECoRn-UNIox.

lyn tonight. The Academy of Music
could hardly accommodate the crowd
that tried to get in. The principal
speaker of the night was Senator David
b. Hill, who was greeted with tremen-
dous applause. His speech was listened
to attentively on the whole, though
broken by frequent bursts of cheering.
Interest toward the close of the address
was great, the speaker not having once
mentioned the name Cleveland, in each
instance to the ex-President. But as he,
when after a grand phrase of the deepest
meaning, closed with these words,
cleveland and Stevenson" the audience
rose en- masse and cheered him to the
echo, recognizing the ingenious climax
to his address. A synopsis of his address
is here given:
81 am reminded of the fact that it was
in this editice in 1885 that | had the honor
of expressing the sentiment L am a
Democrat, and under the existing polit-
zeal situation know of no more appro-
pirate place or presence than here to de-
clare l was a Democrat before the Chicago
Convention and l am a Democrat still.
The National Democratic Convention has
passed into history. 1t was the court of
last resort, and its decision will be ac-
cepted with loyal acquieScence by every
true and patriotic Democrat who recog-
nizes the necessity Of party organization
and discipline.
From this time forward imperative
duties are imposed upon us. fractional
appeals should now cease, the spirit of
resentment be abandoned and State pride
SubordInated to the general good. Real
or fancled grievances should be dismissed,
personal ambitions be sacrificed and indi-
vidual disappointments forgotten. UE
In the great emergency whichI de-
mands from US all an exhibition of
widespread and lofty patriotism, permit
me to repeat what l had the honor of ex-
pressing to the Tammany society on the
4th of July last, before the echoes of our
National Convention died away: Our
course at the present time is plain. In
the approaching struggle the Democracy
of New York should present a solid front
to the common enemy. Loyalty to car
dinal Democratic principles and the
regularly nominated candidates is the
supreme duty OF the hour l reiterate
these sentiments now"
Senator Hill reviewed the history of
the two parties, and said: 1.-The Republi-
can party advocates a doctrine that the
Government has q constitutional as well
as moral right to impose tariff duties
for the purpose of encouraging the build
ing up of private industries by the inn
position of duties sufficiently large to
prevent foreign competition, irrespective
of the needs of the Treasury, while the
Democratic party believes the Govern
ment has only the right to impose duties
necessary to raise sufficient revenue to
support the Government, ecOnomi-
cally administered. This is the
precise issue, squarely stated. The
Democratic National platform gives
forth no uncertain sound upon this sub
ipct and oprrnntlU of bn t,-t,o
Of the party. We have always insisted
that there is no warrant in the Constitu-
ton for the imposition of tariff duties to
aid private industries; but whether such
tariff is constitutional or not or whether
it is practicable to have the question prop
erly raised or decided, the system itself is
vicious in the extreme, unjust to the peo-
pie, and contrary to the spirit of our free
institutions.
"Republican protection is imposed upon
the people by fraud, false pretense and
gross abuse of the taxing power, and with
a careful examination of the matter fair
minded men will arrive at the conclusion
that the Democratic party was right when
1t declared that taxation for private pur-
poses is unconstitutional. In 50 far as
tariff is necessary to meet the necessities of
the Government, it may be imposed, and
any other benefit which may be legiti-
mately derived from its imposition may.
and does, necessarily, accompany il. If
the burdens imposed would operate to
prevent foreign competition, the benefit
is indirect and unobjectionable.
President Harrison in his ingenious
letter of acceptance endeavored to place
our party in false attitude by calling at
tention to the fact that while our plat
form of 1884 was readopted in 1883. and
contained an express plank upon the
question of equalization of wages, yet it
was omitted in 1892, and asserts that we
have changed our position There has
been no change. 1t is not always practi-
cable to place in platform details of pro-
posed legislation.
1.-The platforms of 1884 and 1888 were
elaborate and lengthy, and it was desir-
able to simplify them. General principles
were stated in 1892 rather than particu-
lars, as in 1884. There is no conflict be-
tween them. There is no necessity for
the repetition of that plank, as the party's
position is evidenced by the Mills bill
We stand not only upon the platform of
1892, but upon the Mills bill, which was
the latest general Democratic legislation
upon the tariff subject. That bill was. as |
good an exposition of our principles as |
any elaborate platform could possibly be. |
If l were asked to define as concisely |
as possible the whole Democratic policy. !
l should state it substantially as follows: |
we favor tariff for revenue only: linn |
tied necessities of Government economi- !
cally administered, and so adjusted in !
application, as far as practicable, to pre- !
vent unequal burdens, encourage pro- I
ductiye industries at home, and afford |
just compensation to labor but not create |
or foster monoplies.'
president Harrison, and all other great /
and small advocates of the vicious pro- |
tective system, diligently seek to create |
the impression that the Democratic party |
has assumed q bolder attitude than form |
erly, and become the advocate of absolute /
free trade. | said in the campaign of |
1888 that if [ believed the Democratic |
party favored absolute free trade would /
not advocate its cause, and / repeat the
statement here tonight. / insist that
neither the Democratic party nor have /
changed our position upon this question. |
but stand where we have ever stood |
Tariff reform does not mean free trade. |
Our opponents misrepresent our position /
now, as they have ever done since the /
famous tariff measure of 1857
Speaking of the Mckinley bill. Senator |
Hill said: 1T is undoubtedly true that
in this State the aggregate amount of ali /
wages paid year after its passage NAV I
have been greater than the preceding.
but that does not prove anv increase +
in the rate OF wages paid, and only shows |
some new industries established or addi-
tional men employed in others. and it
does not appear that such increase was
more than the usual increase occasioned