The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-29


Kentucky came forward to the platform.
his appearance being received with pro-
longed cheers. When order was restored
he spoke as follows:
Before | open my lips to express an opinion
upon this matter, desire to have read an ak
tract from the tariff plank Of the national DEM
ocIatic platform of 1876. [Chesrs.l
When the clerk finished the reading,
Mr.. Watterson resumed his address as fol-
lows:
This declaration of principles comes to us
with the impression of the wisdom and the
benedictioa of the spirit of that sage and
saint OF democrats Samuel ]. Tilden. THE
mention of Mr.. Tilden's name received
with prolonged cheers, the New York delega-
ton standing ap and yelling.l Twelve long
years l fought upon all occasions and at every
opportunity TO establish the doctrine of that
plank as an article Of the cardinal democratic
faith, and finally when, seeing it at last practi.
cally confirmed in three great democratic tariff
acts ana IN the message or a great democratic
president. Great applause.l Finally
when l saw 1t confirmed and pro-
claimed by the democratic convention
which assembled in 1888 in ST. Louis, i said
my labors are over. my fight is ended, the
victory is won and can 60 to sleep. APP
plause.l shall never again be needed on a
democratic platform committee. and / can en-
trust safely to younger and less experienced
hands this work of my life and love- APP
plause.I And when l listened to the extra
ordinary words we have heard from this desk
this afternoon [great applause / asked myself
whether we were indeed in a democratic con-
veDtlOn or simply q republican convention
laughter and applausel revised by James g.
Blaine laughter and applausel or Benjamin
+. Butler; for the tariff plank we have
listened to this afternoon is almost identical
in principle with the minority report submitted
to the democratic convention in 1854 by Benla-
min f. Butler, and voted down almost unani-
morsly. l have no dissertation to offer you,
but simply a statement of facts which ought to
accomplish one OF two things-either 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 gentleman from Ohio iapplausel, or il you
don't want to do that-if you want to take
some time to think about it-reoommit the
whole matter to the committee with instruc-
tons TO clarity and purge themselves.
Mr.. V las Speaks.
This was followed by cries OF mo, no."
which were followed by cries for Villas,
who came to the stand and said:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
Conventional shall detain you but mo-
ment. presume there is gentleman here
who is at all acquainted with my public record
and my private record as a follower of the
democratic party who does not know that
every expression in the proposed resolutions
read BY the gentleman from Ohio over and
over again have reiterated from the stump
aud from the platform now for these many
years. Cheers. But also desire to make
this remark: II is impossible to say too much,
it is almost impossible to say enough in denun-
citation of the Ubiquitous and reckless tariff
legislation which has been inflicted upon
this country. There are many things 10 be
said with reference to it. There are many
declarations TO be made In regard to it You
can extend your platform to any degree you
see fit or the wearied powers of your commit
teemen in hearing argument and ebate would
enable them TO sustain. But this resolution
which you propose to strike out was a resolu-
tion reported to the convention of 1884 [cries
of that is right over which had the honor
to preside, and it was reported by that prince
of tariff reformers, Gel. William r. Morrison,
[applausel and of all the eloquent voices that
were lifted in behalf of it on that occasion,
none so sweet was there to the hearts OF demo-
Gratis, none rung with such blissful JOY on all
ears as that of the distinguished gentleman
from Kentucky. lLong-continued laughter
and applause.
Mr. Watterson walked up to Senator
Villas and handed him the report of the
1884 convention and pointed out the
plank in the platform referred to and said
to Senator Villas: "Resd that, read it well.
You can read it great deal better than l
can"
The best of feeling seemed to prevail
between the great orators contesting for
their respective views. Mr.. Watterson
leaned back upon the speakers desk with
a smile while Mr.. Villas read from the
book handed him.
Gentlemen, on that OCCASION" the dis
tinguished gentleman said in reference TO
it, lit is an honest platform, entirely so.
Laughter and applause. 1t is sound
platform, eminently So" And then Mr..
Villas laid the book down at Mr.. Waiter
sons side aud proceeded as follows:
Gentlemen, / shall not cause TO be read at
length and discussed the platform which the
distinguished gentleman made on that oc-
cssion. Half OF the words which il is proposed
to strike cut and which we have heard bap-
tized today republican, bowed down to in
1854 sound democratic doctrine under the
leadership of our distinguished and magnlf-
cent friend (referring with a bow TO Mr.. Wat
terson.) Now, fellow democrats, if you desire
an additional expression OF this farther idea in
regard to the tariff which the gentleman from
Ohio has read, why nobody take it with
any more satisfaction than l.
The speaker was interrupted with the
volume Of cries then take it. why not
take it," which came from the delegates
and galleries alike. The chairman raped
for order and Mr.. Villas continued:
UENILEMEN-1 10 not pIOpObo 70 cntcI lubO
| and debate or discussion of the particular form
of words in which declare our opposition to
tariff legislation. / do not think it makes
much difference in what form of words we re.
peat our unvaryiER and unswerving hostility to
that great robbery and iniquity. Applause
and cries of good, gOod."l l don't care
much for the words, because FIVE
years ago next fall president of the
| United States led the democracy into posi-
on the tariff question which was not only right
and brave. and splendid and democratic Zap
plausel but which has given hfe-blood-eter-
nal peTpetuation to the party. Applause aud
cries of .Watterson."l
Now, fellow democrats, / have only to sug-
gest that if it please you to take in this form Of
words, you take it in aud leave that there also
upon which Mr.. Cleveland was elected pres-
dent. [Great applause and cries of waiter
SON."
Mr.. Wattsrson Replies.
Mr.. Watterson took the platform and re-
piled to Col. Villas as follows:
One word only in relation to reference by
my honored and distinguished friend, the SEN
ator from Wisconsin, who presided over that
convention of 1884 and that is this: In 1884
in the midst of the throes of q great
internecine tariff controversy. The party
seemed TO be split wide open, aud after fifty-two
| hours Of unbroken discussion in the platform
| committee the best that the moderate or con-
sentative members OF the committee-myself
among the number could obtain as common
| ground 10 stand upon was that in the platform
| of 1884 But since this We have had the second