Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-23
made, not in the outer dofences, but in
the citadel of our freedom.
THE DEMOCRATIC srRUGaLE.

the citadel OF our ireeuom.
THE DEMOCRATIC STRUGGLE.
"For years we have been struggling 10
recover the lost right of taxing ourselves,
and now we are threatened with the loss
OF the greater right of governing our
selves. The loss OF the one follows in
necessary succession the loss OF the
other. when you confer on govern
ment the power of dealing out wealth
YOU unchain every evil that it can prey
upon and eventually destroy free insti-
tntions-excessiyo taxation, class taxa
ton. billion d0llor congresses, a corrupt
civil eeryice. dobauched ballot-bo1,
and purchased elections. In. every cam
paien the privilege Of taxing the people
will bo bartered for contributions to
corrupt them at the polls.
TIE QUESTION or TAXATION.
"For every sclf-goyerning people
there can be no more momentous ques-
ton than the question OF taxation. IL ls
the question, as Mr.. Burke truly said,
around which al the great battles OF
freedom have been fought II IS tho
question ont OF which grow oil the issues
Of government. Until We settle this
question wisely, prominently, and Justly
We build all other reforms on iounda-
ton OF sand. We and the great party
we represent arc today for tariff reform
because it Is the only gateway to 8enu-
inc Democratic government.
MEANING or "TRorECToN. "
rTbe DISTINGUISHED leader who pre-
sided over the Republican convention
boosted that he does not know what
tariH reform ia. Let Us hope, with
that charity which endureth all things
and bolieveth ell things, that he is truly
as ignorant as he vaunis himself to be.
Unfortunately the people are not 80
ignorant Of tie meaning Of protection
at least of the protection which IS dealt
ont - them in the biil that bears his
name. They see that meaning writ
large to-day in q prostrated agriculture,
in shackied commerce. IN stricken In-
dustries. in the compulsory idleness OF
| labor. In law-madt wealth, IN the dis
conten. Of the w0rhmgUon, and the de
pair Of the farmer. They know 10y
hard experience that protection as q
system oi taxation IS bu. the old, crafty
scheme by which the rich compel the
poor TO pay the expenses OF the govern
mcnt. They know By hard experience
th4t protection as q systsm of tribute ls
but the old, crafty scheme 10y which
the power of taxation of the people is
made the private property OF icw OF
tine people.
TARIFF REFonM.
Tariff reform means 60 raadiust this
svstem of taxation and 10 purge away
| this system of t1lute. lt means that
we have not reached the rool OF perfect
hse iom SO long as any citizen Is forced
bv the law To pay tribute 20 any other
citizen, and until oar taxes are proper
toned t. the ability and dutY ot the
tx-payer rather than to his ignomnce,
hs weakness, and his pl-ence. 0oy-
eruor Mckinley charges I'at the Demo
cratic party believes IA g. ing ourselves.
am afraid, gentlemen, NC admit this
charge
"Wnat right or excuse have we Tor
taxing anybody else, with % continent
ior q country. with freedom and intelll-
! gence of th. instruments Tor is develop
| ment. We stand di-graced IN tie eyes
of mankind il ne cannot. and ii We do
not, support our own government. We
can throw TINT support ON other people
| only by beegry or 10y force. ii we
use the one We are o pa1par nation u
We use the other we gre q pirate nation.
SrrHrE PArpERs NoR PIRATES.
"The Democratic party does not in
tend that We shall 10 either. No more
does II intend thattlh-v al' falsely cal