Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-06-23

Speech of Governor Abbett in Mann
ing Grover CIeveiand-Mr. Dewitt
Presents the Claims Of Senator
HiII-The Platform OF Principles
for the Battle of 02-Adjonrnment
without Nominating.
CHICAGO, June 23.-For the first time
since the Democratic delegates arrived
in Chicago the sun shone out yesterday
from cioudless sky. 1t promised hot
day in the wigwam, but even heat was
to be preferred to the uncertainty of
wind and rain in the big shanty by the
lake.
Precisely at 11:30 Temporary Chair
man Owens raped the convention to
order and called upon the Rev. Alfred
Henry, of the Methodist Episcopal
church of Chicago, to lead in prayer.
At the conclusion of the prayer the re-
port of the committee on permanent or
ganization was presented and agreed to.
and Mr.. Owens introduced the per-
manent chairman rs one of the bravest
Democrats of the nation-Hon. w. L..
Wilson, Of West Virginia. Mr.. Wilson
spoke in substance as follows;
Gentlemen OF the Convention: thank you
most heartily for this honor. / shall try to
meet the duties of the high position to which
you call me with the spirit of fairness and
equality that rs Democracy. This convention
has q high and patriotic work to perform. We
owe much to our party; we owe much to our
country.
The mission of the Democratic party is to
fight for the under dog. When that party Is
out of power we may be sure there Il an under
dog to fight for. and that the under dog is gen.
erally the American people. When that party
Is cut OF power we may be sure that some
party is In control of our government that
represents a section and not the whole coun-
cry: that stands for a class and not the whole
people.
Never was this truth brought home to as
more defiantly than by the recent convention
at Minneapolis. We are not deceived as to the
temper, we are not in doubt as TO the purpose
~ our opponents Having taxed us for years
without excuse and without mercy, they now
propose to disarm MS Of further power to re-
sist their exactions Republican success in
this campaign, when we look to the party
platform, the party candidates or the utter
ances Of the party leaders, means that the peo-
pie are TO be stripped Of their franchise
through force bills in order that they may be
stripped of their substance through tariff bills.
Free government u sen government 1nere
Is no self government where the people 10 not
control their own elections and lay their own
taxes When either OF those rights is taken
away or diminished breach b made. not In
the outer defenses, but I'm the citadel of our
freedom. Eor years we have been struggling
20 recover the lost right Of taxing ourselves,
and now we are threatened with the loss OF
the greater right OF governing ourselves The
loss OF the one follows In necessary succession
the loss Of the other.
The people know by hard experience that
protection ae q system Of taxation is but the
old crafty scheme By which fhe rich compel
the poor 70 pay the expenses Of government
They know by hard expcrience that protection
- . system OF tribute 10 but the old crafty
scheme BY which the power Of taxation of the
peorle Is made the private property Of q few OF
the people.
Tariff reform means to readjnst this system
~ taxation. and 70 purge away this system OF
tEfbmfe- It means that we have not reached
ths eoal az perfect freedom SO long - any cit
e@sm h fprped BY law p DAY tribute to any