Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-06-29

Of the Mckinley bill.
1T is not reciprocity at all. 1t j. retail
alton, and, worst of ALL retaliation on our
own people. Itpunshes American citizens
for the necessities or the follies OF other
people. Il saws to few small countries
south OF us. III you are forced by your ne
cessities or led by your iollies to make bread
higher or scarcer to your people, we will
make shoes and sugar higher and scarcer to
our people
"And now we are told that reciprocity Is
to be their battle-cry. Already we are re-
called with pictures of Benjamin Harrison
clad in armor and going forth to battle for
reciprocity on plumed steed. Simple 81
mon fishing for whales in his mothers rain
barrel and in great triumph capturing an
occasional wiggle. waggle is the only true,
realistic picture of the reciprocity of the
Mckinley bill.
eve are for the protection that protects
and for the reciprocity that reciprocates.-
We are in favor of protecting every man in
the enjoyment of the fruit of his labor, di-
minished only by his proper contribution
to the support of the government, and we
are for that real reciprocity, not through
dickeriug diplamacy and presidential proc
lamations, but by laws of Congress that re-
move all unnecessary obstacles between
the American producer and the markets he
is obliged to seek for bis products
but, gentlemen, l must not keep you
from the work that is before you. Let us
take up that work as brothers, as patriots,
as Democrats. In 50 large convention as
this-larger in numbers than any previous
gathering of our party and representing a
larger constituency than ever before assem-
| bled in any conventional would be strange,
ominously strange, if there were not some
differences of opinion on matters of policy
and some differences of judgment or of
preference as to the choice of candidates.
1t is the sign of free Democracy that it is
many-voiced, and, within the limits Of true
freedom, tumutuous. 1t wears no collars ;
it serves no masters. We cannot shut our
eyes to the fact that many who have hereto
fore followed our flag with enthusiasm are
to-day calling, with excusable impotence,
for immediate relief from the evils that en-
compass them. Whatever can be done to
relieve the burdens, to restore, broaden and
increase the prosperity of the people or any
part of them, within the limits and accord
ing to the principles of free government,
that the Democratic party dares to promise
that it will do with all its might. What
ever is beyond this, whatever is incompati-
bic with free government and our historic
liberty, it dares not promise to any one.
"Inyeterate evils in the body polite can
not be cured in a moment any more than
inveterate diseases in the human SYSTEM
Whoever processes the power to do so is
! himself deceived or himself deceiver. Our
party is not q quack or worker Of miracles,
1T is not for me, gentlemen, the Impair
tial servant of you all, to attempt to fore
shadow what your choice should be or ought
to be in the selection of your candidates.
You will make the selection under your
own sense of responsibility to the people
you represent and to your country. One
thing only l venture to say. Whoever may
be your chosen leader in this campaign nc
telegram will flash across the sea from the
castle of absentee tariff lords to congratu-
late him. But from the home of labor
from the freside of the toiler, from the
hearts of all who love justice and equality
who wish and intend that our matchless
heritage of freedom shall be the common.
wealth of all our people, and the common
opportunity of all our youth will come W
praise for his success and recruits for the
great Democratic host that must strike down
the beast Of sectionalism and the moth o.
monopoly before we can have ever again 6
peoples government run by peoples faith.
full representatives"
.