South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-07-08
CHAIRMAN WILSON'S SPEECH.

Temporary Chairman, Owens,
said Gentlemen of the conyen-
ton it gives me pleasure TO intro
duce to you one of the bravest DEM
ocrats in America-Hon. William
l.. Wilson, Of West yirginia-As
MIR. Wilson came forward he was
greeted with storm of applause.
lie looked calmly OVERTIME. conven-
ton during minutes silence and
then began
Gentlemen OF the Convention-L
thank you most heartily for this
honor. / shall try to meet the du-
ties Of the high position to which
you call me with the spirit of fair
ness and equality that ia Democra-
cy. 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 par
ty is out OF power we may DO sure
there is an under dog to fight for
and that the under cog is the great
American people. When that par
ty is out Of power we may be sure
that some party is in control OF our
Government that represents q Soc
ton, and not the whole country, that
stands for class, and not the whole
people.
Never was this truth brought
home to US more definitely than by
the recent convention at Minneapo-
lis. We are not deceived as to the
temper /; we arc not in doubt as to
the purpose of our opponents. Hay-
lug taxed us for years without cause
and without mercy, they now pro-
pose to disarm us of further power
to resist their exactions. Republi-
can success in this campaign, when
we look to the party platform. the
party candidates, or the utterances
of the party leaders, means that the
people are to be stripped OF their
franchise through force bills in or
der that they may be stripped OF
their substance through tariff bills.
FREQ government IS self-govern-
ment. There is no self-govornment
where the people do not controlthei
own elections and lay their own
taxes. When either of those rights
Ia taken away or diminished a
breach is made, not In the outer
defense, but in tho citadel OF our
freedom. For years we have been
struggling to recover the lost right
Of taxing ourselves, and now we are
threatened with the loss of the great
right of governing ourselves. The
loss of one follows in necessary sue
ceesion the loss of the other. When
you confer upon the Government
the power OF dealing out wealth you
unchaiu every evil that can prey
upon and eventually destroy free
institutions-exccssive taxations,
class taxation, billion-dollar con-
gressses, a corrupt evil service, a
debarched ballot-box and purchas-
cd elections. In every campaign the
privileges of taxing the people will
be bartered for contributions to
corrupt them at tho polls. After
every victory new Mckinley bill
to repay these contributions with
taxes wrung from the people. For
every self-goVerning people there
can be no more momentous aues-
ton than the question of taxation.
1t is the question, as Mr. Burke
truly said, around which all the
great battles OF freedom have been
fought. 1t is the question out of
which grow oil tho issues of govern
mont. Until VIC settle this ques-
ton wisely, permanently, Justly, we
build all other reform on founds-
ton of sand. We and the great
party we represent are to day for
tsr.f reform because it is the only
gateway to genuine democratic gov
eminent.
The distinguished leader who
presided over the Republican Con.
vention boasted that no does not
know what tariff reform is. Who
ever said that he did. Let as hope.
with that charity that endures ali
things and believes all things, that
he is truly as ignorant as no yaunts
himself to DO. Unfortunately the
people are not so ignorant OF tho
meaning Of protection-at least OF
tho protection which ia dealt out to
them in the bill that bears his name.
They sec that meaning writ large"
to-day in Frustrated agriculture,
in q shackled commerce, in stricken
industries, in the compulsory idle.
ness Of labOrcrs, in law made wealth,
IN the discomfort OF tho working
men and tho despair Of the farmer.
They know Ly hard experience that
protection as a system Of taxation
is but the old crafty scheme by
which the rich compel the poor 20
pay the expenses Of Government.
They know by hard experience that
protection as a system of taxation
is but the old crafty scheme by
which the poor Of taxation of the
people Is made the private property
OF few Of the people,
Tariff reform means to readiust
this system Of taxation aud to purge
away this system OF tribute. IL