The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-20
HILL HAS NO HATCHET.
SO He Told the Brooklyn Democracy
In a Speech Last Night.
he IS STILL A DEMOCRAT.
His Speech Largely Devoted to the
Tarin Issue and an Attempt to show
That the Democratic Party Is Not
Really In Favor of Free Trade.

BROOKLYN, N. j., Sept. Ex-senator
David b. Hill delivered his first political
speech during the present campaign at
the Academy of Music here last night.
There were 5000 persons present and a
full hour before the meeting opened every
sea was filed and every available bit OF
standing room was occupied. Ths
theatre was handsomely decorated, the
chief feature OF the decorations being oil
portraits of the candidates arranged
about the boxes and balconies.
Four hundred prominent Democrats OF
BROOKLYN and New York city occupied
seats on the stage. When Senator Hill
appeared he was greeted with loud cheers.
(. Congressman VIM. j. Coombs presided
and introduced Senator Hill, who was
again enthusiastically applauded.
Senator Hill said ~ am reminded oil
the fact that IL was in tn edifice upon
memorable occasion in 1855 that ha
the honor OF expressing 10 the intrepid
Democracy OF Kings county the senti-
menf, Il am Democrat and under The
existing political situation l know OF no
more appropriate place or presence than
here to declare that was Democrat be-
f fore the Chicago convention and am
Democrat still.
Your cordial invitation to unite with
you III tut VI thAo
could not we'll be declined and was ac-
cepted with pleasure, coming as IL did
from a Democratic organization embrace
ing those who during all my political life
have been among my staunchest and tru-
est friends.
The national Democratic convention OF
1892 has passed. into history with its
record, Its triumphs and disappoint-
ments. The wisdom OF the action is not
now to be questioned. 1t was tho court
OF last resort established by party usage
as the final arbitcr TO determine the con-
f1icting Interests and claims OF candi-
dates, states and sections, aud its decis-
ion will be accepted with loyal acquies-
cence by every true and patriotic Demo-
crat who recognizes the necessity OF
party organization and discipline, and
respects the obligations which he as
sumes in its membership.
From this time forward imperative
duties are imposed upon rs. Fsctional
appeals should now cease, the spirit OF
resentment should be abandoned, state
pride should be subordinated to the
+ general good; real or fancied grievances
should be dismissed; personal ambitions
should be sacrificed and individual dis
appointments should be forgotten in this
great emergency which demands from
us all the exhibition Of q widespread and
lofty party patriotism.
Permit fne to repeat what i had the
honor of expressing to the Tammany So
oiety on the 4th OF July last, before the
echo OF our national convention had
scarcely died away, as follows: Our
course at the present time Is plain. In
the approaching struggle the Democracy
y OF New York should present n solid front
\ to the common enemy. Loyalty to cardi-
nal Democratic principles and TO regular
ly nominated csndi idates 10 the supreme
duty of the hour.
rafferafa fhoQa sapt fu,anta unw po-
litical parties are a necessity under our
system OF free government, but parties
cannot exist and accomplish successful
results without unity OF action, prompt
acquiescence in the conclusions OF the
majority and vigorous corporation un-
der competent leadership to secure the
common object. To this end individual
preferences and personal opinions must
give way TO the judgment OF the party
councils. The party platform, in all its
essential particulars, must be deemed to
be the infallible party guide, and tho
party's candidates are our candidates and
are entitled to our fealty.
The senator continued substantially as
fellows: IL / were asked TO define the
one fundamental difference between the
two parties, should state THAT one be-
lieves in a strict construction OF the fed
eral constitution, ana the other in
loose one. One party believes that the
general governments powers should be
conflned to those which are specifically
4 granted, and that nothing can be done
under the general welfare clause except
the exercise OF those functions which are
Incidental and necessary TO the carrying
out of the expressed powers; while the
3 other believes that under that clause the
powers OF Congress are substantially un-
restricted, and limited only by its wise
discretion.
This radical diversity OF views cannot
well be reconciled; ii cannot be wholly
IS decided by the courts as it involves the
epiYit more than the letter OF the consti-
tuition and in the end it must be deter
mined largely as a matter OF policy by
the people themselves in tfeir sovereign
capacity. Starting out with different
views OF the constitution, the two parties
naturally have enunciatsd different
theorics Of government, especially upon
\ the all important ubject OF federal tax
alton.
A division upon the tariff question WINS
Inevitable. The X ,pu blicaD party advo-
Gates the doctrine tnat the government
has q constitutional as we'll as a moral
right to impose tariff duties for the pur.
pose of encouraging the building up OF
private industries, by the imposition OF
duties sufficiently large 10 prevent for
eign competition, irrespective OF the
question OF the needs OF the treasury;
while the Democratic party believes that
the government has only constltutlonat
and moral right 10 impose such duties as
may be necessary 10 raise sufficient reven-
ne to support the government economi-
cally administered.
Both parties cannot be right; one or
the other must be wrong. There are
some things which must be conceded be-
cause they are too plain for argument
and one of them is that the government
has no constitutional power 10 enter into
private business directly, and wnat IL
cannot do directly II cannot, OF ought
not, TO do indirectly. The correct theory
OF government excludes the idea that one
citizen may be burdenei to foster
another citizens private schemes.
The Democratic national platform
gives forth no uncertain sound upon this
subject and correctly states the true
position OF the party. IL denies the
constitutional power of the government
TO impose taxes for other than public
purposes. I arm aware that concerted ei-
fort IN being made by our opponents TO
make IL appear that a new departure has
been entered upon ana that our party
has abandoned its former conservative
position upon the tariff question and
nnauruod epother and holder atfftuda