The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-09-01
Stevenson Sounds the Cam
paign Keynote in Illinois.
DBMOCRACY's PRINCIPLES
Clearly Set Forth in the Opening Speech
Of the National Struggle.

tion and speech of Adlai E. Stevenson
| Democratic candidate for vice president.
1t was, indeed a royal welcome that the
Democracy of Bloomington gave to their
distinguished townsman.
Every railroad centering in the city
ran excursion trains and thousands of
visitors were present from all parts of
the state. The city was beautifully
decorated with banners and bunting,
and large stand erected in front of the
government building gave opportunity
for the immense crowds to get within
hearing distance of the speaker
The following is Mr.. Stevensons
speech, given almost in full:
| Ours is government OF the people, 1t
| is wisely provided in our Federal consti.
tuition that once in four years political
| power shall return to the hands of the
| people Tweuty.si times during the 1903
| years of our history have the American
| people in the exercise of their rights as
| electors, cast their ballots for the candi-
| date Of their choice for the high office of
| president of the United States. We are
| now on the eve of another presidential
| election. The responsibility OF determin.
ing what line of public policy shall be
| pursued, and who shall he selected as
| Importance of nm intelligent and consci-
entious exercise Of the privilege of desig.
mating those who are to be entrusted with
| high Office canuot be overestated.
In the pending struggle for political SUI
premacy grave public questions are at Is.
| sue. Upon the correct determination of
| these questions through the peaceful
| methods prescribed by law will depend
| the welfare of the people. 1t is all i'm
| portant, then, that the determination at
FNg,lIa Ia
| misrepresentation, but Of honest and in
| telligent discussion of the issues involved.
| During the short time | shall detain you
| 1t will be my erdeavor to suggest some of
the reasons why Mr. Cleveland should be
elected president and the Democratic
| party restored TO power. The four years
| administration OF President Cleveland
was confessedly an honest administration.
None OF the predicted evils of which
Democratic triumph was to be the forerun-
ner followed his Inauguration. In the
campaign of 1884 the people were told by
Republican speakers that Democratic sue
| cess would bring blight and ruin upon
the commercial interests of the country.
Those who predicted evil from Mr.. Cleve.
lands election proved false prophets The
Democratic administration ending March
Z, lsSy, has gone INTO history as an econ
omical and able administration of the
government. No scandals attached to any
OF its appointments to office. Under it
the rights of all property-Of all sections
OF all the people, were recognized and en-
forced. Under 10 the bonded debt of the
government was paid at maturity; trust
funds were not used to avoid treasury
deficit; and the gold reserve was not
menaccd by threats Of invasion to meet
he current expenses of the governments
Under that administration no additional
burdens were laid upon the people.
The Tariff.
The tariff is the all-important issue of
the campaign upon which we have now
entered. Shall there be revision of our
tarilf laws, and as consequence of such
legislation reduction of taxation; or,
shall 1t become the policy of our govern
mcnt to maintain, permanently, high pro-
lection? The position of the two leading
political parties upon that question can
not be misunderstood. The Republican
party. as illustrated by its recent enact
ment of the Mckinley law. stands for a
high protcCtive-in other words, prohib-
itory tariff. The Democratic party, as
emphasized by its utterauCes and its acts,
Is the advocate of tariff reform. The issue
Is squarely presented Upon the one side
are the advocates of high protective or
prohibitory policy-a policy that enriches
the few at the expense of the many. On
the other the advocates of such reduction
OF tariff duties as will give to our manu-
factures the benefit of cheap raw ma
of the necessaries of life. The argument
advanced by the early advocates Of pro
tective system was the necessity of pro-
tecting our Infant industries "
Only the Wealthy Are Benented.
AS "infant industries" they had been
for the time content with the moderate
protection given by, Mr.: Clay: Later,
they had demanded the higher duties i'm
posed by the Morrill, tariff and that of
later congresses. In 1890, during the first
session of the Fifty.irs congress, their
demand was in substance for prohibitory
tariff. The response to this demand was
the passage by Republican congress of
the Mckinley bill The avowed object of
this bill was TO check importation. It's
purpose so to increase the rate of duties,
as in many instances to exclude absolutely
foreign goods from our markets, and thus
by cutting off competition, enable the
home manufacturer without let or him
drance TO fix the price of his wares. In
word, the Mckinley law, by its prohib-
itory features, gave its benefciaries a
practical monopoly, and enabled them in
fact to levy an additional tax upon the
consumer, to the extent that the duty had
been increased. Was this legislation de.
manded by the people2 Was it in their
interest? Was 1t not class legislation of
the most odiOus chaTacter-such legisla-
tioD as enriches the few at the expense of
the many2 The American people unmis.
upon this bill. Slowly but surely they
have become convinced that projection
does not protect them,
A Word to the Farmer.
II is worse than idle TO speak of its
benefits to the American farmer. What
he demands is both foreign and a home
market for the products Of his farm. 1t is
mockery to tell him be is protected against
the corn and wheat products, of the old
world. While he Is compelled 20 sell in
the open markets Of the world he should
oe allowed the poor privilege Of bnying
What his necessities require without pay.
ing high tribute to the projected classes
II his country. To the mechanic and
l6borer no less than 20 the farmer protec.
siou has proved delusion and snare.
In 40 instance has Il opened up 20 the
farmer additional market for pound OF
single instance given to the mechanic or
laborer increased wagesS The present
high tariff adds largely to the cost of ar
ticles necessary TO the comfort of the wage
Garner. How has he been benefitedf Has II
increased his wagesi Has 1t In any man.
ner benefited his condition. Recent events
connected with the most highly protected
establishments of this country sadly at
test the fact that highly protective tariff
their bread by daily toll 1t was never
intended to benefit them. Long enough
has the wage Garner been deluded by the
cry that high tariff means high wages.
Tariffs have no effects upon wages except
TO diminish their purchasing power. The
higher the tariff the less the purchasing
power of the wages. Wages are governed
by the great law Of supply and demand
the claim OF the proteetionist is well
ua lad l. Ia. -