The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-20

President Harrison, In his ingenious letter of
acceptance. endeavors to place our party in n
false attitude by calling attention to the fact
that while our platform In 1884,, readopted in
1888, contained an express plank upon this
question of the equalization of wages, yet 1t
was omitted in 1902, and asserts that we have
changed our position. ] beg to differ with him.
There has been no change There was no ne
cessity for the repetition OF that plank, as the
party's position upon 1t had been evidenced by
the Mills BILL
Tariff and Wages.
Regarding the effect of tariff legisla-
ton on labor he said:
Skillful statisticians capable of juggling
with fkurcs, may assume to have more in
formation than we possess and may figure out
different result, but can safely assert that
II ia the general understanding of the people
that the Mckinley bill has not increased
wages either in New York or elsewhere. II Is
undoubtedly true that in this state the aggre-
gate amount Of all wages paid the year after
It's passage may have been greater than The
aggregate am5unt paid the year preceding,
but that does not prove any increase in the
rate of wages paid and only shows that some
new industries have been established or addi-
tional men employed in Others And 1t does
not appear that such increase has been any
moro than the usual natural increase oc-
casioned by the steady growth of the state
1t may possibly also be true that there have
years than during the preceding two years
but this may be attributed TO the moderation
and good judgment of our labor organizations
rather than to the effect OF any tariff law |
know this much, that the Democratic party
will be entirely content to permit every work
ingman whose wages have been increased
since the passage OF the Mckinley bill to vote
the Republican ticket, if our opponents will
consent that all those whose wages have not
been Increased vote the Democratic, and upon
that basls we will carry tho country by a
million majority. We should not however
permit our position to be misunderstood. We
are not seeking power upon the calamity" is.
sue, but with all good citizens we rejoice in the
prosperity of the country and trust that il NAV
continue, but we insist that the country has
been prosperous not because of the Mckinley
law, but in spite of IT,.
kPresident Harrison and all the other great
and small advocates of this vicious system
diligently seek to create the impression that
the Democratic party has assumed bolder at
titudc than formerly, and became an advocate
of absolute free trade. They will not succeed
in their strenuous efforts to place us in false
position. 1t does not follow that because we
are opposed to an unreasonable tariff that we
favor free trade and the abolition of all Gus
tom houses. We arc opposed to prohibitory
tariff We are opposed to placing a virtual
Chinese wall around the country TO hamper
and restrict the natural laws of trade We
favor n larger commerce and wider markets
than at present exist. We are opposed to any
governmental partnership with private inter-
est such as the Mckinley bill establishes We
favor legislation for the masses and not for
the classes. We favor the protection OF labor
and not the creation of monopolies. We would
encourage and foster labor by relieving il of
all unnecessary bnrdens.
Tariff reform does not mean free trade. Our
opponents mtsrepresent our position now, as
they have ever done since the famous tariff
message of 1887 In that historic message our
candidate expressly repudiated the sugges-
ton that he was entering upon any crusade of
free trade.
The Force Bill.
After congratulating the country that
the campaign of education has borne its
fruits, and that the cause of industrial
emancipation is marching on, he thus
referred to the force bill:
There is another issue in this campaign of
equal If not greater importance than the tar
if, which affects the rights and liberties of
every citizen. The Republican party seems to
be irrevocably committed to the passage of
tho federal elections bill, generally known as
the force bill" and although II must be evil
dent to the most patriotic and thoughtful
member OF the organization that il is a piece
of foollshness only equaled by its mcndacity,
there has appeared for them no escape from
its advocacy. 1t is au impeachment of the good
sense OF the Republican leaders that they
bHOulu press lue Recommendation oil SO Offensive
and unwise a measure at this or any other
time, especially In view of the fact, now ap-
parent To every one, that il absolutely pre-
vents their party from receiving single cleo
toral vote IN third of the states of the Union,
and although as pGrtisnns we may rejoice at
their folly, yet as citizens we deplore their
threatened attacks upon tho free institutions
of our country, never before 30 imperiled
After brief discussion of state issues.
Senator Hill concluded as follows:
1t is believed that large majority of the
people of this country are convinced OF the
rightfulness of Democratic principles, and
want them to prevail. But the election will
not win itself, and there must be complete or
gnnizatlon. With this motto inscribed upon
our banner, Public Office is u public trust"
supplemented by the other sentiments which
have endeavored to present to you tonight,
mo public taxation for private purpose" and
mo force bill, +" let us close up our ranks and
buckle on our armor for the fight, with the de-
termination to do all in our power for the tri-
umph of our party and the election of our
bonored standard bearers, Cleveland and
Stevenson.
A Scene of Excitement.
The excitement in the audience was
noticeable as the senator drew near the
close Of his address. He had spoken for
an hour, and not once had he mentioned
the name of Grover Cleveland. He had
called to his assistance in defending his
attack on the tariff bill passages from
Cleveland's message of 1881, but in each
instance referred to the ex-president rs
the" The anxiety of his auditors was
plainly apparent. The excitement in
creased as the senator stated that the
"old guard would do its duty, and q
perfect hurricane of applause, yells and
cheers broke forth when, after one grand
sentence of deepest meaning, he closed
with the names Cleveland and Steven
son."
The senator's tact and ingenious way
of bringing such climax to his address
was recognized by the enthusiastic audi
ence by it rising en- masse and cheering
him to the echo. 1t also furnished Con-
gresham w. G. P Breclinridge, Of
Kentucky, who followed, with tteme
ON 1rhinh IL, a,,.,, :. - ..1........a ....l