The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-09-17

these bonds were not on average paid oil In a |
greater percentage than 6j per cent.
And today we have deficit in value of 35 cents |
on every dollar; that is to say, that every taxpayer
throughout this country is to be taxed in order to
replace the deficiency the value OF these dollars
And that is the result of the Sherman law Repub
lican law, passed in the Fifty-frst Congress, when
both Houses and the President were of the same
political faith. (Appause)
1T Is FOR THE PEOPLE To EDUCATE POLITICIANS.
The repeal of the 10 per cent. tax does not mean
any revival of the State banking policy at all as
necessary consequence. II simply means an abolition
of the war tax. And again think may appeal to
the Chairman and ask him if he does not think it
would be better to modify part of his speech, and
say it is for the people to educate the politicians
when snch nonsense has been spoken by an
Executive and is deliberately put before the peo-
pe as an intelligent discussion off grave political
question entering into their daily lives and invov
ing the security and prosperity of their commercial
system (Appause)
Mr. Blaine goes further and declares that the
great question which should be pressed forward is
question of reciprocity. Now, gentlemen, perhaps
some of you do not understand what is involved
in this wonderful question of reciprocity. Mr..
Blaine himself has explained it, and his explana-
ton is the best possible refutation of his argument
You are undoubtedly aware that for many years
past hides have been upon the free list in our tariff
legislation Hides placed upon the free list in
order revive the languishing industries of Mass
| achusetts.
Several years ago the leather industry had begun
to decline to such an extent that it was seriously
contemplated to abandon the entire industry, shops
were run upon half time, or were closed altogether.
The operatives were reduced to condition border
| ing on misery. Then some representatives came
down to Washington and caused hides to be placed
upon the free list and forthwith under the stimulus
of this admission of free raw materials, the leather
trade Of the United States leaped at once into
| condition of unprecedented prosperity. We can
defy competition in any open market in the world,
and the direct cause of this unprecedented pros
perty in that industry is through placing hides on
the free list.
| MR.. BLAINE's RECIPROCITY IDEA.
"Now, Mr., Blaine tells us that it was determined
to place hides and sugar the free list and that it
occurred to him to say to those countries which had
been in the habit of exporting sugar and raw
hides into this market what would they give in re-
turn for the privilege of this free admission? Icon
fess that cannot understand what Mr.. Blaine
meant by putting it in that FORM If he were about
to admit hides and raw sugar free it must have
been because that was the best interests of the
people of this country. 1t must have been because
policy essential to the development of our
manufactures. And yet he tells us that having de
cided to do that, they turn around and ask the
porters of those articles what they would give us in
return Ior our doing that which our condition com
PEELED us to do.
1t seems that certain countries. acting under the
influence of this threat that perhaps their hides ant
raw sugar might be taxed, have made certain con
yentons with the United States by which the!
allow our products in at reduced rates of duty.
But, gentlemen, there is a question involved il
condition of the balance of trade. Perhaps you ar
not aware that under the operations of this recpro
city clause the President of the United States toda!
can by his own sweet will place tax upon ever
hide that comes into the United States, for the sup
port and development of the latter industry Of tn
nation; that he can place tax upon sugar, molas
ses &c, and that without any interference by Con
gress, without any enactment of aw. by the opera
ton of his own caprice, o OF his own Judgment.
THE PRESIDENTS UNCONSTITUTIONAL POWER.
Il say this is un- Democratic, un- Republican AM
constitutional according to every tradition ofcon
situtional government. (Applause) John Hamp
ton did not stand out against the taxation of Charlie
H. because the taxes were Onerous he resisted be
cause the King attempted to levy them at his ow!
will. The colonies of the United States did not re
sst the Stamp act because its conditions were neces
sarily burdensome. They resisted it because it wa
attempted by a foreign power, and they demande'
the right TO tax themselves an essential elemen
of a republican or free government (Applanse)
I'VE in the United States have fought and wage,
a battle for freedom and that battle was waged 70
the right to tax ourselves. And today there exist
in the power of the President, lodged in his hand
by an act passed through Congress- the right tomor
row to close the shoe shops by placing a tax upol
the hides that are imported into the United States
This system of taxing at the will of the Presiden
has tbar
of taxes and that remission of taxes is couched il
these words: 4. Benjamin Harrison, do hereb.
suspend the operation of this law As President o
the United States he has the power of operation
of the dispensing power the exercise of which cos
an English King his crown,
81 think have said thai there is nothing new il
tyranny as there is nothing new in vice. Thi
power to control legislation to exercise the powe
TO suspend legislation, was a power claimed by al
English King. 1t was resisted by the English Com
mons, and the English Commons triumphed owe
the Crown, and thatpower has never been exercised
for two hundred years Here today in the Unitet
States the dispensing power is exercised by Benja
min Harrison the march of progress has been rolet
back two hundred years, and we have in full oper
alton that which the English people stamped out o
their constitutional system at period to which W
now look back as a period of comparative intel
lectual darkness (ApplauseO
81 am in favor of reciprocity, but il must be reel
procity established by law and operated by law.
reciprocity which has fixed laws established by tn
representatives of the people, and over which n
executive officer can ever exercise control Zap
plause) the reciprocity which the Democratic Sen
ators offered amendment to the scheme whicl
was adopted by the Republicans; a reciprocit
which can save the constitutional system of thi
country; reciprocity which will leave intact tn
| of In nh;
were founed on the blood of the fathers who Tough
the battles of our Revolution. (Applause)
Mr. BLAINE JUMPED ON HIS HAT.
~ know that W hen Mr. Blaine first spoke of hi
reciprocity scheme to the Republican Committee c
Ways ana Means it was received with contemp
and that under the influence of his indignation
against the treatment which he received he jumpe
upon his own hat. Well, If he jumped upon hi
hat when he first talked reciprocity he talke
through his hat when he last wrote abont it, Qaugt
ter and applause)
"They can never pretend justly and honestly this
the Democratic party is opposed TO reciprocity bu
it is opposed TO any system of reciprocity which
fundamentally hostile to the underlying principle
ofthis Government and'it is not ashamed to declar
that hostility and it believes the people of III
United States will condemn ii at the polls as the
did in 1890. (Applause.)
nut pollt II llc Fitt-liuu
plank Of the Democratic platform Now, hav
often wondered whether repeated experience
would not convince the Republican party that tn
people Of the United States are very ntelliger
people. How can there be any free trade in III
United States when both parties stand committe
to the policy Of deriving the revenues necessary fo
the support OF the Government from taxation o
imports? (Applause)
QUESTION OF PHRASES
'The Democratic platform declares that taxatio
should he limited To the needs OF the Government
The Republican party evidently does not care any
thing about the needs of the Government, but
anxious to satisfy the cravings of the protecte
monopolists who fatten at the expense of the fund
(Appause)
1--WE have condemned Republican protection
fraud and it is You win observe that Mr.. Harriso
has declared that II is no longer a question betwee
schedules. but question of principles. / say it
no longer a question of principles bnt question
phrases
.sNow I am nerfectly willing to admit that thel