The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-26

test for all the things 1t came into ex-
istence to maintain and to secure than
during the past five years
We are here as patriotic citizens to-
night to celebrate and to rejoice over the
victory Let US as partisans and Demo-
Gratis rejoice scarcely less over the de-
feat of 1883. Our party, we can now see,
was not then ripe for the work which was
TO be performed. 1t needed just that
Notifying and unexpected discontinue
10 teach Il the saving truth that its real
success was to be won, not by ambiguous
professions OF its faith. or hating pro-
carnations of its purpose, or half-heart-
ed performance OF its duty.
The time had come when the American
people were obliged TO settle momen-
tous and decisive question. Either this
| Government belonged to all the people.
| and was 10 be the equal and impartial
servant Of all, or II belonged to part OF
the people, and might be used as the
engine of class power and OF class en-
richment.
1t could not belong partly TO all and
partly to a few. When the Democratic
party came out from the shadow OF that
defeat it left all timidity and doubt be-
hind it, 1t no longer hesitated as 10 It's
duty and it's action.
Ii relied for success no longer on tricks
Of management or the skillful manOuvres
OF its leaders or the crafty utterances
OF its politicians.
From Maine to Texas, from the At
lantic to the Pacific, IL spoke one clear.
unmistakable language. and dedicated
itself TO the one clear, unmistakable duty
OF banishing from our political ideas and
eXpellng from our political system the
abhorrent and undemocratlc theory of
protection for private interests by the
power of public taxation. II ceased TO
balance the chances Of success. IL knew,
and what is more IL felt, that the cause
for which 1t was called on TO battle was
not merely a question of higher or lower
percentages IN tariff bill schedules. OF
direct or incidental protection in a tariff
bill, but the question of free institutions.
| OF free and honest elections. of equal
citizenship and of equal opportunities.
II was no longer mere economic or
political issue II had become great
vital, moral issue. and a moral issue null
tiplies us by ten not only in the increase
of our own courage and enthusiasm. but
In the security Ii brings to our standard.
What, Mr.. Chairman, was the imme-
date result? The history of no party
can show such a series of victories as
those which have been achieved by the
Democratic party in the past five years.
all moving steadily and resistently for
ward not TO the partisan triumph. but 10
the political revolution ~ 1892. a revolu-
ton that came TO us finally not IN the
angry swell of a storm dashed sea- but
with such a tide as moving seemed 70
sleep too full for sound or foam"
After an exclusion of thirty-two years
We see once again every branch of the
Government that can be reached by the
| direct vote OF the people once again en-
| trusted TO the Democratic party and
! entrusted to IL because the people have
faith in the ability. In the purpose and In
the desire OF that party 10 give TO this
country good, frugal, efficient and equal
government. At the basis of that gov
eminent lies that readjustment OF cur
Federal taxing system. which We call
tariff reform or equal taxation.
We have won this victory, we have re-
ceived this trust. Mr.. Chairman. because
| the training and experience OF thousand
years have moulded this great elementary
truth into the stamina OF our people, have
made IL one OF their political instincts,
and by so doing have lifted them TO the
capacity OF self-government. and fitted
them TO enjoy and defend their liberty.
We shall be true 10 that trust Faith
| lessness. shutting. incapacity would
bring not only swift and remedless de-
feat. but swift and remediless disgrace.
We shall. be true TO that trust from no
mere motives OF expediency OF party sue
cess. but from the highest promptings OF
patriotic duty.
We wish to chase forever from the
| land the shadow OF force bills: we wish
| to preserve forever In this land the power
Of local self-government - the Inherent