Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-30

the list as Il had been heretofore
Hundreds will recolleet this statement.
Has change taken place ia our princi-
pies In this short time? Surely on the
question Of consistency, l cannot IN
derstand why coal on the tariff list 10
the Mills bill and free coal In the pres
ent bill could be explained 10 the peO-
pie. We believe IL could not. ehal-
lence any Democrat 20 point to me one
line In Democratic history asking for
free coal. am on the solid foundation
of Democratic precedent and usage, and
those who cry for free coal do not know
the history OF their party. / am for
tariff reform and absolutely upon the
Chicago platform, which declares that
the tariff shall be reformed with fair
ness 70 an Interests aud do not propose
70 be called a hereto 20 Democratic
principles OF ehundred years.
Why, my dear sir, quarter OF a
century ago when General Grant was a
candidate for the Presidency, outside Of
the great war issue, one Of our issues
against him was, that he was for
free coal, and this issue was made
against him because OF SEINE loose state
ments made by him for free raw mate
rial. 10 every campaign since our par
" leaders bave made vigorous war on
the free coal views Of the Republican
leaders 10 the Hayes and Wheeler
campaign our campaign literature is
full of denouncement Of the Republi-
can Vice Presidential nominee because
Of his vote for free coal. So it was in
the Blaine and Logan campaign. hold
In my hand the campaign book OF our
party, setting up and denOunCing Blaine
for bis vote for free coal. When Gen
eUal Logan came TO this State the State
was flooded by our National Committee
with pamphlets denouncing him
for his vote for free coal and APP
pealing TO the miners OF our State TO
vote against the man who would rob
them of their honest labor. The streets
Of my city were absolutely flooded with
that kind OF Democratic literature, and
Senator Kenna-then alive-walEed up
aud down the streets and told every
Democrat that he met that Logan had
voted for free coal and that was largely
the issue against him; aud when Sena-
tor Hale last summer came 70 my city
10 make a speech he had TO walk over
street literally flooded with Democratic
coal. / hold In my hand the Democratic
hand book denouncing Morrill,, Hale,
Hawlev, Blaine, Logan, Wheeler, Fry
and other great Republican leaders for
their free coal votes. We have made
this the issue against Republican lead
ers ia every campaign in this State.
Have our declarations been mere clap
trap 70 fool the miner? And now am l
10 be criticized for following the
Democratic principles and presidents
and for not lying down with
Logan and Hale and other great Re
publican leaders whom we have been
denOuncing all these years? When l
stated this history 20 q distinguished
editor who seemed 20 be in ignorance
Of his party's history on the question,
be said In reply that our criticisms OF
the Republicans who voted for free cOar
was to get the miners vote / indig-
nantly deny the statement, and say
that in denOuncing the Republican adj
vocates Of free coal, that my party was
in dead earnest and meant what IL said.
I DENY the statements imputed 70 me
bv the partisan press; deny that l ap-
pealed for protection. l have written
and photographed for my statement before
the committee, but have been unable as
vet 10 get it. Ny position is just this;
The Democratic party Is pledged
10 correct the Inequalities and I'M
due burdens .so1 the tariff. Is 10
CO. no e inequalities Of the tariff
cy on the other products Of
Try, and place our only great
ton the free list? / am q tariff
b. ~ enfu hffF ~
the theory OF the party that the eI-
penses OF the government should be
paid bv the tariff, / want my State 70
have her fair share OF the tariff. APP
peal to the sixteen thousand miners
living in our hills, earning their bread
NV the sweat Of their browS. They are
taxed the very highest price upon the
IDOLS they dig their coal with, on the
wholen goods that cover their naked
ness, upon their scant furniture, upon
everything thew eat; how can YOU eG-
plain TO them, when you take away
from them the Scant revenue derived
from the product Of their labor? / APP
peal TO every farmer who has coal un-
DERIVING his home, and which he eX-
pecta TO support him when he can no
longer work. Iappeal TO the merchants
and business men who make their
living by this great industry. Is 10
right or Just that when this great gov
eminent has 90 raise nearly four hun
dred millions by tariff duty, that you
alone are to be left out? We are will
ing 10 take fair and honest reduction
as other products are; no more, no less;
and to-day the tariff averages so per
cent. on everything else; coal with us
rebate has only about One-hat that.
This is directly in the line Of the tariff
for revenue Ony' doctrine. II coal
under Walker tariff at S1.30 ton was
for revenue, surely under our present
high list, at IS cents ton it is still a
tariff for revenue. We have made New
England rich by paying her tariffs for
her, aud to-day it is New England
who wants her free coal 90 aid her 70
make cheaply her manufactures and
sell them high 20 Us; she is clOmoring
for free coal; she is pushing
the free coal, and will the DEM
oeratic party be led blindly into her
tolls? The New England delegation as
IL has voted, will again vote for free
coal. and 10 is the narrow and selfish
doctrine OF New England which de-
,eands protection for her products and
denies a fair revenue tariff TO anything
else. In looking over the Democratic
book for lSSS, l was struck with the
following paragraph:
on March 10Th, 1871, Mr.. Blaine said on
the floor Of the House 10 b. +. Butler II
was in favor of the repeal Of the coal tarid
ana the gentleman was not Maine dele
cation solid.
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