Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-10-10

ries that in the lapse Of two years they forget
all these things? Have they forgotten the
squandcring of their money, the raising of
their taxes, the increase of the pensions for
partisan purposes, the fastening upon them
of the force bill, that they want to repeat the
experience of Mr.. Reed in the chair. lSo, no,
no. from the audience l know that some
times men forget very quickly-that pin
scratch seems to enrage them in the present
more than the memory of very severe
wound few years ago know that men
frequently judge the party in power by the
actual prosperity of the people. | know that
there have been for the last year or more
hard times in this country-foundries shut
down, business uncertainty, labor out of en-
ployment, steady dminution in the prices of
staple products produced by the people of this
country, and know that there's a disposition
on the part of the people to lay it to the party
10 power and say that you must bring better
times. Every party is always injured by hard
times, but it is only just to charge hard tlmes
to the party that is in control OF the govern
ment for so long q time that 1t may DO respon-
sible for setting In motion the causes that pro-
duee hard times.
When Mr.. Cleveland took the chair Ia
March, 1898, the sky was all darkened and
the sea was ell Toughening to the coming of
the financial panic. Neither he nor his party
was responsible for its coming, and he and
his party have done all that they could to
temper it to the American people. [Applause.l
When you are stricken with disease do you
demand of the doctor that on his first visit he
shall restore you to health; mo, no, mol Do
you expect that he is to perform miracles no.
within the power of human invention to per-
form; Neither the Democratic party or any
other party taking control OF the government
when the panic had already begun could do
more than try to alleviate the effects of that
stringency and start the country on the way
to industry aud prosperity. From our advent
into power we began to lesson the amount we
would have TO pay for the support of the gov
ernment, and from that day we began our
sincere and Eonest effort to release the people
from the burden of taxation.
You must have patience. you must leave it
" lluO ~ NuiS tuNSN SiNHN WIS dHN iSoNSAN
to them the prosperity that has departed from
you In the past two or three years. There is
no greater piece of machinery in the world
than the government of the United States,
and it takes long time to turn that piece of
machinery and get 1T upon the right course
when you wish to change the direction of the
law-making power and administration of the
government.
Felow-citizens. / will not detan you with
any further discussion of public questions
What have said to you to-day l heye been
compelled to speak Gs il occurred to me at
this time, but have not felt that needed to
make any careful discussion Of a great many
of these issues with which you are personally
familiar. l shall give way, therefore. to other
gentlemen who have kindly hOnored us with
their presence, and who will speak to us on
the public questions involved in the present
campaign before the American people.
As said in the beginning, l now close by
thanking my frerds and neighbors, The peo-
pie OF my old home and OF my native county,
for the welcome accorded to me to-day and
for the promise that it gives to me, as have
had on six previous occasions, of their over
whelming support at the polls at the coming