The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-09-20
MORRISON Al MARION.
The Smyth Coung Democracy
is All Right, All Right.
The Standard Bearer OF the De-
mocracy Heartily Welcomed--His
Spe ech was Thoughtful and Arg
umentlve--It Pleased the People.


lBris,o Couri.r.
Judge Morrison began by expressing his
appreciation Of the kind words Of intro
duction, and b is still warmer appreciation
of the hearty and cordial greetings of the
people and the very complimentary recep-
zion which had heen accorded him
since his short stay in Marion.
He said tat he was assuming new de-
parure in his life and his habits by be-
coming Il candidate; but to the good de-
mocracv of Smytn county lie bore Il letter
Recommendation from the distinguished
body Of men who had nominated him. His
heart as we'll as bis intellect gave approval
to the teachings and doctrines of tile de-
mocratic party with which he had affiliated
all his life. Continuing, he spoke in sub
stance as follows
The first question that has received no.
tice at the hand of the political press is
that old thread-bare CRY Hard Times.
Everywhere and always.rou hear the cuck
koo sadlv waling, hard times. was
raised on EN-. While | am not developed
very much physically nor extraordinarily
mentally, am thoroughly persuaded from
experience as we'll az observation that
there is IL tolerable fair living in hard
times. II you 60 in debt and have to pay
enormous rates Of interest, if you spend
more than you earn, arc extrayagant and
not economical, YOU will have hard times
at your house. 1t is the same with the 60
vcrnmcnt as with an individual. Now
what is it that has made hard times in the
country The contention il that high
protective tariff makes good times and the
low tariff is the cause OF hard times.
Mr. Morrison quoted from Greg's history
the story of the great panic in the carly
years Of the &C ntury-dircctly attributable
to the imitation of the currency, and spec
ulaion, building cities OH paper, fabulous
prices for town lots in old fields, etc.
Whenever YOU meet fellow that is loaded
up with these boom town lots, YOU hear
the hard times song in all its intensity and
variations. The terrible harvest of this
early speculation and extravaganza was
reaped under Van Buren, administration
Is it not strange that men will say that a
change in the tariff or apprehension of a
change causes hard times or q panic ?
Each and every one of the thirteen big
panics III the history OF this country is di-
rectlv traccablc to over trading, spccula-
uation, extravaganza, men going beyond
their means. Every thing is going down
when the day ofrcckoning comes after such
season. The Black Friday panic was CT
ted as an Illustration in evidence that nei-
thcr tariff nor financial Legislation causes
pauics. The panic of 9l-'93 is another.
The history Of this panic from the failure
of Barring Bros. down was traced as mat
ter Of history and as n matter of informa-
ton.
The protective tariff does initiate against
the agricultural interests In 1880 the
farm lands in this country were worth
three and fourth billions of dolars-un-
der the Walker tariff this value doubled
by 1850 but from 60 to 80, twenty years,
the increase was left than fifty per cent,
and instead Of tho twenty -four billions so
naturally expected it was only a little over
ten billions. Do not these igupc; prove
beyond doubt that high tariff insures
against the farmer and in favor OF the
manufactures, when the'trusts and monop-
olies easily make from fifteen to twenty per
cent. while farmer is abundently satisfied
with from 3 to s? Is that fair totem, that
the Is per cent of the population engaged
in the protected industries should cOntin-
ually drain the other eighty-scven per
cent.
b ,causc it is unconstitutional The emf
ncnt Judge Cody, the supreme court OF
the United States, and the supreme courts
of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, aud Ohio
have cnunciated and sustained this doc
trine.
On this question OF a protective tariff
my view is tor tariff for revenue only. ]
believe though, gentlemen, that it would
be unwise to attempt further gislation on
this line lust now. Let us try the present
law. smooth its inequalities and hardships
correct them and otherwise not interfere
with it.
Compare the condition Of our country
when it passed into the hands Of the re-
publicans in go and when the democracy
was fully restored to power in % The
expenses of the government in 60 were
about $1,000. The last republican con
gress expended over billion dollars
!, $40 cars, CARRYING 10000 pounds would
not begin to move billion dollars. You
could cover 100 acre farm all over with
a billion silver dollars and have several
bir fortunes left over for Us. From the
foundation of the government to 1850, the
expenses Of this government amounts TO
rnly two and half billion dollars. IhinS
If billion dollars being exnendrd by 81
single congress- M wonder people cry
hard times 1t is high time t" return 10
old democratic economy. As govern
ncut we have thrown away the plan upon
which every individual prospers.
The whole history of recent legislation
was rccountcd, aud the Judge closed with