The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-07
NEW roRK BUSINESS MEN AND SEN
ATOR 8ILL.

Fprn ssnaior Hms Speech aOofnss ihs Income mr., De.
Rrercd IN the Federal Senate on Aprtie, 1884,
I listened the other day with considerable
interest to the distinguished Senator from In
diana in his fierce denunciations OF the people In
this country who have been fortunate enouRhto
accumulate a competence. He nearly exhausted
the vocabulary of abuse In the anatheinas which
he hurled against them.
He rebuked their marrow and corroding
selhshness ;' their dangerous pretenslons and
intolerable arrogance;' he described their
brutal dictatlon; - he upbraided their unjust,
relentless, unsparing, and insolent" conduct;
he pictured their wealth ms the "illegitimate
offspring of governmental paternalism," and
characterized them as without gratitude. or
love Of country - he imputed TO them an inten-
ton and willingness TO commit perjury and
other crimes for which the convict stripes OF
the penitentlary arc the only punishment" and
then, having summarily adJudged them guilty
without court or jury, he declares them 10 he fit
associates for thieves, housebrcakers, forgers,
and cutthroats," and not satisfied with this ter
rible humiliation which he inflicted upon them,
and notwithstanding his well. known amiable
and f~orgiving disposition. with one fell swoop he
consigned them all ito everlasting hell"
Then, Mr.. President, he calmly and seriously
said TO us: II an loath TO say these things"
He need not have given us that assurance; of
course, we all keenly realized 1t. We knew with
what reluctance he assumed his unpleasant
task, and with what lack OF eagerness he en-
braced the afforded opportunity. Mr.. Presi-
dent, these violent and unseemly denunciations
these arguments, II they can be dignihed as
such-may answer for the hastings of Indiana,
but ! regret To hear them In the Senate Of the
United States.
Notwithstanding this terrible arraignment of
men Of wealth. 10 which ! have briefly alluded,
l venture to speak n few words In their de-
fence. l speak more especially of the men
Of means OF my own State. / cannot, Of course,
speak for those Of lndiana-they may be all that
they are painted by the senior Senator from that
State. While, however. | doubt that fact, Ihave
such respect for him and his statements that 1
cannot safely contradict him. The men of
wealth Of New York, as a general rule, are
among our best, most esteemed. and reputable
citizens. They are not the vile rascals they have
been depicted, and their riches have not been
acquired by questionable means, governmental
favors. usury, nor extortion.
Some inherited their wealth from honorable
ancestors. others obtained IL by fortunate in
vestments, others by great business ability. tre-
mendous industry. and remarkable sagacity.
They have largely contributed to the greatness
and glory Of the State, building up its industries.
augmenting Its commercial supremacy, sustain
ing us nnances, ana assisting us great ana varied
undertakings.
The strong and solid financial institutions
which they control. the great life and fire insur-
ance companies which they manage. the admir-
able loan and trust associations which they
direct, the magnificent lines Of railroads which
they operate. not only In New York. but else
where, the splendid manufactures which they
conduct, wherein tens of thousands of working
men and women are employed I'm honest
labor. the immense shipping interest which
they represent, tho tremendous wholesale
and retail establishments of trade which
they maintain, and the hundreds OF
other business enterprises of vast magnitude
which they honorably and successfully man
age, are the evidences Of their ability, their
genius, their prudence. and their integrity.
The institutions of learning which they have
founded, of which Cornell University, vassar
College, Cooper Institute. Vanderbilt Univer-
sity are conspicuous instances; the public IL
braries which they Lave endowed, of which the
Astor Library, the Lenox Library, the Tildcn
Library are notable examples; the free hospi-
tails which they have instituted, OF which the
Roosevelt Hospital. the Arnot-Ogden Hos
pital, and scores of others through
out my state, which do not now occur
to me-: all these benefactions attest their
widespread and noble generosity, and disprove
the contemplate charge of their supreme self
ishness.
Whenever famine, pestilence, or fire has af-
ficted their countrymen in any locality or sec
ton of the Union, the wealthy business men Of
New York always speedily came to the rescue
and literally responded.
In great political campaigns, when the life OF
political parties has been deemed To be at stake,
even Indiana and some portions Of the south
have not refused assistance from the wealthy
partisans OF New York,
When the nations credit Is In peril, and funds
are needed to meet the daily wants OF its Treas
ury, and It must borrow from its citizens. where
else except to the bankers OF New York does
your Secretary OF the Treasury with confidence
apply
When the country's very life was In danger.
when the fate Of the Government hung trem-
bling In the balance, when money was sorely
needed to defend the Union. what subscribers to
the nations securities more quickly and cheer
fully responded in the hour Of emergency than
the moneyed men OF my State?
Mr.. President, ! need say no more. This speak
ing in defence OF wealth is a new role TO me.
The record of my oficisl life shows tina: my pub
lie utterances as well as services have usually
been in other directions: In defence OF the poor,
in vindication OF the oppressed. and for the
amelioratlon Of labor. l have no entanglIng
alliances nor particular sympAthies with those
at whom this income tax is principally aimed;
they have never been any especial friends of
mine. But | trust that | am fair minded and
b~road-minded enough TO defend any class OF
my fellow citizens, rich or poor, high or low,
white or black, native or naturalized, whose
fair fame is unjustly assailed, or whose rights
are threatened and whose interests are endan-
gered by what l believe 10 be hostile and Vicious
legislation.
have yet to learn that poverty is a cardinal
49, - ~ Ia