The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-10-18
STEVENSON ON TARIFF.
SPEECH OF THE VICE PREol-
DENT IN LINCOLN, ILL.
The Weather Was Cool and Blustery and
the Big Outdoor Meeting Was Adam
doned, But the Speech Was
Good One.

LINCOLN, III, Oct. l0-lu point Of
numbers The demonstration the Demo
cracy of Logan county had today in
honor of Vice President Stevenson
was keen disappointment. The day
was raw and chilly, a high wind GET
ting in early, growing more violent a.
the day progressed, The vice presi-
dent spent the day az the guest of his
friends. He was escorted to the hoteI
at 10 o. m. and held reception until
II. The outdoor meeting which had
been arranged on a large scale wa
abandoned and q hall resorted to.
The city was profusely decorated with
flags, banners and bunting. The vic
president was introduced at 2 O'Clock
by Ambrose NJ. Miller, Governor
Altgeld's manager.
Mr.. Stevenson said
In the presidential contest of 1892
the battle was fought and won by the
Democratic party almost upon the
single issue of tariff reform. Upon
the issue of reduced tariff taxation on
the necessities of life as against nigh
protectionism, Mr.. Cleveland was
elected and the Democrats restored to
power. For the first time within u
third of century the Democrats in
1893 controlled the presidency and
both houses of congress. Under these
conditions the country had much to
expect of the great historic party now
restored TO power.
How has the party kept faith with
the people? WHAT steps have been
taken along the pathway Of tariff res
form? Have the Democrats kept
their word of promise or broken it?
Has il made an honest effort 10 make
good it's promises in its platform and
upon the hastings. This ia the ques-
tion now submitted to the
peaceful arbitration of the
ballot. Give me your at
tention few minutes and [ shall en-
dea gor to show that the Democratic
party has kept faith with those who
instructed t with power, against mo-
nopOlies fOstered and strengthened by
more than third of q century of Re-
publican legislation. Long strides
have been taken along the line of
tariff reform Inc speaker shOwed
the conditions leading to the panic OF
1898 and pictured the financial dis
tress of the country at that time.
"Bear in mil ;" he said, THAT this
was the actual condition while the
Mckinley law was still in force and
before an arm had been lifted by the
Democratic congress to change the
existing law These are the stubborn
facts with which the Republican
leaders are now confronted. They
cannot deny the fact that these con-
ditions spraDg into existence under
the Mckinley law, buF they tell us
they were result Of n want of conf
dence by the country against the
Democratic party.
81 beg you to reflect upon this as !
for one moment. Who ,
elected Cleveland and selemnly de-
clared that after almost constant Re-
publican rule all branches of the gov.
should again pass under
Democratic control? Have you for.
gotten that the Am IiCan people by
1872 in the electoral college elected
Cleveland over his Republican COM
petitor, and yet Notwithstanding tbs
fact that the people by this unpre-
cedented majority elected Cleveland
you are told that the people immedi-
ately contaminated with apprehen-
sion and alarm what they themselves
had achieved at the ballot box,
In addition to this you are told that
the condition existing at the close of
the Harrison Administrations was the
result of apprehension upon the part
of the American people that the Dem
ocratic president and congress would
endeavor to thinker with the tariff"
with the beneficaries OF high
protection. Any attempt TO reduce
taxation is always "tinkering
with the tariff The object OF
protection, as you know, il to enable
the producer to sell his goods of
higher prices than he would other.
wise he able tn secure in the open
The higher the tariff of
necessity the higher the price charged .
the consumer. lU order 70 shield |
themselves from the responsibility of |
the evils brought upon the country by .
the enactment of the Mckinley law |
orators and Populists de
clared these evils the result, not of !