Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-10-05
A ROUSING SPEECH.
SENATOR HILL SOUNDS THE
KEY NOTE.

|
KEY NOTE.
Position Of the Great National Par.
ties frsm a New York Standpoint
For nm Aggressive Campaign.
Following is the full text of Senator
David b. Hills speech before the
Saratoga Convention:
The unterrifed Democracy of the
State are assembled here to-day undis-
mayed at the premature boasts and
assumed confidence of our adversaries.
We are not unaccustomed to their an
nual snd nruss'cUverpu game Of pUiftf-
cal bluff, renewed this year with ex.
traordinary vehemence and unblush-
ing effrontery. If vain boasts alone
could bring victory their battle is in
deed won before it is actually COM
menced. But we beg to remind them
that there has not been a campaign in
this State during the past twelve years
when they did not assume in August
and September that they had carried
it, when in truth, during that whole
period, with single exception, victory
has perched upon our banners on the
first Tuesday in November OF each
year. We win our victories on elec-
ton day and not by exuberant bravado
in convention halls.
The unexpected victory OF our op-
ponents last fall has turned their heads
and rendered them arrogant and opin-
donated. They fail to recall the fact
that the vote polled was nearly 3O0,-
600 short Of the full vote OF the State,
victory which they themselves did
not anticipate and which their sur
prised and astute leaders the next day
after the election humorously attribu-
ted to divine providence and not to
Republican strength. With a united
battery and united vote New York is
still Democratic, and if we are true to
ourselves she will this year resume
her place in the Democratic column.
Our opponents, by vigorous beating
of bogus political tom-toms and in
sisting upon petty and misleading To-
cal issues, sought to divert public at
tention from the unenviable record
they made during the recent four
years of control Of the federal govern
ment. The people, however, have not
forgotten that it was a Republican ad-
ministration which, in that ill-fsted
year OF 1890, saddled the country with
unwise and vicious legislation which
has since crippled its prosperity, en-
dangered it's finances and augmented
its public burdens.
The people remember that the Sher-
man silver bullion purchase law was
the product of Republican statesman
ship against the enactment of which
every Democrat in Congress voted.
It should be borne in mind that the
financial panic was a Republican
panic in its inception, continuance
and disastrous effects.
1t was under Democratic admins
tration that the Sherman and federal
election laws we're repealed. In the
first year of our administration and in
the ensuing congressional elections
the spectacle was witnessed for the
first time in twenty-four years OF State
elections conducted as they ought to
be, without federal interference, dicta-
ton or intimidation.
The enactment OF the Mckinley
tariff was the eliminating atrocity of
Republican recklessness in legislation.
1t was the very personifcation of pro-
tectionism run mad. 1t was the inau-
guration of a huge scheme OF govern
mental partnership with private busi-
ness interests. The reaction which
followed in the elections in the fall OF
1890 and was reiterated in the cleo
tions OF 1892 was the natural and
legitimate expression of the popular
indignation at the party which had
basely surrendered to men within its
own ranks and bartered away public
good for selfish greed. We promised
the people that, if entrusted with the
power, this vicious, un-American and
Objectionable law should be repealed,
and we rejoice to-day in the fulfill.
ment of that pledge. The Mckinley
law has gone where the woodbine
twineth, gone to stay, never to be re-
enacted again by any political party.
Without retracting q single word
which I have uttered in the Senate in
criticism Of the measure while en-
gagged in the effort to perfect it and
render it more acceptable, now that il
has been passed and become law, it
must be considered as a whole. treated
largely as a party measure and con-
trasted with the Mckinley act. Unin-
fluenced by any personal disappoint-
ments or any pride of opinion, may
be permitted to speak of the measure
as it is-nothing extenuate, nor set
down aught in malice. OF its strictly
tariff features, it may truthfully be
urged that it is vast improvement
over the Mckinley law and will clear
ly demonstrate its superiority as time
rolls on and the business of this coun
try shall adjust itself to its provisions
1t recognizes in part at least the
Democratic doctrine OF free raw mate
rials. 1t may safely be asserted thai
the new law will not cripple nor EN-
barrass single industry in the land
nor throw out of employment singl'
workman, nor unduly stimulate over
production on one hand nor exorbi
tant importation on the other.
. Fellow Democrats of the empir
State and Of the country, the duty o
, this h0nr ia not rash cr;t;cian, of th.