Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-22
An ELOQUENT SPEECH
DELIVERED SATURDAY NIGHT TO LARGE
FIFTH WARD AUDIENCE,
By Mr. John Conf, the Fluent Young Democratic
Orator - The Gist of the Address.
Other Political Matters.

At the Democratic mass meeting heio
in the Fifth ward Saturday night, q
brief mention Of which was made in
Yesterdays REGISTER, Mr.. John j.
Coniff, the eloquent young Democratic
orator, made one of the best addresses
delivered in the city this campaign.
In commencing his address Mr.. Conitf
reYuasted his audience to listen, not as
partisan Democrats or partisan Repub-
licans. He asked them to forget their
politics and also the speakers and 10
listen impsrtially to the discussion
which would follow. A concise review
was made OF the relations of the govern
ed to the governing and the reciprocal
burdens of both. The principle Of taxa
ton was easily understood under the ex-
position Of the above relations. Parties
could not seriously differ upon the OBJ
iect and only reason for deriving reve-
nue. whether it be called taxation or oy
some other name. He would carry the
principle, as TO its limit, into the ma
tional or federal taxation that governs
in municipal, county and state affairs
A protective tariff has been fostered in
the name OF labor, but labor has been
Slapped of It's very life blood. Under the
highest protective tariff ever known in
this country labor has been forced to
appeal for bread and in return has
received q stone. In many secluded
SPOT is a monument reared over the re-
mains of some poor laoorsr who dared
demand his just share Of the colossal
fortunes that, under vicious system OF
taxation, lowered TO the sky; while a
poverty stricken home reminded him OF
the utter fslsity of protective tariff.
A reference was made to the only
principle underlying the wage ques-
tion-the law Of supply and de-
mand. Every man In this country
must complete in the market Of the
world with natures tools. The only
man who is not permitted to compete
with him Is the poor Chinaman who
comes from a country where protection
is carried to its logical result. A prOtec-
tive policy is claimed to increase wages
and lower the price Of the manufactured
product And the manufacturers, we
are told, are the ones that clamor for
it, Such propositions are their own
refutatlon. America for Americans.
Such e1clusiveness involves an
absurdity. You can rob one
man to protect another, and
that other to protect third, but
you cannot increase the wealth Of the
country. But you can concentrate or
distribute it. We would distribute il
into its natural and healthfu channels.
Our opponents, consistently with their
idea Of government, would and have
centralized the wealth Of the country
into the Golfers OF the few at the ex-
pense of the masses. If a protective
policy is to give the laborer more wages
and make his necessaries cheaper, then
his wealth must necessarily be in
creased, but he has been getting poorer
and poorer, and the manufacturers,
whose profits we were told were to be
reduced, have been growing richer and
richer.
The farmers protected wheat and
other products were held up to ridicule.
He was followed with his surplus TO the
cheapest market of the world and back
TO his native land, where unearthly
burdens were exacted in the nature OF
taxes. Mr.. Mckinley has never yet
answered the farmers inquiry as to
what foreigner he should make applica'
tion for the return Of those taxes
which the foreigner, they say, pays.
But, buy at home, they say. How can
the farmer buy az home when, TO get
sale for his surplus, he must take in
exchange what the Liverpool market
has for sale, because no nation can pay
cash for sll our exports. But suppose
il practical for him to buy at home.
He comes In contact with the manufac-
turer OF farming implements who, en-
loving the bene6cient blessings OF a
protective and prohiOitory tariff, sells
him implements which the same manu-
facturer can take to South America
and sell to foreigners st, In many in
stances, oue-third less. II you force
him TO buy az home you necessarily
force him to let his products rot by his
side. 'Tls amusing TO see protection
ist farmer acknowledging that = pro-
tective tariff has done more for him
than the rains and dews and sunlight OF
heaven. With as much consistency he