The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-09-29
THE DEMocRAT1c RECORD.
Speech of Senator Hill at the New
York Convention.

| The Democratic State Convention NJ sara
toga on Tuesday was presided over by Sena
tor David b. Hill. In taking the chair the
applause was deafening for some minutes, ane
when quiet was restored, he spoke AS follow,
on national questions:
at should be borne in mind that the finan
cial panic of 1893 was Republican-Republi'
can in its inception, continuance, and disas
trous effects-a situation largely induced by
the results then existing and impending Of
that Republican legislation which Demo
cratic Administration had not lot or parcel
in enacting, sanctioning, or condoning, but
which it only unfortunately inherited from
/ its predecessors. The people recollect thai
it was under National Democratic Admin.
istration that the Sherman law was repealed,
| not as promptly as some Of us desired, it Is
| true, but nevertheless Internationally re-
pealed within eight months after our advent
to power.
We promised the people in our Chicago
platform that this statute, which was eating
out the vitals of our financial body polite,
should not be permitted to endure, and the
promise was redeemed, despite the adverse
predictions of our adversaries.
ELECTION LAWS REPEALED.
We also declared in favor of the repeal OF
that last relic of post-bellum partisan legisla-
which invaded State rights, menaced the lib
critics of the citizen, multiplied Federal Off.
Gals, involved the expenditure of millions OF
money, continued sectional animosities, and
were as inconceived, unnecessary, and impo-
tent for the prevention of fraudulent practices
and the promotion of pure elections as they
were vexatious and offensive in their enforce
nent.
point you to the fact that the Democratic
party, although intrenched for four years with
the distribution of all the official patronage
incident to the execution of these powerful
laws, yet with patriotic self. sacrifice, delibe--
ateiy setting aside all the power, influence,
and patronage involved therein, subordina-
ting temporary selfish interests to the public
good. wiped these odius laws from the statue
books within the first year of our administra.
ton; and at the ensuing Congressional cleo
tons the spectacle will be witnessed for the
first time in twenty-four years of State cleo
tons, conducted as they of right ought to be,
without Federal interference, dictation, or
ntimidation-without Federal supervisors,
marshals, or other obnoxious Federal agents
or instrumentalities, but with State officers Sc
lected or chosen by the people themselves
according to State laws and usages, an exem-
plifcation of the principle of home rule in
States, and vindication of the doctrine of
the sovereignty of the States as it was recog-
nized by our fathers from the foundation of
our Government until that evil day in the six
ties when the Republicans, although minor
ity party, owing to our own divisions, acct
dentally obtained control Of the country.
THE MADNESS Of THE M'EINIEY LAW.
The enactment of the Mckinley Tariff law
was the eliminating atrocity of Republican
recklessness in legislation; measure so ex-
IRENE, so selfish, so unreasonable, that haz-
ard nothing in asserting that conservative
and ir-minded Republicans everywhere re-
GREETED the party exigencies which seemed to
demand its passage. 1t was the very person
iication of protectionism run mad. Throw
ing off all DISCUSSES, it was the inauguration
of huge scheme of governmental partner
ship with private business interests. Public
considerations were lost sight Of or subordi
mated to the promotion of individual aggran-
dizement. 1t was fit exemplihcation of the
vicious theories which underlie the modern
doctrine of protection ''for projections sake
alone. as expounded by our opponents. and
well illustrated the dangerous tendencies Of
governmental paternalism.
The reaction which soon followed in the
elections of $780, and was reiterated in 1892
was the natural and legitimate expression of
the popular indignation at the party which
had basely surrendered to the mercenaries
within its own ranks and had bartered away
the public good for selfish greed. The right
of taxation, which is only justified for the
purpose of revenue, was improperly invoked
to promote the interests of business iavorit-
ism, and the grand old doctrine cherished by
our fathers that the legislation OF the country
should be framed so as to subserve the great
est good for the greatest number was wholly
IOuOrPd SOurna0 and rapudIntPu
We promised the people that if entrusted
with power this vicious, un-American, and
EXCEPTIONALLY law should be repealed, and we
rejoice today in the ful6lment of that pledge.
TIE Mckinley law has gone where the wood
bine twineth, gone to stay, never TO be reen-
acted again by any political party. 1t is true
that there was vexatious and unfortunate
delay, which we regretted, occasioned in part
by the antiquated rules of the Senate, which
tolerated unlimited debate-rule which we
did not frame, but which we inherited, and
which, by reason of our slender majority, we
seemed unable to change, but which trust in
the near future will be abrogated; but the fact
should be remembered that the record shows
that we occupied less time by some months
in repeating the law than our opponents took
in enacting it in 1890.
The depression or disturbance in business
which necessarily accompanies any general
tariff revision was, of course, 10 be regretted,
but | call the attention of the country to the
fact, not generally understood, that, no mat.
ter which political party had won in 1892,
there would have been tariff revision
necessarily and inevitably so-because the
Mckinley law had broken down, had col
lapsed, and had proved utterly inadequate to
meet the necessities of the Government and
to furnish its required revenues.
MADE THE TREASURY BANKRUPT.
The Mckinley tariff duties had been placed
so high as to be largely prohibitory in their
effect, and the necessary revenues were not
forthcoming, and upon the advent Of the
present national Administration to power we
were confronted with virtually bankrupt
Treasury, and the deficit was daily increasing.
During the last year of President Harrisons
Administration the Treasury was constantly
embarrassed, as every fnancier well knows.
To use phrase of the Street, it was shining
along from day to day because of the utter
failure of the Mckinley bill to produce the
estimated revenues, emphasizing the fact that
the law was not only vicious and selfish in its
designs and results, but was, moreover, mis-.
cradle exhibition of incompetent statesman
ship
When Democratic Administration, after
four years rule, retired in March, 1899, it
left to its Republican successor an ample sur.
plus and reasonably prosperous country;
but when that Democratic Administration re
turned TO power again in 1898 it found that
the ship of state had almost been stranded or
scutted through Republican misrule, its
Treasury bankrupt, its revenues dissipated,
its credit injured. its flag dishonored, its good
name sulied and drifting rapidly toward the
rocks Of an impending panic.
Never did political party assume the re.
sponsibilties of government under greater EN-
barrassments than did the Democratic party
in March, 1893. Under such unavorable
and adverse circumstances; with slender
majority in the Senate; with an unwiedly
majority in the House; with timidity to con
tend with on one hand and radicalism on the
other; with country impatient for prompt
action; with somewhat divided eounsels
among ourselves, tits not to be wondered ut
that the measure of revision which was finally
passed by the Democratic majority and which
is now submitted to the Judgment of the eoun-
l. II ". 4.