Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-01-19
Eloquent Peroration of Chairman
Wilson's Speech.
From the Congressional Record !

From the Congressional Record
''Now Mr.. Chairman, in closing these re
marks, want to say that if the economic OBJ
Jectlons to protection are so great if it I'M
balances trade, ii it causes fluctuations and
lopsidedness in the industries of the coun Try.
if it robs labor Of employment, if it les ems
the wages of labor, if it throws crushing
burdens upon the American farmer, ii it
makes the support of this Government an
onerous burden upon every man that works
for living in this country, there are OF ner
objections to the protective system equally as
strong, equally as vital, in that it is under
mining equal free institutions in this coun-
try.
eff | understand the Democracy, the mean
ing OF the fact that it has had a charmed life
in all the history Of this country is that, WI th
more or less courage, it has always stood for
a Government of equal rights to all and
special privileges to none (Applause)
Whenever this party has borne that inspiring
legend upon it's banners and fought fearles.! y
and honestly for it, the American people la We
never failed to rally with it, and give to it
control Of the Federal Government CAP
plauSe) They have given us control OF this
Government with their commission to make it
a Government OF equal rights. They have put
into our hands the power to strike down the
spirit of privilege and caste that for so many
years controlled and fattened upon taxation
of the American people.
THE DUTY OF DEMOCRATS.
'sWe may-have our honest, sincere differ
ences of ideas as to the merits of particular
items OF the bill proposed. l question no
mans Judgment on that; l question no mans
fealty to the Democratic party Oh that. But
unless the Democratic party rallies itself as
one man, takes up this great cause of tariff re-
form, plants its standard here to sink OF swim.
live Or die. in defense of it, the Democratic
party ought to go out Of power, as it will.
applause on the Democratic side) Here we
plant the banner: here we mean to have the
fight; here we call on every man with Dem
ocratic commission to rally to our support.
Change the items Of the bill if you choose:
but let us not disappont the expectations and
hope of the American people, of the silent
masses who do not yeX you with their angry
outcries, the farmers. scattered, unable to Or
ganize who plod their weary way borne down
by burden OF taxes.
'Even il they are silent, even if our halls
and corridors and petition boxes fill up with
the protests of the concentrated consolidated
monopolies and trusts of the country, let us
be true to our faith; let us 60 forward until
we shall make this a country where every
man born into its citizenship shall see the
gateway of opportunity open before him, so
that the great avenues OF industry shall no
longer be the private possession of the wealth
Of the country, but every man born into its
citizenship shall see before him the inspira-
ton to rise to such Influence, to such prosper
ity, as his own merits and his own efforts may
entitle hini-not crushed down by the burdens
OF taxation, nor beaten back in contempt by
those who speak of him as a rebel when he
seeks to demand his own rights.
Let this be a country free to all, equal to
all, with the golden ladder of opportunity
planted in every cabin, in every home and at
every humble fireside in the land" (Long-
continued anOlauSa