West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-09-13

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my friends and constituents, expected
and desired mo TO enter upon my work
in this spirit TO persevere to It's close.
l knew That you were tariff re.orrncrs
without reservation. / knew that the
democrats OF West Virginia were not
protectionists for West Virginia and
free traders for other states. But even
If | had known otherwise, | should not
have gone aside one sep from what
was TO me the clear path way of duty
to all the people. You know. for YOU
have followed with watchful interest
tn. varying history of our attempt at
tariff reform. You have followed with
rising hopes and he rty approval the
action OF the house of repre- sentatives
in the framing and passage of meas
ure bearing the badges of dem ocratic
principles, and fraught with promise
benefits to all the peopl,. You hive
followed with waning hopes AMI ang.
ry disapproval tho telious and tor
tuous p1ssags OF that bill through the
senate, and seen an despite NOM
nal democratic majority in that boly,
the great trusts AMI monopolie3 were
still able to write their taxes as they
had done under republican rule in
some OF its most important schc lule,.
The burden upon you is the sane
whether they use a democratic hand or
n republican hand rs their amauuen-
Sis. But the wrong to you is Infinite
ly greater when men who bear the
commission Of your own party thus
prove faithless to its higher duties.
! need not rccite to you the success
i've steps. The material AMI baneful
alterations through which the II Jn,e
bill quietly passed. into law yester-
day morning, without the signature
and approval of the president, who
was elected upon the issue of tariff re-
form, and who anticipated as the sig
nal triumph and historical achieve
ment of his admistr ttion, the privilege
of aifi@ing his signature TO g1nuiae
and thorough form bill. You know
| by what influence this was brought
about The country knows ami histo-
1
Utility for tho partial failure t. re leein
our pledges to the people, and our y IT.
tial failure TO dislolgc tn, great pr.vil-
| eyed inter ssts from oar tariff am
not sure but that this very flilu-c nav
not be the harbinger and assurInc, of
the spcedier and more complete tri-
umPh OF the commercial freedom than
! the sun both and unobstructe1 passage
of the house bill would have been.
Ihe American people are aroused as
hardly anything else could have arou,-
ed them TO the deadly menace tia
protection begets to the purity and
| very existence of free government.
They have seen a single great trus.
empowered by our tariff laws to con
troll the production and sale of nee.
esSary of Ifs, parcelling out the coun-
! Try with its partners. ana using its
iaw-made wealth and power to thwart
the best efforts OF the people to reduce
their own taxation. They have seen
1t hold up congress for weeks. an
have heard it's min.ons boldly declare
that there should be no tariff bill in
| which it's interests were no
fully protected, and they have
realized the final fulhllment of
that boast When the Sugar Trus,
thus challenged the American p.ople
TO contest of strength, its days are
numbered; its temporary triumph is It's
speojier and NOR, complete overthrow.
AID with its overthrow will vanish it's
sister brood OF monopolies that are
strong through it's support
But my friends, there is another an /
a brighter side 90 this picture. with
It's manifold failures, its final retention
OF many protective duties, its objec-
tionable su gar schedule and its excess
sive duties on cottons and woolens ana
metals. the new bill Carries i'm il sub
stantial relief TO the American people
and may be accepted as substantial
| beginning OF thorough and progre 5sivc
! tariff reform. IL means cheaper cloth
ing cheaper pottery and many other
necessaries for tbs people. It mears
/ frccr and larger commerce with those
nations that buy our farm product, and
conssqu sntly larger and better mir<et
/ for orr farmers. 10 means transfer
( OF some Of the burdens OF government
( from what goes ont for the daily
/ purchase OF the nee sssar.es Of life to
! That which comes in over aad above
the amount needed for such purchase
! If we deuounss some Of its duties atI
rates, 10 IS because what may bc much
/ lower than the duties aud rates OF the
| Mckinley bill are yet cnormities In n
| democratic bill But. as the President
/ well said, we have gained % vantage
/ ground from which we can continue to
shell the camp Of monopoly. The dav
/ Of mad protection is over in tlis coun-
/ try, McKinleyism will disappear as a
I dark aud hidsous blilht fro RI our stat
, ute books The 6rht will 20 ON. not in
sucn general engagement and pro.
tractcd struggle as wc have but last
. passed through. but in chat steady tn i
/ rcsist.ess pressure that will take one
after another 81 tho stron yhoide of
. privilege, until all shall disapu .,- l,a.
fors the advance OF public opinion and
public emancipation. have dyycIt at
some length upon those ph tees of our