Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-20

to exact of your public servants the highest standard of honesty and an efficient and
 faithful discharge of duty.
 TARIFF REFORM.
 On the question of the tariff propose to
 be very brief. put the question to you as farmers of Alabama with all the earnest ness l am capable of conceiving. Is it to your interest as consumers to continue the
 existence of the oppressive Mckinley tariff? The principle asserted and enforced by the Mckinley tariff law is: The federal govern
 ment has the right to tax portion of the | people for the protection or rather support of private enterprises--a right to take some of your hard earnings under cover of law and give 1t to it's favorites. The bare state
 ment of the proposition is sufficient to
 make the blood boil in the veins of an hon. est and fair minded man. Now those of you who vote for Captain Kolb vote for
 man who Is indorsed by those who not only believe in such governmental policy, but have actually put it into legal enforcement. He has been indorsed by the white branch of the republican party in this state, blythe populistic party and nominated by the Jeff fersonians. Therefore, in his candidacy,
 he represents the Massachusetts principle Of protection, the western free trade doc Urine and tariff reform.
 Well, you say, what has the democratic party done since it has been in power to re- lieve us from this unjust and discrimi- hating action on the part of the federal governmen In reply say 1 hold in my hand the tariff bill that has just passed the senate by the vote of democratic senators, aud in it's provisions are to be found your emancipation from the financial slavery fastened upon you and your children by
 the terms of the Mckinley tariff. In my humble judgment the newspapers and the people have underestlmated the fight the
 democratic senate made to secure the
 passage of this tariff bill. It was stub bornly and persistentIy resisted from be- ginning to finish by majority of the re-
 publican senators. Bnt the courage, wisdom, pluck and leadership of the dem-
 ocratic senators were equal to this great struggle and finally overcame the opposi-
 tion of those who have grown rich at your expense. What this tariff bill lacks of
 being constructed upon the true demo- cratic doctrine of tariff revision will be remedied by the conference committee. The main features of the bill, however, are constructed upon the principles of raising sufficien revenue to support the government, economically administered, with such incidental protection to our home industries as this will afford. 1t contains provision taxing incomes. AL though, under the provisions of the bill, this will impose an income tax upon me, yet believe it is right to make the wealth of the country bear it's proportion of the expense of the government. Except in my case it is a tax upon my brain, which earns an income, that falls within the provisions of the bill. The citizen thereby contributes to the support of the gov ernmeut in proportion to the amount of his wealth and his earning capacity.
 wish that every democrat, young and old, in the state of Alabama could have witnessed the gray haired senator from Tennessee, MT. Harris, conducting the management of the tariff bill in the United States senate. It was my privilege to wit
 ness this scene from day to day, and l shall never forget it. Although he has been serving his people for more than forty years, his eyes are as keen, bright and piercing as they were when seen in battle
 u the late confiict between the states. Ad- mitted by the republican senators to be the greatest master of parliamentary law that perhaps ever sat in the American senate, in addition to this he has tue
 faculty of stating facts and expressing his ideas with a clearness, brevity and spiel
 ness that secures conviction and at the same time commands the admiration of those who hear him. He is one of the kindest, most genial and delightful of companions. But when he conceives that wrong has been done him I do not know of anyone more aggressive and fearless. His sarcastic powers of speech are absolutely phenomenal. It seems to me ss if he could put daggers into words and then stab you with them. It can be said of him, how ever, that no senator ever served his peo- pie more faithfully and was more loyal to his country. l fear we are not rais- ing and training any to take his place. In conclusion on this subject, l want 10 say for your comfort that the prospect now is, that tho conference committee on the tariff measure will agree in few days, and the tariff bill will be passed by the house and senate, approved by the president, md then the groans of distress that have come up from the industrious and patriotic farmers of this country will be replaced by shouts of joy.
 STATE AFFAIRS.
 The democratic party has been in absolute of taf a affairs aince 1874 would not be time msspent for you to take the trouble to compare the condition of your state affairs in 1894 with the condition of affairs in 1874. This is really the only intelligent method for you to employ in order to have full appreciation of the progress and improvement made during this period of time. If after such compari- son you find that the democratic party and its agents have been unfaithful in the exe- cution of the trust committed to their care, then as citizens interested in promoting the public welfare you must look to some other agency to accomplish such purpose.
 ask you today to look at the condition of all your public institutions. When you do you will find that the present adminis- tration and all preceding democratic ad- ministrations have been protecting, foster ing and improving their efficiency. Take your charitable institutions. You will find them in excellent condition and affording comfort and solace to the diseased in mind and the unfortunate in other respects. It is our duty as citizens and as Christians to make these institutions as near perfection 4 as possible. The successful and fourishing condition of your public school system of today should fill the heart of every Ala baman with gratitude and pride. Your taxes are honestly collected and have been expended as directed by the law of your state. And you must remember that the great body of your laws covering the past twenty years have been enacted by legisla. lures composed of members a majority of I whom were farmers.