The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-30
Mr.. Wilson Tells Why He
Failed.
BEATEN BY DEMOCRATS.
But He Should Not Be Blamed
for That.
CLEVELAND AND THE TARIFF.
The President Did Not interfere, but
Insisted That Party Pledges
Should Be Kept.


Hon. w. l.. Wilson was nominated to-day
by the most enthusiastic convention that
was ever held in the Second Congressional
District. Upon his arrival from Wash
iDgton he was seized by the enthusiastic
Democrats who were at the depot to re-
ceive him aud carried bodily to the car
rage in waiting and hauled by hand TO
the Central Opera-hOuse, where the con-
vention was held. His reception amounted
10 more than an ovation. The convention
was the largest ever held in the district.
and by far the most enthusiastic.
Mr.. Wilson was greeted with tremendous
cheers when he arose to deliver his ad-
dress. He said he should ask for an hon
orable discharge from further public ser
vice but for what seemed duty and a call
| growing out of the tariff struggle.
"The Congress which adjourned yester-
| day." be said, was charged by the people
with a duty, clear. unmistakabe. trans
cendent. to secure from the grasp of
| selfish hands the power of Federal taxa
ton; to lift from the backs of the Ameri-
can people burden of tribute to privilege
and monopoly, which, under thirty years
of Republican legislation, mad grown con-
SANITY heavier. until it far exceeded the
| legitimate and necessary taxation for the
support of the Government; 10 reclaim
and make forever sure that heritage of
American youth which is the true me N
ing and priceless boon of Democratic insti-
tutiODs-eQual opportunity in a land of
| equal rights.
This was the inspiring mission which
the Democratic party had long sought
| from the American people power and
| authority TO perform-and TO this mssioG
| the immediate representatives of the
! people gave themselves earnestly and
| faithfully. In that work they we're at all
| times cbeered aud encouraged by their
great leader. who, for eight years, in de-
feat and victory, had led in the movement
for tariff reform. While be scrupulously
abstained from interference with the work
| of those intrus;ed with the reform legisla-
ton, he was insistent, in season and out f
season, in urging that the pledges on which
| he had come into power should be fulfilled
! in the letter and in the spirit, and that the
blessing of reduced and just taxation
should be fully and honestly secured TO
the American people.
You know this, for you have folio wed
with watchful Interest the varying history
of our attempt at tariff reform. You have
followed the rising hopes and hearty ap-
prevail of the action Of the House of Repre-
! sentatives in the framing aud passage Of a
measure bearing the badge of Democratic
principles and seen with waning hopes
aud angry disapproval the tedious and
tOrturous passage Of the bill through the
Senate, and have seen that, despite a
nominal Democratic majority in that
body, the great trusts and monOpOlies
were still able TO write their taxes as they
had done under Republican rule in some
of its most important schedules. The bur
den upon you is the same whether thew
use Democratic or Re publican hand as
their amanuensis. But the wrong to you
is indefinitely greater when those who
bear the commission of your own party
thus prove faithless TO its highest duties.
II could not recite to you the successive
steps, the material and baleful relations
through which the bill quietly passed into
law yesterday morning without the
| signature and approval OF the President.
who was elected upon the issue of tariff
reform, and who anticipated as the signal
triumph and historic achievement of his
administration the privilege of affixing his
name TO a genuine and thorough reform
| bill. You know by what influences this
was brought about. The country knows
this. and history will know where to nut
the responsibility for our partial failure TO
redeem our pledges to the people and our
partial failure to dislodge the great priv
LEGGED interests from our tariff. am not
sure but this very failure may not be the
harbinger and assurance of a sDeedier and
more complete triumph of commercial
| fraa1Om than "a nd A.4- i
passage OF the House bill would have
been. The American people are aroused
as hardly anything else could have aroused
them to the deadly menace which protec-
ton begets to the purity and the very ex
istence OF free government. They have
seen single great trust empowered by our
tariff laws to control the production and
sale of necessity of life, parceliug out
the country with its partners aud using
its law-made wealth and power to thwart
the best efforts of the peopie to reduce
their own taxation. They have seen it
hold uD Congress for weeks, and have
heard its representatives boldly declare
that there would be no tariff bill in which
their interests were not protected, and
they have realized the final fulfllment of
the boast. When The sugar trust thus
challenged the American people TO a con-
test of strength its days were mum bered :
its temporary triumph is it's speedier and
more complete overthrow. and with the
overthrow will vanish the sister brood Of
monopolies that are strong through its
support.
The President has well said We have
gained vantage ground from which we
shall continue to she'll the camp OF monop-
oly. The day of mad protection is over in
! this country; McKinleyism will disap-
pear as dark and hdeous blight from
our statute-books.' The fight will go on
not maybe in such q general engagement
and pr0tracted struggle as we have lust
passed through, but that steady and resist
less pressure that will take one after
another stronghold of privilege until all
shall disappear before the advance of pub
! lie opinion and public emancipation. II
the closeness of the vote in one House of
| Congress gave opportunity for few men
TO Gem bne against tho people and again st
all the rest Of their party and obstruct its
| faithful efforts to redeem it's pledges the
overwhelming mass of Democrats In the
country are subject to no just criticism
| They have kept the faith. They have been
true to their principles. We may denounce
those that failed us in this fight. We are
not, therefore, subject to condemnation by
our opponents. If we have done less in
| ina vav of raliavinu fha raon1o g h,.do~.