The morning call., 1894-10-02
John l.. Peak, and made what many peo-
pie regard as one of the strongest speeches

John II. Peak, and made what many peo-
pie regard as one of the strongest speeches
of his career. He said in part:
III any one is here with the expectation that 1
Will attack tie President OF The United States
or any other Democrat the expectation will not
berealIzed. Whatever differences OF opinion
az 10 public questions may exist between the
President and myself. they shall not interfere.
so far as l am concerned, with Ny duty in the
hour of conflict aud Danger. My contest Is
now with the enemy, not with Democrats. No
word from me shall furnish an excuse for luke
warmness or hesitation by Democrats nor give
encouragement TO our foe The Democratic
rarty in 1892 pledged itself TO certain reforms.
First the repeal OF the Federal election law.
which authorized the use OF United States Mar
shals and soldiers at the polis second the re-
peal OF he Sherman act; third the reduction of
tariff taxation 10 revenue basis; fourth the
esseDing OF governmental expenses.
Governor Mckinley, in his recent speech at
Bangor. Me-, made the statement that not a
single pledge OF The Democratic party had been
redeemed. When we reflect that his speech.
carefully prepared and made as a bid for the
Presidency, contains no illusions to his views
on the two great issues of silver coinage and
the income lax, IL is not surprising that he
should add mendacity TO cowardice. The
Democratic party has in fact repealed both the
while the oppressive provisions Of the McKin-
ley tariff have been entirely elmina ed or
greatly modified, and governmental expenses
largely decreased. l shall not D. so disingenu-
Gus as to evade he fact that the repeal OF the
Sherman act, which authorized The purchase OF
silver by the Government. was accompanied by
serious and irritating diversity of opinion in
both the Republican and Democratic parties.
We believed then aud believe now that no coun-
try can be prosperous wi h increasing popula.
ton ana decreasing money. We were
told that the repeal OF the Sherman
act would bring immediate relief. but
clouds have been darker and The bus.
iness depression far greater since the repeal.
The New York banks are glutted with money,
while the continued fall in prices OF all conr-
mGdities caused capital 10 avoid investment
for fear Of further -shrinKage. Free coinage In
the United States will not food the country
with silver, as 1t is So often bredictei. The
European nations will not send tile billions of
silver, which they now use at a ratio OF "a to
l. as standard money; to be coined here at the
ratio. Of 16 TO l.. which would involve an
enormous loss i'll the ratio, besides the cost of
transportation. protest against the United
States continuing a policy which increases the
burdens OF The la6oring aud debtor classes In
order TO increase the incomes Of the rich:
In reference to State and national banks
Mr.. Vest said: ""The legislation which
taxed out of existence the circulation Of
State banks is gross perversion of the
taxing power and should be repe aled." =
Taking up the tariff the speaker repeated
the history of the passage of the new tariff
bill as told by him in Inc Senate, and de-
cared that there was never a moment
when the Wilson bill could not have passed
the Senate. He said:
If any differences of opinion on the subject
exist between the President ana myself 1t is
that am more extreme In my views and have
long since discarded the falacy OF a tariff for
even incidental protection. The statement
that there was any issue between the President
and myself as TO tariff reform is false. The
statement that L sympathiZed with Senator
German is equally false. III the President had
contented himself with denouncIng those who
forced The amendments upon Us would nave
said nothing. but when he attacked the whole
Senate indiscrIminately for action to which be
had given his approval as absolutely necessary
/ could not remain silent.
The new tariff law removes many OF the
oppressive provisions In the Mckinley act and
does not deserve the anathemas which ignor-
ance and prejudice have poured upon it. II
tbtre were no reductions Of duties in the new
law 1 should gladly support it, because 1t pro-
vides for a tax upon all net incomes above $4,000
year. .: o.. -:
Senator Vest referred to the compara
tive expenditures under the Republican
and Democratic administrations, asserting
that the latter was by far the most eco
|: :nomical, and closed his speech by assur:
ling his hearers of Democratic victory.