The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-10-18

what the Republicans had done but
of what the Democrats might posslply
do. La other words, in order 10 escape
condemnation for the evils resulting
from their own vicious Legislation
RepublicAns are driven to the assump-
ZION that the people shrank with nor
ror from the contemplated tariff re-
form for which they had so earnestly
and alphabetically declared at lhe
polls. Can more monstTous assump'
ion be imagined? 1t is one that dis
credits the intelligence OF the A mefl-
can people. Both at the election Oh
1890 and 1892 the Mckinley law had
been condemned.
| come low to consider the question
as to how far the Democratic party
has redeemed It's prOmise5-hoW well
it has kept faith with the people. IL
promised q reduction of the eXpendi-
lures of the government. This pro-
mise has been mode good by reduc'
ton of the expenditures, S2S, 600 OOO,
over those of the previous year, when
the executive and senate were Repu0-
| lican. In this connection, it must be
rememL cred also that the sum appro-
| priated by the present congress Tor
pensions exceeded by S2O,OOO,OOO that
appropriated for the same purpose Dy
the Republican "billiOn dollar con-
sress."
Have you forgotten that the entire
session of congress convened ailer
President Cleveland's inauguration
was consumed in repeating the Sher"
man law passed by Republican con-
gress and approved by a Republican
president? This ill-advised enact
ment, you know, in large measure
destroyed silver money as a part OF
our circulating medium, required the
annual purchase of 81 900, 900 ounces !
silver bullion, and this at an annual
cost Of little LEES than $50, 600 and
the bullion thus purchased was, as
you know, hesped up as 80 much |
merchandise in The vaults OF the
treasury.
BY the platform and the uttterances
of its candidates the Democratic party
stood pledged to the repeal OF The
odious federal election laws. For
wears they had stood constant
menace to the freedom of the ballot
box, By the act of Democratic
congress, approved by Democratic
president, these enactments like force
bills and the old federal alien and
ISOLATION laws, have become things of
the past.
The Democratic congress has in
creased the taxes from 80 cents to Sl.1O ,
per gallon on distilled spirits. This
will Increase government revenues
only $40, 100000 Do you, in the in
terest of the whisky trust desire this
ed nhn Ilanonnrafin | I
gress has placed 9 tax on playing !
cards, which, as you know, were un- =
taxed under the Mckinley law. This !
will bring to the treasury So 900, 900 per :
annum. One section of the Demo- !
cratic tariff Oillj ust enacted provides \
or the payment of an income tax. =
Individual incomes of less than $4,000 .
are exempt. IT'S enactment became a \
le cessity because of the bankrupt con- +
iitiOn in which the Mckinley law and +
he extravaganza of the Republican v
congress had plunged the country. In r
proportion as the burdens of taxation =
we're removed from the shoulders of I
he poor they were made to rest upon II
hose more able to bear them. Y
| now ask your attention to the con- .
Iteration of other sections of the tar y
If bill which has passed both the y
house and the senate and is now the u
aw OF the land. | state to you in all 4
andOr that il is not ell desire. There
ever Was moment that [ would not .
lady have given the casting ?
lote in the senate in favor of a
ne tariff bill as il passed the house of =
representatives.. From the beginning +
have been firm believer in the
doctrine of free raw material. But it
must not be forgotten that while the
house of representatives contained O Ii
Democratic majority of nearly 100, h
your majority was but one in the SEN v
tie. 1t ftct, with every state fully V
represented in that body there would +
have been no Democratic n
at all, The senate con- i,
aimed but "A Democrats, and with q
he Republican senators voting SOL f
dly against the bill at every stage, it 5
San easily be seen that in a body so
nearly balanced, tariff reform had no
Easy battle 10 fight. At this critical
of the struggle, the bill was n
)nly saved by the casting vote of the
presiding officer Of the senate. have
hus gone somewhat into detail in
order that you may realize something Y
If the difficulties under which the :
present law was enacted. Recalling 4
ts | do the hostility of Republican J
to the tariff bill trom the y
il crossed the threshold OF
hat chAmber, | can only wonder that II
II ever became law. Firmly believ. :
ing as l do, that beneficial results h
must follow on its passage, | rejoice :
with you in its triumph and that the F
law is no longer upon our g
statute books. t
The Mckinley lew gave to the SUI
gar planters bounty o; , cents per q