Saint Mary's beacon., 1894-12-20
Saint Maru's Beacon
CONTINUED from 4th Page.)

nlZeu the workers OF MS party 10
the extent that other presidents
did, may be true. Il Is known that
he never was over-solicitons for the
esteem of politicians-especially Of
the chronic-seeking order.
Still, il he is right upon the main
question-that of upholding the
democratic faith, and executing the
laws for the best interest OF the
whole people, without regard to
factions, or any especial interests
think the honest patriot, whose
first duty is to his country, can af-
ford to excuse any minor defects,
or short comings observable in this
particular.
But whatever the cause, or who
ever was to blame, the fact remains
that the breach widened as time
progressed ; not only between Con-
gress and the Executive, but be-
tween the members of our own par
ty in either house OF Congress.
Our party, in extra session, came
very near failure in their very first
endeayor to do the peoples bidding
the repeal of the Sherman bill,
or the purchasing clause thereof
that "cowardly makeshift," as des-
ignated in the Chicago platform.
The extreme advocates of the free
coinage of silver Of the South and
West, led by Bland in the House
and others in the Senate, were not
willing that this clause should be
stricken ont unless something bet
ter, looking toward the remonitiza-
ton and free coinage OF silver was
enacted. | think | am right in
saying it was to the known and de-
termined stand OF the executive in
this matter, that we are today in
debtcd for the repeal of the obnox-
ious clause.
Congress convened in regular
session, On Decembe 1884 year
and month after their election.
Meanwhile the condition OF the
country had been going from bad
to worse. 1t is true the repeal of
the Sherman bill had restored con-
fidcnce. and money could be obtain
ed from the banks upon collaterals,
which before was refused but the
great masses of the people felt no
relief. They looked earnestly to-
wards the democratic party for the
relief promised. William l.. Viii
son came forward. early in the ses-
sion, with bill that cost him weeks
of anxious thought, and the best
energies OF his life. 1t did not
measure up to the expectation Of
the people. It did not suit him,
but il was the best he could do
with the material at hand. The
democratic members of the COM
mittee were not unit themselves
upon their understanding of the
Chicago platform; still on the whole,
it did very well, and promised us
substantial tariff reform.
In tie House some few altera-
tions were made-notably that of
cutting off in toto the sugar boun-
ty. But the most serious alteration
ii my opinion, was the engrafting
OF the income tax measure upon
the bill. This met with determin-
ed opposition, not only from some
of the more eminent members of
our own party, but from thought
ful and intelligent men of all shades
of fOpiniOn,-especially in the North
and East. In one sense an income
tax is the most equitable that can
be laid. Nevertheless it always has
been unpopular, and | believe has
never been resorted to except in
war.
1t may be true that vast aggrega-
tions of wealth escape there just
proportion of tie taxes. and we
know that the greatest objection to
this measure came from those Sec
tions where invested capital was
most abundant.
The South aud West understand
ing this, were not willing to risk
the measure in a separate bill, but
Insisted as sine qua non, that this
measure should be included or we
should have no tariff bill. This
might have been defeated by ma
ioritv Of the members of our own
party, but the republicans, seeing in this
an opportunity of still further dividing the
democrats, and defeating the bill. voted l
believe spIidly for its emboiiment in the
hill nf 9 ,nrss this was done with M in