The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-05-12

I tulS bplcuuiu city, WHICH Is Tue Gre
alton of American farming. This
condition, which has not been pre-
vented by the power of protective
tariffs, has not come suddenly. 1t
has been the work of years. ] speak
of it as part of that serious emoar-
rassment the administration has had
to meet, and which we are called up
on to relieve by economy in expendi-
ture and by such changes of revenue
laws as will fulfill, so far as posi-
BILE, those Democratic maxims-that
all the money the people pay in tax
es the government should receive;
the taxes should be so laid as to
bear as equally as possible upon all
parts of the country.
In times of public distress and
sharp partisan criticism, it is hard
to comply with the impotence of the
people, but | assert that never in our
history has an administration moved
more rapidly in the correction of
legislation. Public confidence has
been restored in our financial situa-
ton, the Federal election law has
been fully discussed and repealed
with the general appreciation Of the
people of every part of the country
who feel that the mildness of gov
ernment in the employment of dan
gerous powers is no reason for their
continuance.
The intrigue iingoism which was
the least excusable trait of the Har-
rison Administrator and which has
impaired our influence, if it has not
lost us the confidence of the South
American Republics, has been fifty
rebuked in the Hawaiian matter;
revenue measure in &C cordanee with
the orders of the people has passed
the House and is before the Senate
months earlier than tariff bill has
ever before been presented to that
body; the appropriation bills have
been well advanced; unwise meas
sures Initiating the currency have
been prevented, and the Treasury
has been made secure in its ability
to redeem the paper of the Govern
ment. The administration of Mr..
Harrison met the same contingency
by the Sherman act, which shook
our credit and intensified the panic
of last summer.
Let partisan critics look back in
to the history of our Government
from the beginning, and see if at any
time there has been more rapid re
Spouse to the will of the people, or
more fearless and vigorous action on
the part of an administration. | do
not doubt that it is a matter of deep
regret to every man here that there
has been any dissent among the
leaders of the party to legislation
expected by the country and prom
ised in our platform The delay of
the Senate in the repeal of the Sher
man act in the extra session went
far to nullify our advantage in that
matter. The House, coming direct
ly from the people, and responsible
to them, acted promptly; but the
Senate tried the patience of the
country too far. / am not here to
impeach the loyalty of any Demo
crat to our Administration, but
faithful support of party, when
charged with the responsibility of
government, is true patriotism-it is
loyalty to our country. In this view
| can not understand opposition to
legislation when we are under i'm
perative orders from the people to
act in their behalf. Failure to act,
or half hearted action, may be die
tated by local interests, or. accom-
plish individual revenge, but it will
be punished by the voters.
1t is the peculiar character of the
!, Democratic party that it is not sec
tional-not divided by geographical
lines, not dependent for existence
upon success, not party led by
placemen, but thoroughly national
party. 1t has had its dark days, its
long wanderings IN the wilderness,
its abasements and trials, but its
unquenchable vitality proves it the
party of the American people, the
same here in Illinois that it is in
Georgia or Texas or New Jersey or
Connecticut, springing from the
warm heart of the people and inyul-
nerable to the weapons of political
warfare.
1t took its rise with the birth oil
American liberty. aud it will perish
when that liberty is no more. Our
Administration thoroughly Demo
cratic in the sense that it came into
power without sectional appeal; il
had the consent of every part of the
country. 1t was triumph of the
people over politicians and classes
protest against privilege.
The Jeffersonian idea is reliance
upon and confidence in the people
The founders of the Republic were
not all in agreement with the Demo
cratic ideas; many Of them, nursed
, under the cold shadow of aristocrat-
ic forms, distrusted the people; they
, looked to Europe for instruction and
, models, they deferred to wealth, ed
ucation and well born position. l,
; was then that our party rose under
the guidance of the brain that pro
, duced the charter of American lib
erty; it came into being to save the
, fruits of the Revolution, to curb the
tendency to revert TO the government
of class and to raise the poor mar
to an equality in the State and fl
, him for the public service.
1t taught that government is thu
E creation of the people, an instru
, ment for their use, and that it should
be for the equal benefit of all; it de
' veloped the idea that it is the besi
) government that governs the least
4 that preserves domestic order and il
, strong for defense, but does not inter
+ fere with the pursuits of the people
In such government the delegated
: power to tax is limited to the need.
: of government economically admin
istered; it can not confer favors up
q on individuals or classes, nor assist
: them in their business by legislation
nor can it create systems Of agricul
. ture, manufactures, or trade.
Gentlemen, the Administration ant
8 the men who stand with it in Con
g gress are trying to restore our gov
b eminent to the principles from which
!. 1t has so far drifted. The great DO
! dy of the privileged class and tn
G representatives Of the protected in
farosto onpozo and jonnunaa ~ ho