The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-10-02

G.. Vest opened the Democratic state
campaign at the auditorium in this city
tonight. Over 1000 people crowded the
large theatre and accorded the speaker
as rousing a reception as any orator
ever received in Kansas City.
Upon entering the hall, Senator Vest
was greeted with uproarious applause,
and when he arose to speala the cheer
ing became an ovation. He was intro
duced by John L. Peak and made what
many people regard as one of the
strongest speeches in his career. He
said in part:
If anyone is here with the expecta-
tion that [ viii attack the president of
the United States or any other Demo-
crat, that expectation will not be real
lied. Whatever differences Of opinion
as to public questions may exist be-
tween the president and myself, they
shall not interfere, so far as l am con-
cerned, with my duty in the hour of
conflict and danger.
My contest is now with the enemy,
not with Democrats.
No word from me shall furnish an
excuse for lukewarmness Or hesitation
by Democrats nor give encourag cement
to our foe.
The Democratic party in 1892 pledged
itself to certain reforms. First. the re-
peal of the federal elections law, sNhich
authorized the Use of United States
marshals and soldiers at the polls; sec
ond, the repeal of the Sherman act;
ahird, the reduction of tariff taxation to
a revenue basis; fourth. the lessening
of governmental expenses.
Governor Mckinley, in his recent
speech at Bangor, Me. made the state
1nent that not a single pledge of the
Democratic party had been redeemed.
When we reflect on his speech, which
was carefully prepared, and made as a
bid for the presidency-it contains no
allusion to his views on the two great
issues of silver coinage and the income
tax-it is not surprising that he should
add mendacity to cowardice
the Democratic party has. in fact.
repealed both the federal election law
and the Sherman act, while the oppres-
sive provisions of the Mckinley tariff
have either been entirely eliminated or
greatly modified. and governmental ex-
penses largely decreased. l shall not
be so disingenious as to evade the 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.
and believe now, no country can be
prosperous with increasing population
and decreasing money.
We were told the repeal of the Sher-
man act would bring immediate relief.
but the clouds have been darker and
the business depression far greater
since the repeal.
The New York banks were still glut-
ted with money, while the continued
fall in prices Of all commodities caused
capital to avoid investment for fear of
further shrinkage.
Free coinage in the United States
will not flood the country with silver,
as is so often predicted. The European
nations will not send the billions of
silver. which they now use at a ratio
OF 1919 to /, as standard money to be
coined here at the ratio of Is to l.
which would involve an enormous loss
in the radio, besides cost of transpor-
tdtiOn.
L protest against the United States
continuing policy which increases the
burdens OF the laboring and debtor
class 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 a gross perversion Of the taxing
powers and should be repealed"
Taking up the tariff. the speaker re-
peated the history Of the passage of
the new tariff bill as told by him in
the Senate. and declared there was
never a moment when the Wilson hill
could not have passed the Senate. He
said.
IF any differences of opinion on the
subject exist between the president
and myself, it is that I am more eX-
IRENE in my views and have long since
discarded the fal,acy of tariff. for
even Incidental protection. The state
ment that there was any issue between
the president and myself as to tariff
reform is false. The statement that ]
sympathized with Senator German is
equally false. If the president bad con-
tented himself with denouncing those
who forced the amendments upon us
/ would have said nothing but when
he attacked the whole Senate in6is-
criminately for action to which he had
given his approval as absolutely neces-
sary / could not remain silent.
..The new tariff law removes many
of the oppressive provisions in the Nc
Kinley act, and does not deserve the
,anathenlas which ignorance and pre-
judice have poured upon 1t. If there
were no reductions of duties in the
new law, 7 should gladly support it
because it provides for tax unon all
net incomes above "a, goo a year"
Senator Vest referred to the COM
narrative expenditures under Republi-
can ard Democratic administrations
asserting the latter was by far the
most economical, and closed his speech
;,y assuring his hearers of a Demo
cratic victory.