Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-10-18

licans had done. but OF what the democrats
might possibly do In other words. in
order to escape condemnation for the evils
resulting from their own vicious legislation,
republicans are driven to the assumption that
the people shrank with horror from the con-
templated tariff reform for which they had so
earnestly and emphaucally declared at the
polls Can a more EonstrouS assumption be
imagined: It is one that discreditS the intelIi-
gence of the American people Both AZ the
elections OF 1880 and of 1892 the Mckinley law
had been condemned In the light of historic
facts. then. does any sane man believe that
depicted treasury, and almost bankrupt eoun-
try resulted from fear that n democratic
congress might do exactly what il had been
elected to do-reform the tariff and lessen to
the people the cost of the necesSaries of life:
No nv fellow-citiZe2S. J trust you will not be
deceived. The enforced idle1ess which las
brought sorrow to SO many hearts and hearth
stones was the direct result Of what repub-
lican congress had done. and not of what it
was feared the incoming democratic congress
might do The people were neither taken by
surprise nor alarmed by the bold declaration
in President Cieveiands inaugural in favor OF
reduced taxation. Tariff reform had been the
shibboaeth during the campaign AS l have
said both in the platform and in debate. it was
the battle cry of the supporters of Cleveland
and the democratic party. The people de-
manded a reform of the tariff, ard the declar-
alton by the president, and the bill passed by
the house OF representatives at the late ses-
sion, but voiced the will OF the people de-
ciared at the ballot box. Again, my country
men. beg of you not to be deceived but to
hold to a just accountability the republican
leaders who are solely responsible for the ter
rible condition from which the country is now
happily emerging.
Bear in mind that from March 4, 1861, until
the inauguration of Cleveland the 4th of
March. 1898, there was no single moment that
the democratic party controlled the presidency
and both houses OF congress-; never moment
that II could place single law upon your stat
ute books For all of the legislation during
that period which has brought in its train
financial disaster. monopoly, combinations
and trusts, the republican party is alone re-
sponsible. And yet by republican orators we
are condemned in one breath that we have
done too much. and in the next that we have
not accomplished more Is it not unreason-
aDle to demand that democratic congress in
n single year repeal all OF the illadviSed enact
ments of a third OF 4 century OF republican
domination:
Il come now to consider the question as to
how far the democratic party has redeemed its
promises-hpw well it has kept faith with the
people. 1t promised reduction of the eX-
penditureS OF the government. This promise
has been made good by reduction of the eX-
penditures of twenty-eight millions of dollars
over those OF the previous year, when the ex-
ecutive and the senate were republican In
this connection. 1t must be remembered also
that the sum appropriated by the present dem
ocratic congress for pensions exceeded by
twenty millions that appropriated for the same
purpose by the republican 'billion-dollar con-
greSS
Have you forgotten that the entire extra SeS-
sion of congress, convened soon after Presi-
dent Cleveland's inauguration. was consumed
in repeating the sherman law, passed by a re-
publican congress and approved by repub-
Ecan president: This ill-adyiSed enactment.
which, in a large measure, destroyed silver
money part of our circulating medium, re-
quired the annual purchase of tifty-fOur mill
ion ounces of silver bullion, and this at an an
nua.l cost of little less than fifty million dol
lars, and the bullion thus purchased was, as
you know, heaped up as SO much merchandise
in the vaults of the treasury. The great re-
publican leader. Senator Sherman, the author
of the bill voted for the repeal of the purchaS-
ing clause indicated, candidly confeSSing that
the law had not met the expectations of those
who enacted il. and that its longer continuance
upon the statute books would prove disastrous
to the country. Thus you will sec
that the democratic administration and
congress, at the outset, were confronted with
the necessity of repeating legislation which.
by the confession of republican leaders, had
only brought financial disaster
What further has the democratic congress
BY its platform and the utter
anceS of its candidates, the democratic party
stood pledged TO the repeal of the odious fed
our statute books when the republican party
was in the heyday of power. provided for the
interposition OF armed deputy United States
marshals at the polls. 1t would be difficult to
conceive of legislation more hostile to the
spirit of our free institutions or more de-
structive of the rights OF the elector For
years they had stood constant menace to the
freedom of the ballot-box. BY the act of the
democratic congress, approved by demo-
cratic president, these enactments, like repub-
federal and
sedltton laws, have become things of the past.
1t will excite the wonder of those who come
after US how laws. SO hateful and tyrannical,
could ever have received the approval of the
Ameri can congress.
The democratic congress b as increased the
tax from ninety cents to one dollar and ten
cents per gallon on distilled spirits. This will
increase government revenues annually
twenty millions of dollars. Do you in the in
terest of the whisky trust desire this law re-
pealed: The democratic congress has placed
tax playing cards. which you
know, were untaxed u nder the Mckinley law.
This will bring to the treasury three million
dollars per annum. Do you wish this provision
of the new law repealed. and the old law re-
stored: If so, your pathway of duty is clear.
Vote to return to congress the republican law
makers who opposed the tariff upon playing
cards and the increased tax upon whisky.
But again. what has this democratic con-
gress accomplished: You will bear in mind
the republicans created more than twelve
hundred new federal Offices at total annual
cost to the people OF more than two million
dollars. The present democratic congress, by
series of wise and well-considered enact
ments, greatly simplified and improved ad-
miniStrative methods in the several depart
ments of the government by means of which
more than six hundred useless federal offices
have been abolished and governmental ex-
penses thereby lessened annually to the ex-
tent of near one million dollars
lone section of the democratic tariff bill Just
enacted provides for the payment of an income
tax. Individual incomeSof less than four thou
sand dollars are wholly exempt from this tax.
Savings banks and building and loan associa-
lions are exempt from this tax. This wise ex-
emption is in the interest of small investors
and depositors. Upon other corporations and
upon individual incomes exceeding that amount
q tax of two per cent is to be collected. AS this
feature Of the bill has encountered fierce hostiI.
ity both from republican legislators and press
it is we'll to give it consideration Two cues
Was II necessary: Its enactment became a
necessity because OF the bankrupt condition
in which the passage Of the Mckinley law and
the extravaganza Of the republican congress
had plunged the country. Its enactment was
the logical result of the vicious republican leg
islati0n that had brought deficit instead of
q surplus to the treasury.
The duty OF the democratic congress when
1t came into power, to provide the necessary
revenues with which to meet the current ex-
penses OF the government, was imperative.
How could this be done: Either by continuing
or possibly increasing to the people the cost of
the necessaries of life by tariff taxation or by
imposing moderate tax upon the earnings of
the wealth of the country. The democratic
party was solemnly pledged to the reduction
Of taxation upon the necessities OF life This
pledge could be made good. and sufficient gov
ernmental revenues at the same time secured,
only by the imposition OF the tax I have in