Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-10-18
STEVENSON'S SPEECH.
me Vice President Talks on DEM
ocratic Achievements,
conditions That Confronted the Clexe-
iand Administration-Benefit Ae-
cruing from Democratic
Measures.

fEi-iow-CITIzENs: In the presidential con-
rest OF 1897, the battle was fought and won by
the democratic party almost unon tho s,n-l.
issue OF tariff reform. Upon the issue OF re-
duced tariff taxation. upon the necessaries OF
NE. as against high protectionism Mr. Cleve-
.ahu was elected and the democracy restored
TO power For the first time within a third of
century the democratic party On March 4
1925, controlled the presidency and both houses
OF the congress. Under these conditions the
country had much to expect OF the great his
.ofic party now restored to power. How has
-tae party kept faith with the people: What
steps have been taken along tho natbpav ~
. tariI refcrc1: Has the democratic party but
Kept the word OF promise to the ear and
broken 1t to the hope or has it made an earnest
enors 10 make good every promise made in its
platform and upon the hastings: This is the
question now submitted to the peaceful arbi-
trament OF the ballot.
Give me your attention. my fellow-citizens
and Shall eudeayor to show that the demo-
cratic party has kept faith with those who in
trusted III with power: that against monopo-
lies, fostered and strengthened by more than
third of century OF republican legislation
long strides have been taken along the line of
true tariff reform.
1t must not be forgotten that at the close of
President Cleveland first term ON the 4th of
March 1889, the republicans came into power
the benenciaries of four years of wise and
economical administration of the government
Business conditions were favorable. the coun-
try was prosperous. and the annual revenues
were little less than one hundred million dol
lars in excess OF its expenditures. The ques-
ton. as you will remember. then was: What
shall We do with the surplus:' All this was
the result: OF the able and economical policy
and methods OF President Cleveland and his
political associates in cabinet and congress.
-Four years later, when the republicans retired
from place and power. they left 10 such vexa-
tlous question as What shall be done with the
surplus: to torment the incoming democratic
administration Had the republican admins
ton continued month longer the necessity
for issuing bonds in order to meet the current
expenses OF the government would have been
imperative. There could have been no posi-
bic escape from it. AS il was, the evil day
was only tided over by postponlng the payment
OF matured governmental obligations. The
present chairman of the committee of ways
and means of the house of representatives has
publicly made the statement that the last
publican secretary of the treasury stated to
that committee just prior to the close of the
Harrison administration that additional in
come of fifty million dollars a year was q
necessity
publican party at the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Harrison was the heir to all that Cleve-
land and his party had achieved during four
years of successful administration. AS have
said, they found business conditions every
where favorable. the treasury overfowing. the
country prosperous Four years later on the
Attn OF March, 1898, the republican administra-
tion retired from power, leaving depleted
treasury, governmental obligations undiS-
charged. and the country upon the verge of
bankruptcy.
The all-import ant question arises.
what was the cause Of this: Why surplus
revenues and business prosperity at the close
OF the democratic administration, and bank
rupt treasury and the country staggering upon
the verge of financial ruin four years later,
when the Harrison administration retired from
power: 1t was. my fellow citizens. the logical,
the inevitable result OF the enactment OF the
Mckinley tariff law, q law that will take its
place in history as the browning act OF the bill
Hon-dollar congress- both branches of which.
you know, were under republican control
TIE Mckinley law increased tariff taxes upon
the necessaries OF life to point far beyond
the highest rate hitherto known to our his
tory. In its effect upon foreign importatlonS,
It was. in u large measure, a prohlbitory tarin
The intention of its authors was to give the
market to the home manufacturer and allow
him, at his own sweet Will. to increase to the
consumer the cost of all the necessities OF life.
How this to be accomplished: Simply by
so increasing the tariff tax in many in
stances to absolutely prevent foreign compe-
tition. But this was not all The Mckinley
law not only largely increased to the consumer
the cost of all articles that enter into daily
consumption l. I 1t deprived the government
of its accustomed revenues-revenues abso-
lutely necessary to meet the daily and hourly
expenses OF the government The importa-
tions being cut of. of necessity the revenues
we're cut OF. Is 1t to be wondered, then. that
under the operation of the Mckinley law. the
surplus left by the Cleveland administration
disappeared and deficit threatened our
tional treasury: Thus. as you will see. the in
eyitable effect OF the Mckinley law was, first,
TO increase to the purchaser the cost OF his
goods and in the second place. to deprive the
government Of revenues absolutely necessary
to meet its current expenses
Now nv fellow citizens. it is not difficult
IN understand why it was that the heritage of
the second administration Of President Cleve-
land from its republican predecessor was q de-
Melted treasury. 1t must not be forgotten
that one provision OF the Mckinley law re-
oufred the annual payment OF bounty to the
sugar planters for a long term of years This
houuty exceeded in its aggregate for the last
escal wear the enormous sum Of twelve million
dollars The enormity OF this legislation will
NOT now discuss. 1t has at the ballot box re-
ceiyed the unmistakabie condemnation Of the
American people
.Ihare now given in hurried review some
thing of the conditions that confronted the in
coming democratic administration on the 9Th
of March, 1893, and Of the 1ll-advlsed legisia-
zion that brought to this sad condition the
treasury and country. You cannot have for
o,,an how earnestly President Cleveland and
h,S nolitical associates addressed themselves
TO the task Of making good their promises to
raduce taxation, nor can you have forgotten
the unfortunate conditions prevailing at the
time this great work was fnaugurateo- BUSH
ness was paralyZed, the WORKSHOPS were
closed the great army Of wage-earners In en-
forced idleness and poverty and want the COM
mon lot 1t is no figure of speech to say that,
literally, men were begging their brothers CT
TIE earth to give them leave to toll
..Rear in mind that this was the actual con-
dttion while the Mckinley law was still In
force and before an arm had been lifted by the
democratic congress TO cnange the exlstlnS
Tor These are the stubborn facts with which
the republican leaders are now confronted
UNA, is their answer: What explanation do
,hev give YOU as to this terrible condition Of
,,,r business industries under the Mckinley
Iaw their own darling enactment? They can
NJ, ,leav the fact that these conditions spranS
in,o existence under the Mckinley law. but
- toll You they were the result OF Q want Of
condolences felt by the country In the demo
cratic party. As this has been the burden OF
.heir complaint in the press AID nRci. the
stump. let it have careful examination what
lis their charge: That the nnanciai depression
-,rder which the country was staggerfn when
- d.mocracy came into power, was caused
r. -, .nnrehension-a fearful foreboding upon
sbe mart Of the American people-that Presi-
-. cleveland and his party we're incompetent
- administer the government, and that all
.o-saass was to suffer arrangement. II not
o..rns;s nv the threatened reduction Of
xarir taxation. l beg you to renect upon TINS
ossrmrfiou for one moment VINO eiecteo
<leveland and solemnly declared tnat aiter
LIMOS, a lifetime Of republican mlsruie,
all branches of the government snouiu
.ooin mass under democratic control: Rave
-, .,-ro,.en that the American people, by q
.,,,-al,,v q, one hundred and thtrty-two In the
elec,oral college, elected Cleveland over ms
renublicau competitor? Have you lorgotten
80, ME ropuIar vote exceeded that OF Harrt :