Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-30
MR.. WILSON SPEAKS.
| He Addresses Bis Constituents on The
Tariff Law.
DENuNcIATIoN OF TRUSTS.
Obstruction TO His Bill by the Senate
Responsibility for the Measures
FaiIure-Renoininati

Committee, ana the DeihoctauS ie"~~' '
the House of Representatives, was re-
nominated for Congress to-day. Mr.. VII
son made notable address to the conven-
ton. He said In part:
"The honor to which you summon me
to-day Is not new one for me to receive
at your generous hands. So many times
has IL come to me in the past-never
coldly or grudginsly-that I should vainiy
seek for new and stronger language III
which to assure you OF my increasing
gratitude for your approval and support
But II fitting and suff1cing words are SLOW
TO come, 1 beg you not to doubt that 1
am more deeply moved and more affec-
tionately touched by your action to-day
than I have ever been before. That action
comes at the end of one of the greatest
and most momentous struggles that has
marked our political history. and 1t comes
I'm such a way as to stamp with your
approval as constituents and Democrats,
the services which your representative
was called upon to render for the su-
premacy of Democratic principles and the
fulflment of Democratic pledges.
1T is no mock affectation, for nothing
could be more blameworthy or criminal
on my part on this occasion. but the SIM
pie candor which is due from me to you,
when / say that but for what seemed a
duty and a call. growing out OF that
struggle. ] should gladly ask at your
hands an honorable discharge from fur
ther public service, and permission to take
my place once again in the ranks OF the
militant and ever-falthful Democrats Of
the Second Congressional District.
in other campaigns'I / have accepted
this trust at your hands with full
knowledge of the labor and strain re-
quired for thorough canvass OF so large
and so stoutly-contested a district as our
own, but also with confidence In my
ability to meet the labor and strain.
To-day l cannot have that confidence,
and In view Of the large and dangerous
drafts made upon my strength ana
health l shall be constrained to ask at
your hands some remission OF the labors
of public canvassing which I have here
tofore so greatly enjoyed. / shall not.
however, be a drone in the approaching
contest and shall spare no reasonable
effort to meet personally, IL not upon the
hustings, as many Of the people as 1
can.
Fellow citizens this is enough for me
to say OF a personal nature. There are
other thoughts that fl your minds To-
day Boundless as Is your kindness 10
me It is something beyond kindness TO
me which has gathered this great con-
vention and great assemblage.
DUTY BEFORE CONGRESS.
"The Congress which adjourned yes
terday was charged by the American
people with a duty clear. unmistakaole,
transcendant, to secure from the grasp
of private and selfish hands the power
of Federal taxation; to lift from the
backs of the American people that bur-
den of tribute TO privilege and monopoly
which under thirty years of Republican
legislation had grown constantly heavier
until it far exceeded their legitimate and
necessary taxation for the support OF
government: to reclaim and make for
ever sure that heritage Of American youth
which is the true meaning and priceless
boon Of Democratic insututions-eoual
opportunity In a land OF equal rights.
This was the inspiring mission which the
Democratic party had long sought nom
the American peCce power and authority
to perform. To this mission the immedi-
ate representatives of the people gave
themselves earnestly and faithfully. In
that work they were at all times cheered
and encouraged by their great leader
who for eight years in defeat and vic
tory had led in the movement for tariff
reform. While he scrupulously abstained
from interference with the work Of those
intrusted with the reform legislation, he
was insistent, in season and out of sea-
son, in urging that the pledges on which
we had come into power should be full
I'll To-, 81.
that the blessings of reduced and just
taxation should be fully and honestly Sc
cured to the American people.
I'm this work your own representative,
thanks TO your kindness in granting him a
long public service. was assigned an i'm
portant and most arduous part. No man
could fltly undertake TO frame n revenue
bill for nation of 100000 people un-
surpassed In wealth, and In the magni-
tude and variety of their Industrial and
commercial interests: TO purge injustice
and monopoly from that system: to re-
place class exaction by public taxation,
privilege by equality; to tighten the bur-
den of the people. secure larger rewards
for their labor. and freer play for their
industry. without being appalled, by the
greatness Of the trust committed to him,
and the ;hlckening difficulties In the way
could worthily approach such a work
without putting away from him any petty,
personal ambition. and any selfish concern
for his own political future. No man
could hope for any measure OF real sue
cess who was not willing to dictate 10
such a task every power Of body and
mind. with an humble invocation for
strength and wisdom from the unfailng
source of strength and wisdom.
IL l.
full height of this duty, but l have never
faltered in the belief that you, my friends
and constituents. expected and desired me
TO enter upon my work in this spirit and
in this spirit to persevere TO its close
knew that you were tariff-reformers with
out reservation. l knew that the Demo-
Gratis of West Virginia were not protec-
tionists for West Virginia. and reformers
and free-traders for other States. But
even II / had known otherwise, / should
not have gone aside one step from what
was to me the clear pathway Of duty to
all the people.
You know. for you have followed with
watchful interest the varying history Of
our attempt at tariff reform. You have
followed with rising hopes and hearty
approval the action of the House of Rep
resentatives in the framing and passage
of a measure bearing the badges lf Demo-
cratic principles, and fraught with
promised benefits TO all :he people. You
have followed with waning hopes and
angry dlsapproval the tedious and tor
tuous passage of that bill through the
Senate, and have seen that, despite a
nominal Democratic majority in that
body, the great trusts and monopolies
were still able to write their taxes. as
they had done under Republican rule, In
some of its most important schedules.
The burden upon you is the same, whether
they use a Democratic or a Republican
hand as their amanuensis. But the
wrong TO you is infinitely the greater
when those who bear the commission OF
your own party thus prove faithless TO
its highest duties.
II need not recite to you the success
sive steps. the material. and baneful al
terations through which the House Dill
quietly passed into law yesterday MORN
ing, without the signature and approval
OF the President, who was elected upon
the issue of tariff reform, and who antici'
pated as the signal triumph and historic
achievement of his administration the
privilege OF affixing his name TO
genuine and thorough reform bill.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAILURE.
''You know by what influences this was
brought about. The country knows. ana
history viii know. where to put the re-
al failt1rQ redeem