Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-29
He Addresses His Constituents on
the Tariff Law.
STRONG DENUNCIAnON OF TRUSTS
Obstruction to His Bill by the
Senate.
FIXES THE RESPONSIBILITY

House Of Representatives. was renominated
for Congress today. Mr.. Wilson made q
notable address to the convention.
Mr.. Wilson said In part:
The honor to which you summon me to-
day is not a new one for me to receive at
your generous hands. So many times has 1t
come to me In the past-never coldly or
grudgingiy-that 1 should vainly seek for
new and stronger language in which to
assure you of my increasing gratitude for
your approval and support. But II fitting
and sufhcing words are slow to come / beg
you not to doubt that am more deeply
moved and more affectionately touched by
your action today than have ever been be-
Iore; mat action comes at the end of one
OF the greatest and most momentous struR-
giles that has marked our political history
ana IL comes In such way as to stamp
WIN your approval, as constituents and
s..n.oe,1. tne services which your repre-
sentative was called upon to render for the
supremacy of democratic principles and the
iulniiment Of democratic pledges
,, Is no mock afrectation. for nothing
my part on this occasion but the simple can
oof which Is due from me TO you when /
say trat out for what seemed a duty and a
esa,,Is, sowths W. out OF that struggle / should
siadiy ask at your hands an honorable dis
cnarge from further public service and per
mission to take my place once again in the
s oI 'he mihtant and ever-faithful DEM
oSrats OF the second congressional district
In other campaigns / have accepted this
trust at your hands with full knowledge
OF the labor and strain required for a thor
ousn canvass of SO large and so stoutly
contested district as our own but also
with confidence in my ability to meet the
Iaoor and strain. Today cannot have that
confidence, and in view of the large and
dangerous drafts made upon NV strength
and health shall be constrained to ask at
your hands some remission of the labors of
pubic canvassing which have heretofore
SO greatly enjoyed. i shall not, however be
drone In the approaching contest, and
snail spare no reasonable effort to meet
personally. not upon the hustings az
many Of the people as i can.
Feuow citizens, this Is enough for me to
say OF personal nature. There are other
thoughts that fill your minds today. Bound
less as Is your kindness to me, 1t is some
thing beyond kindness to me which has
gathered this great convention and great
assemblage.
Duty That Was Before Congress-
The Congress which adjourned yesterday
was charged by the American people with a
duty clear. unmistakable. transcendant to
secure from the grasp Of private and self
ish hands the power Of federal taxation; to
lift from the backs Of the American people
that burden of tribute to privilege and
ncnopoly which under thirty years of repub-
Hcan legislation had grown constantly
heavier until II far exceeded their legiti-
nate and necessary taxation for the sup
port OF government; to reclaim and make
forever sure that heritage of American
youth which Is the true meaning and price
less boon of democratic institutions-equal
opportunity In a land of equal rights. This
was the inspiring mission which the demo-
cratic party had long sought from the
American people power and authority to
perform To this mission the immediate
representatives Of the people gave them
selves earnestly and faithfully. In that
work they were at all times cheered and en-
couraged by their great leader, who for
eight years In defeat and victory 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 sea-
son and out Of season. In urging that the
Pledges on which we had come into power
should be fulfilled in the letter and in the
spirit. and that the blessings of reduced and
Just taxation should be fully and honestly
secured to the American people.
Framing the Tarin Bill.
TN this work your own representatives
thanks to your kindness in granting him a
long public service, was assigned an i'm
pcrtant and most arduous part. No man
could fifty undertake to frame a revenue
bill for a nation of seventy million people,
unsurpassed in wealth and in the magni-
tude ard variety of their Industrial and COM
mercial interests; TO purge injustice and
monopoly from that system;to replace class
exaction by public taxation. privilege by
equality; to tighten the burden Of the peo-
ple, secure larger rewards for their labor
end freer play for their industry, without
being appalled, by the greatness of the trust
committed to him, and the thckening diff
culties in the way Of its successful per-
fCrmance. No man could worthily approach
such 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
success, who was not willing to dedicate to
such task every power of body and mind,
with an humble invocation for strength and
wisdom from the uufailing source of
strength and wisdom.
Il cannot claim to have risen to the full
height of this duty. but / have never fall
tered 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 without
reservation. / knew that the democrats of
West Virginia were not protectionists for
West Virginia and reformers and free
traders for other states. But even If had
known otherwise 1 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 fol-
lowed with rising hopes and hearty approx
al the action of the House of Representa-
tives in the framing and passage of
measure bearing the badges of democratic
principles. and fraught with promised bene
hts to all the people. You have followed
with waning hopes and angry disapproval
the tedious and tortuous passage of that
bill through the Senate. and have seen that
despite q 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
fits 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 infin-
itely 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 thu successive
steps, the material and banefuI alterations
through which the House bill quietly passed
into a law yesterday morning. without the
signature and approval of the President
who was elected upon the issue Of tariff re-
FORM and who anticipated as the signal tri-
unph and historic achievement Of his ad-
ministrAtion the privilege Of afflxing his
name to a genuine and thorough reform
bill.
Responsibility for Failure.
you know by what influences this was
brought about. The country knows and