The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-24
HILL STUMPS.
Speaks Not For Himself but For the
Nations Democracy.
CLEVELAND WARMLY DEFENDED.
Views on personal Liberty.
and the Excise Laws.

the central figure in the great Democratic
mass meeting, under the auspices OF the
state committee, which took place at
Cooper Union last evening.
Senator Hill, among other things, SAID
that Warner Miller, who opened the cam
paign In this city last week, felt con-
strained to declare that he alone and not
his party, was responsible for the scntr
ments which he should express This was
n most remarkable statement. The Re
publican situation this fall must be most
peculiar and complicated TO warrant SO
unprecedented declaration.
Had the gentleman confined his speech
TO tho excise question:" said Mr.. Hill, II
could then appreciate the motive and pur'
pose Of his disclaimer. The truth is that
Mr.. Miller's disinclination to represent
his party's principles can be accounted
for upon the theory that In many respects
his party is absolutely without fixed
principles. OF late years it has drifted
from one position TO another, resorting
first to one expcdient and then TO differ
ent one, bowing to every passing breeze OF
public opinion. making combines with
every ism that presents itself.
"The principles of the Democratic party
are SO plain and explicit that they do not
need TO be avoided. My party's principles
are my own, and In their presentation on
this occasion shall assume that / speak
by its authority as we'll as in its behalf. I
have no apologies to make for them-I de.
fend those principles because l believe In
them. / should be ashamed to belong TO
a party whose evasive or complicated prin-
cples mean one thing in Herkimer county
and another thing in New York-one
thing In Maine and another thing in
Texas"
Mr. Hill than took up the tariff ques-
ton, and argued at length In favor of tho
bill which went into effect on Aug. 2S, 1894.
He claimed that sufficient time had not
elapsed to determine accurately whether
its reductions were all wise or justifiablc,
but he believed that In the end 1t will be
proved that they were not unreasonable.
No new tariff law, he said, can demon.
strate its capacity within a single years
trial.
Sherman Bill Blamed.
"The difficulty is" continued Mr.. HILL
"that the country has not yet recovered
from the effects Of the terrible panic Of
lss3 caused by the Republican Sherman
silver act Of 1890, passed by Republicans
over the vote of every Democrat In con-
gress. This fact. however, cannot escape
observation, and that Is that the moment
the Mckinley law was repealed, and the
new tariff law enacted-to wit. on Aug
IS, 1S94-the times began to improve, and
have continued improving ever since
slowly, 1t may be, but surely, safely and
satisfactorily.
"The national Democratic administra-
tion, when 10 came into power, found q
statute which had been enacted by it's ops
ponents, known as the Sherman silver
law which was fast dragging the country
into financial ruin. That law was Re-
publican In It's inception, in It's enactment,
and In its enforcement. The presidents
called an extra session of congress to Sc
cure its repeal, and, after long and
weary struggle, Democratic congress
wiped 1t out, and IL no longer exists. The
law ceased, but its mischief remains, be-
cause there has been issued under its pro-
visions $3.50, 000, 900 Of legal tender paper
money, with substantially no available
sssets with which to redeem 1t, and which
today is disturbing the treasury and EN-.
barrassing its operations.
"The national Democratic administra-
tion is giving to the country well-ad-
ministered government The various de-
partments are being honestly, economi-
cally and wisely conducted. No scandals
have disgraced them; no irregularities
have occurred; no abuses of power have
been tolerated.; no extreme partisanship
has characterized them. With honor
dignity and diligence they are discharging
a.. ,.tto M In 90 a
fare of the whole people.
I'VE promised the people that we would
repeal the then existing federal election
law which had been enacted by our OPP
ponents. With commendable promptness
the Democratic congress repealed that
odious law.
Personal Liberty.
al come now to one of the principal
Issues involved in this campaign, and that
Is personal liberty Our opponents do
not like the term. 1t annoys them, it
worries them, IL maddens them, it friaht-
ems them. Without assuming TO answer
the arguments which / have In other
places presented In its behalf, they have
only resorted TO viliflcation and personal
abuse.
"Some OF the most jealous and indis-
Greet opponents have gone so far as TO say
that by the advocacy Of personal liberty
i mean the privilege of officials to impose
blackmail, the right TO steal and the right
TO commit crime. have made no such
argument, and urge no such contention.
Personal liberty means liberty regu-
lated by law reasonable law As popu-
larly interpreted, IL stands for opposition
90 unnecessary restraint aud yexatious in
reference with private affairs and to all
species Of obnoxious governmental super
vision Of individual concerns. The prin-
ciple which Is Implied In the term per.
sonal liberty is the bulwark of "A free state.
"The Democratic party has always been
the consistent champion OF personal lib
erty. Ii will not change its attitude by
reason OF misrepresentation or the threats
or the boasts OF puritanism. The Issue OF
personal liberty is one which has been
made by our opponents-one which has
been forced upon Us In this campaign, and
one which we cannot honorably avoid.
1T was created by the efforts of few
fanatics in this city who sought TO arbi.
trarily. Extensively and ignorantly enforce
the existing excise law according To the
most strict. technical and unfair condi.
tlons possible. Their proceedings have