The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-24
REPUBLICANISM AND THE LAWS
IT HAS CREATED BITTERLY
ASSAILED.
APPLAUDS THE WILSON BILL
AN APOLOGY FOR THE ATTITUDE
OF HIS PARTY ON THE Sill
YER QUESTION.

NEW 1ORk, n. I Oct 23.-One OF the
largest mass meetings ever held in this city
crowded Cooper Union tonight. The
meeting was held under the auspices of
the State Democratic Committee and the
principal speaker of the evening was SEN
ator Hill. Hundreds had to be turned
away unable to gain admittance. The
meeting was called to order by Chairman
Hinckley of the Democratic State Com
mittee, who introduced the chairman of
the evening. Frederick r. Coudert. MIR.
Coudert made special speech in which he
said he favored partisanship, but wished it
to be understood that the Democratic party
was in the majority and should rule. He
then introduced Senator Hill who received
an ovation lasting several minutes. When
the cheering and handclapping had sub
sided sufficiently to allow his voice to be
heard Senator Hill began his address.
Senator Hill began by paying his re-
spects to Warner Miller. He said:
The distinguished Republican leader from
Herkimer County who opened the campaign
in this city last week felt constrained to de-
clare at the outset OF his remarks that he alone
and not his party was responsible for the sem
timents which he should express. This is
a most remarkable expression. Had the
gentleman confined his speech to the ex-
else question 1 could then appreciate the
motive and purpose of his disclaimer, but
having discussed not only that question, but
the subjects OF the tariff, the currency, our
foreign policy and other pertinent issues, he
must have been uncertain as to the exact posi-
ton of his party this year upon these impor-
tant questions, else he would not have felt
impelled to virtually announce that he was
unable or unwilling, or preferred not to, ex-
press his party's sentiments.
The truth is that Mr.. Miller's dlsinclination
to represent his party's principles can be ac-
counted 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
expedient and then to different one, bowling
TO every passing breeze OF public opinion, max
ing ''com bines' with every ism" that presents
itself and without adhering to any steady
policy for any extended period.
This has been its recent attitude in relation
TO both National and State affairs. 1t has
''wabbled'' on the tariff question in almost
every National platform, scarcely ever stating
its position twice alike In 1868 it lodged the
question. In 1880 1t substantially declared in
favor of tariff 'levied for the purpose of reve-
nue." and then in 1884 for one "for the pur.
pose of protection" 1t has declared for pro-
hibitory protection and then-in 1S92-accord-
ing to one construction limited the measure
of its proposed protection to the di ference in
wages mad here and abroad. In 1888 ii virtu-
ally declared in favor of the abolition of all
internal revenue taxes, including the whisky
tax, and then when it obtained power refused
to carry out its platform.
In that same year it condemned what 1t
termed the policy OF the Democratic ad-
ministration in its efforts to demonetize
silver" and then itself treated silver as COM
modify and passed the Ubiquitous Sherman
law of 1890, from the evil effects of which the
! country has not recovered There was no
| principle involved in that law. 1t was a mere
expedient 10 avoid adherence to principle
| 1t admitted Republican Territories into the
Union as States, but refused Democratic Terri
tories, although they exceeded the others in
population.
In 1884 it pledged itself "to correct the in
| equalites of the tariff" which it had itself
enacted, and then in 1890 passed the Mckinley
bill, perpetuating and extending those in.
equalities. 1t declared in favor of reserving
the public lands for actual settlers, and then
when in power, with lavish hand it gave
those lands away to favorite railroad corpora
tons.
In state affairs its record has been equally in
consistent, exhibiting an entire absence of
permanent principles. 1t has declared in
a general way for local self-government,
and then its legislation has centere
power at Albany. 1t has been for home
rule for cities and then against it-usually
against it 1t has advocated non-partisan
municipal administration IN Democratic cities
and maintained partisan ones in Republican
cities. 1t has opposed every effort to liberalize
excise laws and then has winked at their vio-
lation in Republican cities, or at least en-
forced them with extreme liberality and ten
derness, and then arbitrarily. Extensively and
vigorously enforced tn EN- in Democratic cities
according to the most strict, narrow and hars b
constructions possible.
In view of this record It is no wonder that
my distinguished Republican friend. who as
pires to succeed me in the United States SEN
ate, desired not to assume to speak hlsSparty's
sentiments, but preferred to discuss his own
| individual views.
The principles of the Democratic party are so
| plain ana explicit that they do not need to be
avoided. Ny party's principles are my own,
| and in their presentation on this occasion /
assume that speak by its authority as we'll as
| in its behalf 1 have no apologies to make for
! them. l defend those principles because l be-
| lieve in them.
The tariff bill enacted in 1894 by the Demo
cratic party went into effect August %, 1894
and thus has been in operation only little
| over one year. That time has not been ample
| to determine its value and usefulness. 1t is
TO be regretted that it has not met the full ex-
! pectation of its friends in realizing suf.
| fcient revenues to prevent deficiencies
but this consolation exists, that even il
there must be some deficiencies for q brief
! period there has been unnecessary and
extravagant taxation imposed under its pro-
| visions. Sufficient time hes not elapsed to de
termine accurately whether its reductions
were all wise or justifiable, but 1t is believed
that In the end it will be proved that they
were not unreasonable.
We ask the people to be patient in order that
the new measure may have a fair test. res
toration of the Mckinley law would prove in
efectual, because the records show that at the
close of the fiscal year 1929, ending June
80, 1893, there was only difference OF So, 341 ,
o|4 between the receipts and expenditures Of
| the Goyernment-almost a deficiency. The
fiscal year 1S93-94 ending June 30, 1894
during all of which period the Mckinley
| law was in operation. showed the large de-
heiency of $69, 500, 26O SO. Surely the presen,
tariff was not responsible for that. No new
tarlh law can demonstrate its capacity within
| single years trial, and no sensible man should
| expect otherwise. The difference is that the
country has not recovered from the far
l1I