Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-07-18

the people of the state of Massachusetts. But we stand here representing people who are the equals before the law of the largest citizens in the state of Massa- ehusetts. When you come before us and tell us that we shall disturb your busi- ness interests, we reply that you have disturbed our business interests by your course.
 We say to you that you have made too limited in it's application the dei- milton of the business man. The man who is employed for wages is as much a business man as his employer. The attorney in a country town is as much a business man as the corporation coun- sel in great metropolis. The merchant at the crossroads store is as much 8 business man as the merchant of New York. The farmer who goes forth in the morning and tolls all day, begins in the spring and tolls all summer, and by the application of brain and muscle to the natural resources of this country creates wealth, is as much a business man as the man who goes upon the board of trade and bets upon the price of grain. The miners who go thousand feet into the earth or climb 3, 900 feet upon the cliffs and bring forth from their hiding places the precious metals to be poured in the channels of trade are as much business men as the few fnan- cial magnates who ill a back room cor ner the money of the world.
 We come to speak for this broader class of business men. Ah, my friends, we say not one word against those who live upon the Atlantic coast; but those hardy pioneers who braved all the dan gers of the wilderness, who have made the desert to blossom as the rose-those pioneers away out there, rearing their children near to natures heart, where they can mingle their voices with the voices of the birds; out there where they have erected schoolhouses for the education of their young, and churches where they praise their Creator, and cemeteries where sleep the ashes of their dead, are as deserving of the eonsidera- tion of this party as any people in this country.
 It is for these that we speak. We do not come as aggressors. Our war is not war of conquest. We are fighting in the defense of our homes, our families and posterity. We have petitioned, and our petitions have been scorned We have entreated, and our entreaties have been disregarded We have begged and they have mocked. and our calamity came. We beg no longer. We entreat no more. We petition no more. We defy them.
 The gentleman from Wisconsin has said he fears Robespierre My friend, in this land of the free you need fear no tyrant who will spring up from among the people. What we need is an Andrew Jackson to stand as Jackson stood against the encroachments of aggran- dized wealth.
 They tell us that this platform was made to catch votes. We reply to them that changing conditions make new is- sues; that the principles upon which rest Democracy are as everlasting as the hills, but that they must be applied to new conditions as they arise. Condi- tions have arisen, and we are attempt ing to meet those conditions.
 They tell us that the income tax ought not to be brought in here. That is a new idea. They oriticise us for our criticism of the supreme court of the United States My friends, we have not criticised; we have simply called atten- tion to what you know. If you want criticisms, read the dissenting opinions of the court. That will give you criti- cisms They say we passed an uneonsti- tutional law. deny 1.-the income tax was not unconstitutional when it was passed. It was not unconstitutional when it went before the supreme court for the first time. Itdid not become un- constitutional until one judge changed his mind; and we cannot be expected to know when judge will change his mind
 The income tax is just law. It sim ply intends to put the burdens of gov ernment justly upon the backs of the people I am in favor of an income tax. When I find a man who is not willing to pay his share of the burden of the government which protects him, I find man who is unworthy to enjoy the blessings of government like ours.
 He says we are opposing the national bank currency. It is true. If you will read what Thomas Benton said, you will find that he said that in searching history he could find but one parallel to