The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-28

mosG RRl6abe5 anu mOSb interests the peo-
pie. In my opinion there is no issue pre-
important or vital than the question
they have raised of prostituting the pow
or and duty of the national courts and
national executive. The defense of the
constitution, of the integrity of the Su-
preme Court of the United States and
OF the Presidents power and duty to
enforce all Of the laws Of the United
States without awaiting the call or con-
sent of the governor of any state, Is an
important and living issue in this CAM
paign. (Applause.)
Tariff and coinages will be of little
moment If our constitutional govern
ment is oyerthrown. There is only one
rule by which we can live peacefully as
q, nation or peacefully as citizens. 1t Is
the rule of laws constitutionally enacted,
and fairly interpreted by the judicial
The atmosphere of the Chicago conven-
tion was suroharged with tbe spirit Of
revolution. Its platform was carried and
its nominations made with accompany
ing incidents of frenzy that startled the
onlookers and amazed the country.
"The courts and President were ar
raigned for enforcing the laws, and gov
ernment by the mob was given prefer
ence over government by the law, en-
forced by. court DEGREES and by executive
orders.
"There was no calm deliberations; there
was frenzy; there was no thoughtful
searching for the man who from expert
enoe, was most able to direct public
affairs. There WAS an tmpulsive response
to an impassioned speech that elected the
nominea. Not amid such surroundings
as that; not under such influences are
those calm, discreet things done that will
commend themselves to the Judgment
of the American people, (Applause.)
"They denounce in their platform in
terferenoe by federal authorities in local
affairs. as a violation of the Constitution
of the United States and a crime against
free institutions 1t was intended to be
in words a direct condemnation of Mr..
Cleveland as President of the United
States for using the power Of the execu-
tive to brushs out of the'way every obsta-
ole to the free passage of mail trains of
the United States and interstate COM
merce; and, my friends, whenever our
people approve the choice of a Presi-
dent who believes that he must ask Gov.
Altgeld or any other. governor permission
to enforce the laws of the United States,
we have surrende cred the victory the boys
won in 1861. (Applause.)
My friends, this constitutional ques-
tion. this division between the. general
and local authorities, is plain and easy
one. A disturbance which is purely
local In state. is state affair. The Presi
dent cannot send troops or lend any ala
unless the legislature calls upon him for
help, or the governor, II the legislature
Is in session.
"But when law of the United States
is invaded and broken, 1t is the sworn
duty of the President to execute 1t. and
this convention arraigns the President
for doing what his oath compelled him
to do. Applause But this assault
of the United States. and the federal and
lower courts, are arraigned because they
used the familiar writ of Injunction 20
suppress violence, to restrain men from
breaking the law, and that platform
plainly meaDs-I will show you that it
was So understood in the convention and
in the committee ON resolutions--tha
Democratic policy was, that when the
Supreme Court exercising Its oonstitu-
tionai power and duty, gave an in
depreciation to law of the United States
that WAS not pleasing to Congress-, they
could increase the number of judges and
pack the court to get a decision to plea Sc
them. (Applause.)
"You are to answer. then my fellow
citizens in all the gravity of great
who propose to destroy the balance
which our fathers. instituted in our sys-
tenn of government, and whenever tu-
multuous Congress disaRrees with the
Supreme Court, and subseryient Presi-
dent is in tho White House, that the judg
Ment of the court shall be considered and
revised, By increasing the number of
judges and packing the court with ,men
who will decide as Congress wants them
to. lApplause.) cannot exaggerate the
gravity and the Importance and the
danger of this assault upon our oonsti-
tutional form Of governments whatever
the question is. whether Mr. .Bryan's
view or Mr.. Tillman's view of tho con-
tutionei question shall prevail, or that
stitution to settle 1t. The courts are the
defence of the weak. The rich and pow
erful have other resources, but the poor
have not.
''The high-minded independents judic-
iary that will hew to the line on ques-
tions between wealth and labor. between
the rich and poor, ia the defence and Sc
ourlty of the defenceless. (Applause.)
II do not intend to spend any time in
the discussion Of the tariff question.
That debate has been won. (applause)
and need not be protraoted. 1t might
IuA oA OuCA doAAy APoA q oAOoAosAOesA AAoos
We had some experiences, but they were
historical and remote. and not very in
struotive to this generation.
1--WE needed an experience OF our own
and we have had it. (Laughter.) It has
been hard lesson, but very conyino-
ing one and everybody was in the school
house when it was given him. In 1898
we had the most prosperous times, the
most general diffusion Of prosperity, the
most Universal participation in prosperi-
ty and the highest mark of prosperity
we have ever attained as a nation. CAP
plause.) Now what has happened since?
Then our business prosperity was like
the strong current of a river; now it is
like q fading spring in an August
drought. The panic in 1893 of most ex-
traordinary character, has been succeed
ed by gradual drying up, loss and less,
until universal business distraction and
anxiety prevails all over our country.
That Ia the situation. What brought 1t
aboutP Gentlemen. who Is there to de-
fend the Wilson tariff ,billp Who says it is
good tariff measured "a voice No
body.O don't believe Democrat oan
be found to say that it Is. Mr.. Cleye-
land repudiated it,
81 am quite as much opposed to