The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-09-11

to subordinate and practically destroy tho
supreme court by the process i have just
described, and the Englishman, after
speaking of this, says
"What prevents such assaults on the
fundamental law? Nothing but the fear of
the people, whose broad, good sense and
attachment to the principles of tho consti-
tuition may be generally relied on to con-
denim such perversion of its powers -
Our English friend did not misjudge, 1
think, the sound good sense of the Ameri-
can people when an issue like this is to be
presented. Whatever the question is,
whether Mr.. Bryan's view or Mr. Till
mans view Of the constitutional question
shall prevail or that of tho august tribunal
appointed by the constitution to settle it,
the courts are the defense of tho weak
The rich and powerful have other resources,
but the poor have not. The high minded.
independent judiciary that will hold to the
line on questions between wealth and Ia
Dor, between tho rich and the poor, is the
defense and security of the defenseless.
do not intend to spend any time in the
discussion of the tariff question. That de-
bate has been won and need not be pro-
tracted.
~ uiiiu ~ Ol cUtTIlilly
upon theoretical lines. We had had some
experiences, but they were historical, re-
mote and not very instructive to this gcn-
GRAFTON. We needed an experience of our
own, and we have had 1t. 1t has been q
hard lesson, but a very convincing one, and
everybody was in the schoolhouse when it
was given. MIR. Depow, whose absolute ac-
curacy and verify when he tells story
al % H. 81 &l~,A
story of our talk on the White House stops
did an unintentional injury to my modesty.
did not for n moment suppose that any
of those influences that have elevated
American prosperity until the mark on the
stones was higher than any other record
that had been made were at all significant
or of consequence.
AS have moro than once said, it was q
controversy, not of men-it was not O
question Of what men controlled the gov
ernment-it was wholly controversy be-
tween Democratic followers and Republic
an followers, and in this tariff debate, if it
is to go on, we have history so fresh and
recent, history so indelibly written on the
hearts and minds of our people, that GER
tain things must be admitted, and among
those things is this historical fact that in
1899 we had the most prosperous times,
the most general diffusion of prosperity,
the most universal participation in pros
perity, and the highest mark of prosperity
we have ever attained as u nation. Now,
what has happened SINGER
Then our business prosperity was like
the strong current of the mighty river;
now it is like fading spring in an Au-
gust drought. A panic in 1898 of most ex-
traordinary character has been succeeded
by gradual drying up, less and less and
less, until universal business distraction
and anxiety prevail all over our commu-
nifty. do not believe there has ever been
time, except perhaps in the very heat Of
some active panic, whom universal business
fear and anxiety and watchfulness, even
to the point of desperation, have charac-
terized this great metropolis us they do to-
day. Men have been afraid to go away for
vacation. They have felt that they must
every day in this burning heat come into
the city and watch their business That is
the situation. What brought it about?
Gentlemen, who Is there to defend the
Wilson tariff bill? Who says it is good
tariff measure? A voice, Nobody" L
do not believe q Democrat can be found to
say that it Is. Mr.. Cleveland repudiated
it. 1t was so bad that he would not attach
his official signature to it, and it became
law without it. He said it was full of in
congruities and inequalities. And 1t was
a better one than he.wanted to give U.S.
What has been the result of that measure9
When few years ago, during the Morton
campaign in New York, 1 discussed this
question, 1 said that the old Democratic
doctrine used to be that the burden of our
4 n
tations, that the tariff should provide for
the cost of running our government, and 1
pointed out then how our Democratic
friends had left that platform and were now
endeavoring to obtain revenue by internal
taxation rather than to allow the support
of tho government of the United States to
be maintained upon the importations of
foreign goods.
Maintenance of Gold Reserve.
What has been the result? One of these
in internal taxation, the in
come tax, was held TO be unconstitutional
by the supreme court. So eager were our
Democratic friends to relieve their embar-
rassment and to put directly upon our poo
pie, according to the English system, a tax
to support our government that they pass
cd an unconstitutional act in order to levy
internal taxes and help out tariff bill
which had reduced the duties upon i'm
ports. Now, what has been the effect Of
that? 1t has failed to produce revenues
enough, supplemented by our internal
taxes, to maintain the government. There
has been an annual deficit approaching
$50, 000,0 600 every year. and the national
treasury has been continually In a state of
embarrassment
Our manufacturers, left without ade-
quate protection, have been successfully
and gradually closing up and putting out
their fires But not only has this produced
such an effect, but 1t has practically con-
to the financial depression that we
are in. The maintenance of the gold re-
serve up to 500, 00O,o0 by the govern
ment for the redemption of our notes was
to confidence In the stability of
our finances. When the government reserve
runs down, people begin at once to say:
"We may come to silver basis. Gold Is
going out. The reserve is going down"
And this fear is greatly increased.
But how can you keep gold reserve of
$100, 100000 when you have not got $780,
600, 600 In the treasury all toldp How can
you maintain this gold reserve for the re-
demption of notes when you have an an
nual and continual deficit In your income
not equaling your expenses