Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-07-23

say ~ was uOl question Oh persons, III
was question Of principle, and it is
not with gladness, my friends, that we
find ourselves brought into conflict with
those who are now arrayed on the other
side
The gentleman who just preceded
Governor Russell) spoke Of the old
state of Massachusetts,. Let me assure
him that not one person in all this CON
vention entertains the least hostility to
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-
chusetts. When you come before us and
tell us that we shall disturb your bust
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 its application the def
milton of the business man. The man
who is employed for wages is as much
business man as his employer. The
attorney in country town is as much
a business man as the corporation coun-
sci in a great metropolis. The merchant
at the crossroads store is as much a
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 20 a thousand
feet into the earth or climb 2, 900 feet
upon the cliffs and bring forth from
their hiding places the precious metals
to be poured i'll the channels Of trade are
as much business men as the few finan-
cial magnates who in back room cor
ner the money Of the world
We come to speak for this broader
class of business men. All, 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 considera-
ton Of this party as any people in this
country.
1t is for these that we speak. We do
not come as aggressors. Our war is not
a 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 Knocked, 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 nc
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-
died wealth
They tell rs 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 criticise rs for our
criticism of the supreme court of the
United States Ny friends, we have not
criticised we have simply called atten-
ton to what you know. If you want
criticisms, read the dissenting opinions
Of the court That will give you criti-
eisms. They say we passed an unconsti-
tutional law / deny 1.-THE income tax
was not unconstitutional when it was
passed. 1t was not unconstitutional
when it went before the supreme court
for the first time. 1t did 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 Il just law. 1t sim
ply intends to put the burdens Of gov
ernment justly upon the backs Of the
people am in favor Of an income tax.
When | find a man who is not willing
to pay his share of the burden of the
government which protects him, find
a man who is unworthy to enjoy the
blessings Of government like ours.
He says we are opposing the national
bank currency. 1t is true. If you will
read what Thomas Benton said, you
will find that he said that i'll searching
history be could find but one parallel to
Andrew Jackson. That was Cicero, who
destroyed the conspiracies Of Catiline
and saved Rome He did for Rome
what jackson did when he destroyed
the bank conspiracy and saved America
We say in our platform that we be-
heve that the right to coin money and
issue money is function Of govern
ment We believe it. We believe it is a
part of sovereignty, and can no more,
with safety. he delepated to nriYate in