Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-07-17

the will of the Democratic party. l say it was not question of persons; it was a 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 tGoyernor 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 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 def milton of the business man. The man who is employed for wages is as much 8 business man as his employer. The attorney in country town is as much business man as the corporation coun- se1 in 8 great metropolis. The merchant at the crossroads store Is as much business man as the merchant of New York The farmer who goes forth ill 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 2,000 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. An, 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 where sleep the ashes of their dead, are as deserving of the considera- 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 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 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 aseverlasting as 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 new idea. They eriticise us for our criticism of the supreme court of the United States. My friends, we have not 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 unconsti- tutiona1 law. deny 1.-the income tax was not unconstitutional when it was