Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-28

prove the choice Of President who be-
heves he must ask Governor Altgeld, or
any other governor of any other state, per-
mission TO enforce the laws of the United
states, we have surrendered the victory
the boys won in 1851
The Consultation.
The ex-President gave a brief outline of
the relationship between state and federal
authority with special reference to this
matter, ard proceeded:
My friends. our fathers. who framed this
government, divided its great powers be-
tween three great departments-the legisla-
tive. the executive and the judicial. 1t
sought to make these independent. the one
OF the other. SO that neither might over
shadow or destroy the other. The Supreme
Court, the most dignified judicial body in
the world, was appointed to interpret the
laws and the Constitution. and when that
court pronounces decree as to the powers
OF congress, or as to any other constItu
ional question, there Is but one method
upon which we can disagree, and that is
the method pointed out by the Constitution
to amend 1t to conform to our views.
That Is the position today.
You are to answer my fellow citizens
IN all tne gravity OF a great crisis, whether
you Will sustain party that proposes to
destroy the balance that our fathers in
Wherever tumultuous Congress disagrees
with the Supreme Court, and suoservient
PRESIDENT is in the White House, that the
Judgment OF the court shall be reconsidered
ana reversed by increasing the number of
Judges and packing the court with men
VINO Will decide as Congress wants them to-
A Dangerous Assault.
I cannot exaggerate the gravity and the
Importance and the danger Of this assault
upon our constitutional form of govern
ment. One of the kindest and most dis
eliminating critics who ever wrote with a
foreign pen about American affairs, Mr..
Bryce. In his American Commonwealth
pointed out this danger, that the Constitu-
ton did not fix the number of the Supreme
reckless Congress and a reckless executive
10 subordinate and practically destroy the
supreme Court by the process l nave just
described: and the Englishman, after
such assaults on the fundamental laws?
Nothing but the fear Of the people, whose
bread. good sense and attachment to the
principles of the Constitution may be gen.
orally relied on to condemn such a perver-
sion of its powers
Il 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-
trac,ed 1t means that it might run on
eternally OH theoretical lines. We had had
some experiences. but they were historical.
remote, and not very instructive TO this
generation We needed an experience Of
our own. and We have had it. 1t has been
a hard lesson, but very convincing one,
and everybody was in the school house
when it was given. Mr.. Depew, whose alb
Solute accuracy and verify when he tells a
story you can all bear witness to. In telling
that story of our talk on the White House
steps. did an unintentional injury to my
modesty.
From Prosperity TO Panic.
I'm 1892 we had the most prosperous
times. the most general diffusion of pros
perity. the most universal participation in
prosperity. and the highest mark Of pros
perity we have ever attained as nation.
Now, what has happened since? Now,
then our business prosperity was like the
strong current of the mighty river; now
they are like fading spring in an August
drought.
"a panic in 1893 of most extraordinary
character has been succeeded by gradual
drying up, less and less, and less until uni
versal business distraction and anxiety pre-
vaiis all over our community. l do not be-
lieve there has ever been a time, except
perhaps, in the very heat of some active
panic, when universal business fear and
anxiety and watchfulness even to the point
of desperation has characterized this great
metropolis as 1t does today. 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 has brought 1t about? Gentle
tariff bill? Who says it is a good tariff
measure? 1 don't believe a democrat can
be found today that says it is. Mr.. Cleve-
land repudiated 1t. 1t was so bad that he
would not attach his official signature to
1t, and 1t became a law without 1t. He
said it was full Of incongruities and inc
Qualities. And it was better one than
he wanted to give US.
Question of Revenue.
1T has failed to produce revenues
enough, supplemented by our internal tax
es, to maintain the government There
has been an annual deficit approaching
$5OOOO,OOO every year, and the national
treasury has beer continually in state
of embarrassment. Our manufacturers,
left without adequate protection, have been
successfully and gradually closing up and
putting PIT out their fires: But not only has
practically contributed to the financial de-
pre- ssion tfat We are in.
THE maintenance Of the gold reserve
up to $1O0,OOOOOO by the government for
tial to confidence in the stability of our
finances. When the government reserve
runs down people begin at once to say:
We may come to the 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 one
hun dre1 millions when you have not got
one hundred millions in the treasury all
told? How can you maintain this gold re-
serve for the redemption Of notes when
you have an annual and continual deficit
in your income not equaling your expenses?
1.-THE bond sales which have been made
necessary by reason of this deficit-be-
cause. I think, every enc will agree that
as financial problem, it is one thing when
you have $3OO,OOO,OOO surplus in the treas
ury to keep one dollar in three in gold,
and quite another when you have only
125OOO,OOO in the treasury all told.
But I dc not intend to follow this
question further. I am quite as much.
however. opposed to cheapening the Ameri-
can workingmen and working women as I
am to cheapening our dollars. I am quite
as strongly in favor of keeping days
works at home as I am gold dollars If
1t could he known tonight that the gallant
soldier. that typical young American, that
distinguished and useful statesman, Will
lam Mckinley Of Ohio, would certainly be
elected President, how the bears would
take to cover on the stock exchange to-
morrow.
Proud of His Party.
"My friends, as a republican am proud
of many things, but can sum up as the
highest satisfaction have had in the party
and its career that the prospect of republic
can success never did disturb business.
"In connection with this financial mat