The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-28
.HARRISON'S GRAND EFFORT.
and had sundered the tenderest ties OF

searching for the man who, from ex-
perience, was most able 10 direct public
affairs. There was an impulslVe re-
sponse to an<impassioned speech that
selected the nominee. They denounce
In their platform interference by federal
authorities In the local affairs as a viola-
ton OF the constitution of the United
States and a crime against free institu-
tions 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 executive TO
brush out of the way every obstacle TO
the free passage OF the mail trains OF the
United States and the Interstate COM
merce. And, my friends. whenever our
people approve the choice OF president
who believes he must ask Governor
Altgeld or any other governor Of any
other state permission to enforce the
laws OF the United States, we have sur
rendered the victory the boys won in
1861.
When a law of the United States is
invaded and broken. II is the sworn
duty or the president to execute it,
and this convention arraigns the
president for doing what his oath COM
PEELED him to do. Comrades for the
great war for the Union Sons of those
who went 10 battle that the flag might
not lose it's lustre! will we consent after
these years that the doctrine that was
shot to death in the great war shall be
revived and made victorious In civil
campaign?
But this assault does not end there.
The supreme court of the United States
and the federal law courts are arraigned
because they used the familiar writ OF in
junction TO suppress violence, to restrain
men from breaking the law. IL was un-
derstood In the convention and commit
tee on resolutions that the Democratic
policy was that when the supreme court
exercising it's constitutional power and
duty, gave an Interpretation to law or
the United States that was not pleasing
TO congress, they would increase the
number of judges and pack the court to
get decision TO please them.
My friends, our fathers who framed
this government divided its great pow
ers between three great departments
the legislative, the executive and the
judicial. IL sought to make these in
dependent, the one of the other, so that
neither might overshadow nor de-
Btroy the other. The supreme court, the
most dignihed judicial body in the world,
was appointed to interpret the laws and
the constitution and when that court
pronounces a decree as 10 the powers or
congress, or as To any other constitu-
tional question, there - but one right
method IL we disagree. and that is the
method pointed out by the constitu-
tion, to amend IL TO conform 10 our
views That is the position today. Mr..
Hill said in his speech of this assault
upon the court, THAT provision, If 1t
means anything, means that it is the
duty OF congress to reconstruct the SUI
preme court Of the country 1t means"
and now note his words-"and IL was
openly avowed that IL means. the add
ing OF additional members TO II, or the
turning out OF office. and reconstructing
the whole court; win not follow any
such revolutionary step as that"
t1,.,, fall aff
zens. in all the gravity of a great crisis.
whether you will sustain party that
proposes to destroy the balance which
cur fathers Instituted In cur system of
government, and wherever a tumultuous
congress disagrees with the supreme
court and a subseIvient president is in
the White House, that the judgment OF
She court shall be reconsidered and re-
versed by increasing the number or
judges and packing the court with men
who will decide as congress wants them
10. i cannot eXaggerate the gravity and
the importance and the danger OF this
assault upon our constitutional form OF
government. The courts are the defense
of the weak. The rich and powerful have
other resources, but the poor have not.
TIE high-minded, Independent Judiciary
that will hold TO the line in questions be-
tween wealth and labor. between the
rich and the poor, is the defense and
security of the denfenseless.
/ do not intend to spend any time In
the discussion OF the tariff question.
That debate has been won, and need not
be protracted. IL means that IL might
run on eternally on theoretical lines, and
I'm this tariff debate. IL IL is 10 go on, we
have history SO fresh and recent, history
so indelibly written on the hearts and
minds of our people that certain things
must be admitted, and among those
things is this historical fact, that in 1892
IuA h.. ffnaa q Ia.a
most general diffusion OF prosperity, the
most universal participation in pros
perity and the highest mark of pros
perity we have ever attained as nation.
What has happened since? Then our
business prosperity was like the strong
current of the mighty river; now it
is like a fading spring in an August
drought. a panic in 1893 of most ex-
traordinary character has been sue
ceeded l.y q gradual drying up, less and
less and less. until universal business
distraction and anxiety prevails all over
our community. | do not believe 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 des-
peration, has Characterized this great
metropolis as IL does today.
What has brought it about? Gehtle-
men, who is there TO defend the Wilson
tariff bill? Who says IL is good tariff
measure? / don't believe a Democrat
can be found 20 say that II Is. MIR.
Cleveland Tepudiated IL. III was so bad
that he would not attach his official sig
nature to it. and IL became law with
out IL. He said IL was full of incongrui-
ties and Inequalities. one of the ex-
pcriments I'm internal taxation, the In
come tax, was held 10 be unconstitu-
tional by the supreme court So eager
were our Democratic friends to rsievc
their embarrassment and TO put directly
upon ou. people, according to the En-
Elish system, tax 20 support our gov
ernment that they passed an unconstitu-
tlonal act I'm order 20 levy internal taxes
and help out "A tariff bill which had re-
duCed the duties upon imports. Now,
what has been the effect OF that? IL has
failed 20 produce revenues, enough sup
plemented by our internal taxes. To
maintain tho government There has
been an annual deficit approaching $780,
600 900 every year. and the national
treasury has been continually IN a state
OF embarrassment our manufactur-
lef Nyffbptit adpuuatp nroteptiOn