The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-06-22
THE NEW EVANGEL OF DEMOCRACY.
The Equality Of Burdens and the Equality
of Benefits"
TILLMAN'S TARIFF SPEECH.
Delivered in the United States Senate the 10th of
June, 1897.
Of Burdens and
Of Benefits"
VS. TARIFF SPEECH-
TIL-LMAN'S

tariff bill which has been proceed ing
here, or progressing, in Il one -sided
way, for some ten days, presents u re-
markable condition Of politics Icing
and ncbuious state Of mind on the
part Of many men on both sides Of the
Chamber. The Republicans by com
mon consent, under stress Of party
orders, suppose, given by the caucus,
sit quietly by and vote. They say
nothing. They seem afraid to say any
thing. The iniquitics they are per-
pctrating upon the American people
are SO outrageous that they prefer not
To discuss them even, but they press
rel5ntlessly forward with the intention
OF carrying out their compact vita the
trusts and mOnOpOlies: and every
schedule prepared by the party caucus
is voted for by them unanimously.
Inc Democrats are in Il condition OF
transition. They do not know exactly
W. ere they are. The older, more re-
nowned, more experienced leaders Of
the party stand up and proclaim their
allegiance to the old doctrine, time
honored ancient. We had an cxnibi-
tion yesterday of an lmpass Onei
speech based upon tho Walker tariff,
brought forward at this late day as
true Democratic doctrine. Secession,
nullltication, aud other is>u"s which
have been settled and have passed out
of the minds Of men as liv ny qucs tions
had just rs we'll be brought in mere
The tariff is not principle unless IL
be that it rests on principle. 1t is
merely question OF policy as to how
the Government shall derive its
revenue. 1T has been talked about SO
much and so long and 80 ably that
can not expect to present any new
phase OF it; out propose as one hum
bic representative OF a State on this
door, to give some views that may be
mine only, but which appear 10 ms 20
be those which should obtain in gov
erning men who come here to frame
tariffs.
What is the true doctrine OF tariff
taxation, the American doctrine, the
patriotic doctrine, the statesman's
doctrine? | for one stand ready to
confess and announce my faith in the
belief that 1T Is ID tue best interests OF
the American people as u wnole tuat
everything consumed by our people
should be produced by our people, if it
is possible. Ii that be Republican
doctrine, then | am Republican. If
it is not Democratic doctrine, it ought
to be Democratic doctrine.
1t is not necessary for me to state,
because it is known to all students OF
J
fine ali their labors to one product or
to agriculture only, are pauper nations
They do not progress they do not
achieve any place in history that
amounts to anything. They 90 not
gather wealth; they do not produce
culture they have not advanced clyi-
lization. Therefore, | announce as a
hypothesis that We ought to diversity
our industries as far as we can give
many occupations rs can get work at
profitable figure.
We do not want ali farmers in this
country. We want to have manu-
factures. And why do we not want
any more farmers just now? ? Because
we are to-day producing more Of
the staple crops OF export raised
or decent price for; and why in
Gods name should we undertake by a
tarin policy TO drive from the factories
and from the cities to the farm more
competitors to produce cotton and
wheat to export at q loss ? We do not
want any more farmers. What we
want is tariff so levied that the farm
er shall not be robbed for the heneit
OF the laborer in the cities and that he
shall have an equal chance in life to
get that for his family and for his com
tort that the Declaration of Indepen-
dence declares is the ina!lenable right
OF every freeman.
There Is reciprocity OF interests
here. The farmer wants y market for
that which he produces the manu-
lacturer wants market for that which
he produces. There is no couflict OF
interest between these two when their
interests are weighed in an equal
balance by honest Legislators. 1T is
only when you throw into the scale in
favor OF manufacturers your laws
which give thcm undue advantage,
when you rob the producing farmer
for the behetit of the manufactures,
that any man bas u right to complain.
From the foundation OF this Govern
ment there have been those who con-
tended that the manufacturers should
be protected and a home interest built
up which would supply the American
market with all the manufactured
articles necessary. On the other hand,
those engaged in agriculture have de-
clared that they were unjustly dealt
with and were forced to buy from these
men at a higher price than they could
buy in Europe. The tariff discussion
has gone on along those lines from the
beginning of the Government until to.
day.
Now, for the first time In our his
tory, when this protective policy has
borne it's fruit and the paupcrized
farmer stands here with his skinny
bony hands begging justice and equa
lity, and the opportunity is given you
by bounty on his exports, to Civ.
him some compensation for the rob
berry that he has undergone for cen
tury, you sit in stony silence, yol
sneer, you elevate your eyebrows, yo,
refuse to discuss the proposition as un
worthy OF debate, and you expect t,
see this idiotic farIner not know tha
you had the opportunity to give hin
some meed of justice and you refused
1t.
But pledge you my word and honor
gentlemen, you are face to face will
an issue that you can cot shirk y
dodge, and both parties win have t.
face it in the near future, because tn,
100000 men in this country who ar,
engaged In agriculture and who ar
face to face with pauperism and bank
ruptcy, whose farms are slipping fror
beneath them and are being absorbe
by loan and trust companies that loa
them money, will settle with you a
the ballot box as to whether you shaI
continue to take from their pocket
their hard-earned dollars to give t
the Misunderstanding industries and civ