The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-07-07
Speech Of Hon. ]. l.
McLauriIl


Delivered at Sumter. July 5.
at the Opening of the Cam
paign for q. S. Senator.
s II friends in eoming before you at
Sshis time asking for continuance OF
oar cc1fdance. it is your privilege 70
sdemand and my duty TO explain each
d and eve. act performed while boldi1g
ssshe com missiop. which the people Of
sthe Sixth district and you, through the
chief executive. 80 generously ensrust-
lea somy care.
would add in all sincerity that 1t
sffords me very great pleasure 20 meet
mn fellow citizens face 30 face and dis
cass these matters. Permit me at the
sontsss 10 say, that to the best OF uy
sabilisy have sought to maintain the
honor aud integrity Of my party ard
5nsld np the material interest Q: the
svyeople sc South Carolina. | wish 80
ssmph ssiealIy declare that 10 every vote.
81 every speech. and in every act. I
( q bsve been guided BY the Democratic
aplstfsrm adopted IN Chicago. and 10
s6e ruth of this assertion challenge
s oonsrsdiiotieu
chose who have criticised ny
course IA fair1ess and honesty. 1exteud
She hand OF sellosship and say. let US
l reason over these differences and asoer-
sain uho IS correct To those Who
sthronsh jealously or malice have az.
ssacked my record, I hurl de6ance aud
aare sbem to make good their charges
before the fairminded people of this
State, sSr sknlk 20 their dens Of infamy,
3, ,ahere plotting and sc6euiDgs against
honest men are copcocsed =.
hays tried to do ny duty honess.
aiy, feaslessly and conscieutiously. and
believe the people OF South Carolina
haye recognized that fact Should the
people os this State retain me ine the
senate. I viii continue my efforts With
more zeal aud with that increased force
nhieh experience aud extended powers
provide
Chairman, notwithstanding the
tarif las been . live question during
Sthe pass years Of our na,ioaal existence.
Sc 81 Is With rs so-day and is likely to re-
main with as for an indefinite period.
Nis6 each recurring debate. rev con-
Sdssions appear. which demand more ex.
tensive exsminatioa and more careful
eDnsfaeration. These new economic
condaions force new political issues,
and of themselves ma1y times bring
shout honest differences Of opinion. Sucb
adiiEereDces should always be met With
spira Of fairness aud toleraiotn.
This alaoe eaB guide US 20 candid aad
correct conclusions. For example
nhen the Wilson bill Of 1898 was en-
acted il contained an iucome tax.
which all trne Democrats hoped TO ace
applied with increasing force aud effect to
Tie end that our Datienal revenues might
abe largely secured through that chanael.
Under us operation it was expected
that cnssoms duties would be lessened
and as natural rssult, there would be
less restriction on trade and commerce
ii vas : long stepin the direction of a
revesuo tariff aud more liberal ex-
change with foreign nations.
The supreme court decided it 40
seonstisasicnal aud this strong prop was
taken fsom uoder Democratic expecta-
sious This decision chaoged the en-
:sire theory Of our system Of Federal
tsxasion, 10 so far as j. plainly declared
that hereafter interval revenue and
oDstoms duties we're the only sources Of
taxation under the Constitution as it
nov stands The hope Of less customs
duties and still less internal taxation.
we're by this DECISION dashed to the
ground Nov that wealth has been
relieved from payment Of It's proper
share Of these burdens Of government.
the question recurs again, upon how
this vast sum shall be secured from the
people.
This action of the supreme court
went further, and created deficit 10
the revenues. President Cleveland
nnder The guise of maintaining gold
payments. sold 362 millions Of bonds
to 51y gold. This gold he exchanged
with the gamblers of Wall street for
greenbacks these greenbacks he cov-
cred icso the treasury. and used them
20 pay the ordinary expenses Of the
goaeroneos, aud 10 this direct manner
the expenses OF the government was
met.
with ,be advent Of the present ad-
mipistration came a determination to
repeal the present tariff Law aud enact
one more protective in its features,