The Saint Paul globe., 1897-04-13
To PEOPLE ASKING RELIEF CON.
GRESs GIVES ONLY A HIGHER
TARIFF.
TERRIBLE POWER OF TAXATION
Used by Republicans for the Oppres-
sion of the People and to Enrich
the Few.

Those present including: Hon. Chaun-
cey F. Black, of Pennsylvania; Hon.
Joseph G. Sibley, of Pennsylvania;
Senator Faulkner, Of West Virginia;
Representative Benton McMillin, Of
Tennessee; Representative Benton, OF
Missouri, proxy for Gov. Stone; Hon.
George Fred Williams, of Massachu-
sets; Lloyd L. Jackson, of Maryland;
Hon. VIM. ]. Bryan, Of Nebraska,
proxy for James c. Dahlman; Repre-
sentative Mcguire, of California, proxy
for Senator White; Representative AL
len, Of Mississippi, proxy for Senator
Money; E. Chambers Smith, of North
Carolina; Senator Chiffon, of Texas,
proxy for Gov. Hogg, and w. s. Nc
Kean, assistant secretary. Lawrence
Gardner, the secretary, was unable to
attend, owing to illness in his family.
Mr. McMillin was chosen to preside
over the deliberations of the commit
tee
The members of the committee say
the meeting was more fully attended
and the interest displayed was greater
than at any previous gathering of a
committee after defeat in a previous
campaign. The reports Of the officers
showed very satisfactory condition
of the affairs of the association.
During the campaign there were in
existence $1,000 Democratic campaign
clubs. 5000 of which had been formed
during the campaign and which lapsed
after the election. There are approxl-
mately 5000 clubs still in existence.
The report Of the treasurer showed a
small Indebtedness which was prompt
ly provided for and a new fund for
carrying on the work in hand was
created. There was very general
discussion of the work that had been
done during the past campaign and the
methods and measures to be adopte.1
for the future.
A committee consisting Of Messrs.
Black, McMillin and Mcguire was ap-
pointed to prepare an address to the
Democratic voters Of the country,
which the committee unanimously
adopted. The address, after reciting
the objects Of the association, as set
forth in it's constitution, and declaring
that they are the principles of Jefferson
and Of the Democratic party, never
surrendered or abandoned, and essen
tial to the preservation of the republic,
proceeds as follows:
But as members of the executive committee
assembled at time when these fundamental
principles are about to be disregarded by
an administration recently installed and by
large majority of the house of representa-
uyes, proceeding almost avowedly to exert
their fortuitous power to lay the country
and all its industrial classes under tribute
to vast combination Of monopoIies in ut
ter contempt of constitutional limitations Of
republican principles and Of popular rights,
we feel it our duty to call your attention
to the peculiar situation and to urge to that
vigilance which has ever been and ever must
be the price of liberty.
When an apparent majority of the votes of
the people was counted out of the ballot box
last year in favor of the Republican candid
dates for president and vice president, while
we deplored the result, and were convinced
that no possible relief could be afforded by
the party so returned to power, we We're more
than willing to afford its agents every op-
portunlty TO demonstrate whittier of not their
policies were adequate.
In common with many who last year voted
Republican tickets, under secret protest and
with serious misgivings as to the future, we
supposed that the administration and its
friends in congress, charged with unlimited
power and conscious of the grave respon-
sibility, would understand the necessity of
proceeding in rational manner and that they
would, at all events, not feel it incumbent
upon them to further disturb the business
of the people by rushing into a revision of
the tariff laws for the sole purpose of re-
paying the vast outlays of the combined
monopolists in the late campaign. But we
see at this time, with alarm that they are
resolved to grant no delay in the execution
of fixed and ruthless design. They insist
| that taxes are not high enough under the
present law. They are to be made higher.
And the producing people, already impover-
ished by adverse legislation. are to be forced
| to suffer still more in the increased prices
of their clothing, their food and other ne
cessarles OF lie including implements Of
their industries This monstrous BILL fit
successor to the Mckinley bill. has been
pushed through the house under practical gag
law and is now pending in the senate, where
| already threats are heard against the free
dom OF debate, and where a passage is to be
forced by the use of executive patronage re-
served for the purpose.
This is one of the stones which the people
| OF the United States are to get instead
| of the bread they asked for and so much
need. Whether the promises made to them
as to other matters and the hopes they were
lead TO form, through the extraordinary ex-
pedients employed by the menopolists in the
late campaign, are to be similarly disposed
OF can hardly be an object of conjecture.
A party which openely uses the terrible power
Of taxation for private enrichment and for
corresponding oppression of the people can
not be expected TO use any other power with
moderation and justice Although the para
mount question before the people was and is
! that of the single gold standard as against
me Tree ana unlimited coinage of gold and
silver, and mighty majority Of the whole
people declared unequivocally for bimetalism
| either independently or by International
]
| party we see not the slightest indication
| of any disposition to move in that direction
! While all industries languish, while the gold
dollar appreciates and the silver dollar is
denied its natural economic function. while a
I nation waits and suffers, tariff schedules are
! being revised for the exclusive benefit of the
tax eaters, and the gold owners are tacitly
assured that they need apprehend no en-
| croa1hments upon their monopoly which is
| Yislbly appropriating the profits upon the
/ labors of civilized mankind. To the bitter
/ complaints Of the people the answer of the
I Roman farmer of the revenues is returned
! namely; More taxes and dearer currency
with which to pay them
Federalist administrations have uniformly
ran into excesses not unlike those we are
Witnessing at present, but never before in
/ the history Of the republic have they been
j so candidly avowed or so cooIIv Justified as
( a party policy rendered necessary by cam
! paign contracts in order to secure the power
thus to be abused.
The administration and congress haoirg
taken this attitude and again thrown down
| the gage OF battle TO the allied hosts of
American freemen who supported the Dem
| ocratic candidates last year-casting their
! millions of unpurchased votes for liberty req
! ulated by law-we of the Democratic party are
/ left no alternative but to take it up. Onr
cause is far stronger today than ever before
I We have only TO organize, to bring right
thinking and right-feeling people together in
| Democratic Societies-where the designs ~
| the monopolist party in power NAV he dis
cussed and exposed and where each epo45 cj+ :
izen encouraged by his neighbor, viii re-
! sist the seductions and resent the threats of
j the common enemy-to sweep up great
4 majority of representatives Of the masses IN
4 the next house and to carry the elections
Of 1900 triumphRntly. as our Democrats
forefathers carried those of 1900.
We respectfully suggest that Democratic
societies constituted after the manner ~
4 those which Mr.. Jefferson described as very