The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-30
THIRD TERN SENATOR.
quent Address Before the Leg.
islature and the People.

!
Arkansan.
The senator was introduced in a nsa
| speech by Hon. J. G. Tappan, speaker
of the house of representatives. III few
| appropriate remarks. The speech which
followed for an hour and half WAS or
broad lines and characterized by calm
dispassionate consideration Of the great
issues before the country The speaker
Was frequently applauded and many
heard the last sentence with regret that
he had concluded.
Senator Jones said that he WAS pro
foundry grateful for the honor conferred
upon him by the third time elacting him
to the position of United States
senator. The senate is the tblest and
highest Legislative body OF the world,
where the most brilliant men of our
country s annals have sat, and it should
be sufficient to satisfy the ambition OF
any man. He had endeavored to fill
the position with credit to himself and
the people whom he has the honor to
represent.
We are confronted with the most diff
cult question of government ever
presented to the American people,
and Mr.. Jones has an abiding faith in
the ability Of the people to govern them
selves We have within the last few
months witnessed the progress of a great
civil struggle. attracting the attention
of the world. Statesmen. men of let
tiers, and students Of political economy
fioeked here from abroad to watch that
struggle, and they returned to their
homes strongly impressed with the idea
that patriotism dominates these people.
Mr. Jones said that he WAS always
ready to give an account of his steward
ship, and that there was nothing in his
connection with the last election which
he was ashamed to have published
abroad to the world, where it could be
read by anyone. During the past few
years there has been general feeling OF
unrest, and many Democrats have left
the party ranks, thinking to find a
faneied relief elsewhere, but the speaker
said that he always had faith in the
party that it would rise above all criti-
cism and solve all problems.
Mr. Jones then proceeded to give sue
cinct history of the bimetallic move
ment, which eventuated in the norni-
nation Of Bryan by the Chicago conyen-
ton. He said that the statement had
been made by venal and subsidized
press, previous to that convention, that
there was no bimetallic sentiment to
support the theories advanced by that
element. Beginning with the eonven
ton, the speaker followed the contest
which ensued az one OF the most re-
markable in history That convention,
said he, will be known as the greatest
in the annals of the party, as it brought
back a party to its true faith after thirty
years wandering. The speaker said in
that campaign the railroad corporations
appeared for the first time as a promi-
nent factor in the elections, and this
combined wealth, coupled with the
millions collected by Mark Hanna, was
pitted against the meagre campaign
fund of the Democratic party. Arkan
sas contributed more to the Democratic
campaign fund than any other state
compared to its population. The wealthy
northern states turned their backs upon
us, and We had none of the slush fund
such as was used by the other party to
manipulate election machinery.
1.-The election was bodily bought and
stolen, - said Mr.. Jones' II devoutly
believe that the Democrats carried the
the last election, and | do not say it
The opposition terrified many
into the belief that the election of Bryan
meant complete disaster to all indus
trial interests. The speaker cited
several Incidents to show how the people
were bulldozed into voting for Mckinley
by pledges which were never intended
to be fulfilled. He also referred to the
of the foreign element, the
lowest scum of creation, who wrest the
bread from the hands of honest labor,
and asserted that they composed at least
one half of the Z 200, 900 votes cast for
Mckinley, while there were 8, 800, 600
intelligent American votes cast for
Bryan While Bryan will not be sworn
in AS president, which is more to be
desiredY
What has been the result of this
election1 Scarcely day has passed
without one or half dozen banks fail
ing Had Bryan been elected these
financial calanities would have been
incontrovertible evidence of the great
mistake made in his election
There has been a constant financial
depression for years. The last census
report showed the wealth of the country
to have been $50 600, 600, 900, with a
population of IS 600 600 This property
has been created her. There is a
divergence in the energy Of the wealth
producing classes, but the difference is
too great. There is no more energetic,
self denying people ON the face of the
earth than the southern people they
rank equal il not superior to the general
rank and file of the north, for we are
more completely Anglo Saxon than
they. In Massachusetts the average
wealth is 81 $50 per capita; in Arkan
sas $500. Why is thist Paupers and
millionaires grow on the same bash
that which produces one produces the
other. Let every man enjoy the fruits
of his own toll, and the divergence
would not be SO great. The probate
court records of Massachusetts show
that last year sixty six per cent. of the
men who died had no wealth it is all in
the hands of few. The general aver
age is high, but the personal division
presents u much different aspect. The
distribution is unjust and unequal. The
marvellous increase of millions in the
hands of few is problem difficult to
solve. Has it been done honestlyG
Speaking of the national bonded debt
the speaker said that it had been doubled
by making it payable in gold We have
paid 81 900 900, 600 on that debt, but
now owe 50 per cent. more than We did
at first. The man who undertakes 10
make the debtor pay twice the amount
of the original contract il rs bio a thief
as any of those who perform feats of
legerdemain with the people S finances
Then can anyone wonder why we have
panpers by the million and millionaires
by the dozeng This national debt has
been used by the bond holders to enrich
themselves and pauperize the masses.