The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-15

have had, not only the sympathy. but the
active cooperation and support of many
of thessmost able members Of the free
silver party in Congress, who did not
even receive for their Indispensable SER
vices fair division of the spoils. With
out the aid of free silver members of the
Senate, tho Republican protectionists
could have accomplished nothing what
ever in the direction of increased taxa
tion, and this fact was SO well known to
the country that it was for a long time
seriously doubted that there could be9any
legislation on the subject. While some
of its members, who have not yet aban-
doned all their Democratic convictions,
consistently opposed this spoliation of the
people, sufficient number of their politi-
cal associates to pass the bill, either gave
it their votes or purposely withheld their
votes, in order that it might receive ma
jority, and thus, by their act, it will
soon be placed upon the statute books to
harrass ourI industries, Cypress our citi-
zens and obstruct our trade for many
years to come.
The tariff of 1928, which was SO ex-
orbitant IN its rates of duty that even Mr..
Clay, the great apostle of protection, de-
nounced it as a bill of denominations,
was moderate in its actions in compari-
son with the measure which the free sill
yer party by the action of its members
III bAC 0ChduC ID VON tlDOuU W ldouCu up
on the country. A political party can be
no worse than it's worst elements, when
the cooperation of it's worst elements is
essential to its success at the polls, or 20
the execution of it's policy after it has
secured power. and it has now been de-
monstrated beyond possibility of denial
TIA the free silver party, although claim
ing to fbe Democratic is, for all practical
purposes, protectionist organization.
In the policy of a tariff for protection
the advocates Of free silver coinage at
the ratio of 16 to l are perfectly logical
and consistent. The theory is, that our
people should be separated financially and
commercially, from the rest of the civil
liked world, and that they can all be
made rich and prosperous by an act of
Congress. 1t is true that the government
can increase the price OF certain commo-
dities by preventing competition and cre-
ating lnonopolies, but 1t can add nothing
whatever to their intrinsic value.
The Democratic party. is not responsible
for any of the bad legislation complained
of by the people; it has never enacted
laws to favor one class of citizens and
injure another it has violated no right
of person or property, by debaSing the
currency law or otherwise. 1t has never
justified or excused violations of the law
by individuals or by riotous combina
lions, nor has it ever attempted to weak
j
by assailing their integrity or threaten
ing to destroy their independence. Why
should such a party desert it's old stand
ard, repudiate all its past history, and
enter into conspiracy with it's old enc
mics to break down public and private
credit at home and abroad, to repudiate
contracts already made, to convert the
government into a socialistic despotism.
We who are assembled here today may
be wrong. but, if SO, the Democratic
party was never right, and we have been
mistaken all our lives. The Chicago
convention may have been right in pur-
chasing the support OF protectionists by
refusing to declare for tariff for reve-
nue. only and in attacking the Supreme
Court and the administration of Presi :
dent Cleveland for enforcing the laws of
the United States, but, If SO, the charac-
Ter of our government is altogether differ
emit from the old Democratic party, and
you and I must unlearn the lessons
taught us by the founders of our faith.
For my part, prefer to stand by the
record and teachings of the old Democra-
cy during the hundred years of its conser-
vative and patriot service to the republic,
rather than to venture upon unknown
ground.
Gentlemen, shall forbear to say any
thing on this occasion concerning the
recent Democratic administration of ma
judice, the personal animosities and the
personal grievances of these disordered
times have passed away, when the pub
lie mind is prepared to consider admin
istrative measures and domestic and for
eign politics on their real merits, the last
need no champion to vindicate its wisdom
and patriotism before just and generous
people.
United States Senator Lindsay was
introduced and soon waded into the very
depths of the financial question.
The Hon. Henry Watterson followed
Senator Lindsay. Mr.. Watterson spoke
as follows:
Mr.. Henry Waterson said in part:l,
The internal history of the Democratic
party the last three decades has been
marked by an almost unbroken struggle
against the forces of reaction. Those
forces arrayed themselves at first upon the
side of a visionary scheme to upset the
three last constitutional amendments and
thus to alter, if not to reverse, the results
of the war. He who opposed this visionary
scheme was denounced as a traitor to the
South and radical in disguise. The
scheme of itself played directly into the
hands of the radicals 1t helped them to
make their cases against the loyalty of
the South and to solidify the North. 1t
confused and perverted democratic coun-
sells. 1t delayed the day of deliverance.
But no sooner had it vanished from the
scene, and exploded the bomb, than it
was succeeded by another device equally
misleading.
This was a plan for paying the national
debt in greenbacks and for flooding the
country with an irredeemable currency.
There being nothing back of it, however,
except fallacy and noise, it speedily came
to an end. Yet it held its own long
enough to consolidate the Republicans, to
divide the Democrats, and retard the
coming of that better understanding be-
tween the sections of the Union, which
good men were SO earnestly seeking.
Whilst it lasted, its votaries stigmatized
every one who opposed it as blasted
bondholder and an enemy of the people
Finally, brought back to power, in
spite of it's reactionary elements, the
Democratic party had to face the respon-
sibilities of government. But the i'm
practicabies who had done their utterlnost
to keep it out of power forever, and had
greatly obstructed its progress were
neither extinguished or subdued They
proceeded with their work of party dis
memberment. They defeated the parties
that declared its tariff policy. They de-
feated its conservative fiscal policy. Then.
fn1lv orpanized thew devised n scheme