The news & observer., 1897-07-15

in the methods of public administration,
and the so-called Democracy of 1896,
under the leadership of three different
political organizations with three separ-
ate platforms, demanding the free and
unlimited coinage of deprecated silver,
the unlimited issue of legal tender paper
by the government, the public owner
ship of railroads and telegraphs, and
the pOstponement of tariff reform until
the debasement of the currency has been
accomplished; and, not satisfied even
with these eXtravagant and revolutiona-
ry schemes, threatening the industrial
and commercial prosperity of the coun-
try, the peace and good order of society
and the permanency of our free insti-
tutions were imperilled by a covert attack
upon the Supreme court and a denial of
the right of the government of the Uni
ted States to enforce obedience to its
own laws without first asking the con-
sent of local officials There is not a
genuine Democratic sentiment in any
of these declarations and no Democrat
is bound by them no matter how many
State or national conventions may en-
dorse them. You are here to-day to
fiedly and to reassert the true doctrines
of the party. with all these modern here
sizes eliminated; and, in discharging that
duty, you will render a service to the
cause of free constitutional govern
ment not inferior to that of the pa
triotic man who, after a long struggles,
rescued the country from domination OF
federalsts and paternalism and estab-
lished the principles Of Democratic eqaul-
ity at the close of the last century.
"a sound and stable currency just and
equal taxation for public purposes only;
a strict adherence to the Letter and spirit
of the constitution by all the depart
ments of the government and rigid econ
my in the expenditure of the peoples
money has been vital part of the
Democratic faith from the beginning,
and there has never been a time in our
history when the condition of the country
more imparatively demand the practi-
pal application of these doctrines than it
does now.
But in defiance of these obvious re-
ouirements of the public interest. the IN
tegrity of our currency is still threat
ened. tariff taxes upon nearly everything
the people eat, drink, wear, or use IN
production, are about to be largely IN
creased. and the public expenditures in
stead of being diminished to meet the
lexigencies of the situation are being eX-
tended to new and unworthy objects,
many of which are purely local or pri-
vate in their character. The paralysis
of trade and industry. resulting in the
loss of nuhlic revenue and in destroying
4l..
priyate obligations was produced mainly
by unwise currency and fiscal legislation
and the return of prosperity has so far
been prevented by continued partisan az
itation in favor of still more radical and
destructive measures on the same sun-
iect. But. Notwithstanding these well
known facts, the present Congress, IN
stead of attempting to reform the cur
rency laws and permanently establlsh
our standard on the gold bass, where
Democratic craftsmanship, under the IN
spiration of Andrew Jackson, placed II
more than sixty years ago, has WhoHy
ignored this indispensable work and de-
voted more than four months to the inn
position of increased taxation upon the
people: and large part Of this time has
been spent in acrimonious contests
among the bencficiaries Of the taxes,
over the division Of the spoils. The whole
feld Of domestic industry and enterprise,
every calling and occupation in which an
intelligent and progressive people can
possibly engage, has been subjected to
the most searching investigation hy
trained experts, stimulated by selfish
personal interests, to discover useful ar
articles Of consumption upon which new
or additional burdens could be so inn
posed as to rob the people Of their hon
est earnings, without raising revenue for
the government. In this work of spolia-
ton, the protectionists have had, not on
ly the sympathy, but the active Coop
Grafton and support, of many of the
most able and influential members of
the free silver party in Congress, who
did not even receive for their indspen-
sible services fair division Of the spoils.
"The purpose of the deliberate betray-
al of the cause Of tariff reform at Chi
cago by the intentional omission of real
Democratic declaration on that subject
from the platform is now fully disclosed;
it was the price demanded by Republi-
can and Populist protectionists for their
support Of the ticket, and the very men
whose support was thus secured are di-
rectly responsible for the iniquitous bill
now about TO become a law. In adhering