Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-14

IT the United States.
| In addition, Mr.. President, It q .
very poor argument, when you have
been robbing some man for years and
he Asks you for Justice, to say that yon
propose to continue to rob him Of moro
and say that you do not know where
you are going to get the money with
which to restore that which you have
nnrighteously taken. It is the very first
duty of the congress of the United
States to provide . bill which shall not
only be honest in its present spplica-
ton, but which shah pay ba9E some
portion of that which has been taken
from the pockets of the toilers Of this
land.
| I have talked with the farmers In 20
states of the union since last fall, and !
firmly believe that this tariff would no
longer endurethem until the farmers OF
the United States can have chance to
revise it at the polls, if you do not give
to them some portion of its benefits.
The farmer is bending beneath q bur
den which he cannot carry longer. He
has been the backbone of the integrity
of the United States, but there comes In
the place of the free and Independent
farmer of this country a race Of tenant
~ to reap servilely where He sowed
nobly, men who receive their opinions
from others instead of giving their own
Independent voice at the polls and in
all their declarations to their fellow
men.
The senate of the United States car
afford to be absolutely just. I believe
the amendment should be adopted.
Mr.. Chandler-May ask the senator
from Utah a question?
Mr.. CaHnon-Certainly.
Mr.. Chandler heard the senator
speak of robbery little while ago Will
reference to the farmer. Does the sen
ator mean that the farmer has beer
robbed all these years by the tariff,
Is that the senator's argument? :
Mr.. CannonIYes, sir, decidedly.
: Mr.. Chandler-When did the senator
first think that the American tariff sys
tenn was a robbery Of the farmer2
Mr. Cannon-Just so soon as the sen
ator gave sufficient attention to the sub
iect to understand the truth Of It. ad
vocated republican tariffs as earnestl,
and as faithfully in my humble way a
the senator from New Hampshire, and
believed exactly what taught.
But am not disposed any longer t,
advocate system by which one por
ton of the population is taxed for tn
benefit of another portion of the popu
lation. think that it is unfair t,
cherish only one class, and that tn
class which has already the most powe
of self-protection. II the senator frer
New Hampshire will go across tn
plains Of Kansas, as I.have gone, an
across the plains of Nebraska, believ
in him sufficiently to think he vii
come back and say that this bill is roll
berry Of the American farmer.
have stated that am in favor Of
protective tariff system. I stated tina
in the guilelessness. of my soul, being
republican, went out and advocate
the republican idea Of a protective Ia,
if. never was brought quite so clae
to responsibility concerning it befo1
as am to-day. Heretofore have di.
cussed it on the stump, advocating it
general terms, but as soon as am COZ
fronted with responsibility whic
obliges me to look more closely int
its application to all the people I a,
simply discharging my. duty when
seek to amend this measure SO that
shall be honest to all.