The herald., 1897-04-13
ADDRESS
TO VOTERS
On the Political Signs of
the Times
THE RETURN OF PROSPERITY
NOT FASTENED BY PETTING
MONOPOLY
The Executive Committee Of the Ma
tional Association Of Democratic
Clubs Talks Sound Sense
NOT FASTENED BY PETTING
MONOPOLY

WASHINGTON. April 1.-THE first
meeting of the new executive committee
of the National association of Demo-
cratic clubs took place here today at the
Ebbitt house. There was very full
attendance of members of the commit
tee and in addition some of the officers
were ex-officio members Of the commit
tee.
Mr.. McMillin was chosen to preside
over the committees deliberations.
The reports of the officers showed a
very satisfactory condition of the affairs
of the association. The report Of the
treasurer showed a small indebtedness,
which was promptly provided for and
a new fund for carrying on the work in
hand was created. There was a very
general discussion Of the work that had
been done, during the past campaign and
the methods and measures to be adopted
for the future. A coDmittee consisting
of Messrs. Black. Nc Millin and Mcguire
was appointed to prepare an address
the Democratic voters of the country,
which the committee unanimously adopt
ed. The address, after reciting the OBJ
jects Of the association as set forth in its
constitution and the declaration that
they are the principles of the Jefferson
ian Democratic party, proceeds as fol-
lows:
But as members Of the executive COM
mittee, assembled at a time when these
fundamental principles are about to be
disregarded by the administration re-
Gently installed, and by large major
ity of the house Of representatives pro-
ceeding almost unanimously to exert
their power to lay the country and all
the industrial classes under tribute 10
a vast combination of monopolies, in ut
ter contempt of constitutional limita-
tions of republican principles of popular
rights we feel 1t our duty to call your
attention to the peculiar situation and
to urge you 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 boxes last year in favor Of the
Republican candidates for president and
vice president, while we deplored the
result and were. convinced that no pos
sible relief could be afforded by the par
ty so returned to power, we are more
than willing to afford its agents every
opportunity to demonstrate whether or
not their policies were adequate.
In common with many who last year
voted Republican tickets under secret
protests and with serious misgivings
as to the future, we supposed that the
administration and it's friends in con-
gress, charged with unlimited power
and conscious of the grave responsible
ty, would see the necessity of proceeding
in a rational manner and that they
would, at all events. not feel 1t incum-
bent upon them to further disturb the
business of the people by rushing into
a revision of the tariff laws for the sole
purpose of repaying the vast outlays
of the combined monopolists in the late
campaign. But we see at this point
with alarm that they are resolved to
grant no delay in the execution of a
fixed and ruthless design. They insist
that the taxes are not high enough un-
der the present law. They are to be
made higher, and the producing power.
already impoverished by adverse leg
isfation, Is to be forced to suffer still
more in the increased prices of cloth
ing, their food. and other necessaries
Of life, including implements Of their
industries. This monstrous bill. fit sue
cessor to the Mckinley bill Of abom-
ination itself, has been pushed through
the house under practical gag law, and
is now pending in the senate, where
already threats are heard against the
freedom of debate. and where passage
is to be forced by the use Of executive
<<~ <xxe y, ,{v
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 led to form through the ex-
traordinary experiments employed by
the nomopolists in the late campaign
are to be similarly disposed Of. can
hardly be an object of conjecture. A
party which openly uses the terrible
power Of taxation for private enrich
ment and for corresponding oppression
of the people cannot be expected to use
any other power with moderation and
justice. Although the paramount ques-
tion before the people was and is the
single gold standard, as against the
free and unlimited coinage of silver, and
a mighty majority OF the whole peo-
pie declared unequivocally for bimetal-
lism either independently or by inter-
national agreement, as promised by the
Republican party. we see not the slight
est indication Of any disposition to move
in that direction. While all industries
languish, while the gold dollar appre-
ciates and the silver dollar is denied its
natural economic function, while ma
tion waits and suffers. tariff schedules
are being revised for the exclusive BEN
efit Of the tax-eaters and the gold own
ers are tacitly assured that they need
apprehend no encroachments upon
their monopoly, which Is visibly appro-
priating the profits upon the labors Of
eivilised ma4kind. 60 the complaints