The record-union., 1897-07-15

cent response they have made to the
call for this convention, and I congrat-
ulate the friends of sound money, tariff
reform, and good government in every
part of the country upon this auspic-
ious opening of a campaign, which L
am sure will be memorable in the an
nails Of our party. The proceedings OF
this great assemblage of intelligent
and patriotic Democrats, who have re-
fused to abandon their lifelong con-
victions and transfer their allegiance
to a new political combination, formed
without their consent and composed
largely of their old opponents, will be
watched with interest by conservative
and law abiding citizens in every State
in the Union, and will inspire our
friends everywhere with new zeal and
courage for the conflict in which we
have enlisted. This is no ordinary
political convention, composed of sub
servient partisans carefully selected
and drilled by the local managers to go
first on one side and then on the other,
in obedience to a nod or wink from
some self-constituted leader, who has
bargained away their votes in advance.
"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 de-
partments Of the Government, and
rigid economy in the expenditures of
the peoples money have been the vital
parts of the Democratic faith from the
beginning, and there has never been a
time in our history when the condition
{ of the country inn M tiUalxy de-
manded the practical application of
those doctrines than it does now Many
or our industries are depressed for
want of a market for their products;
many of our most worthy people are
deprived of employment, and many of
our most valuable commercial enter
prises are languishing for the want of
a profitable trade At such a time
every material interest of the people
demands that the currency used in
the transaction of their business shall
be absolutely free from even a sus-
piciOn of unsoundness: that the neces-
saries of life and the materials used
in our industries shall be exempt from
! the burdens of taxation, in order that
the people may live comfortably, and
| labor may find employment, and that
fair government shall be honestly
and economically administered and it's
expenditures established.
But in defiance of the obvious re-
quirements of the public interest, the
integrity of our currency is still
threatened The tariff taxes upon
nearly everything the people eat, drink.
wear, or use in production are about
to be largely increased and the public
expenditures, instead of being dimin-
lshed to meet the eXigencies of the sit
alton, are being extended to new and
unworthy objects, many of which are
purely local or private in their char
acter. The paralysis of trade and in
duStry which caused a loss of revenue
and in destroying the ability of the
people to meet their private obligations.
was produced mainly by unwise cur
rency and fiscal legislation, and the re-
turn of prosperity has so far been pre-
vented by continued partisan agitation
in favor of still more radical and de-
structlve measures on the same SUBJ
jects
But it was from these well known
facts that the political Congress. in
stead of attempting to reform the
currency laws and permanently estab-
llsh our standard on the gold basis
where Democratic statesmen under the
inspiration of Andrew jackson placed
it more than sixty years ago. has
wholly ignored this Indispensable work
and devoted more than four months to
the imposition of increased taxation
upon the people; and a large part of
this time was spent in criminous con-
troVersies in regard to the taxes over
the division of the spoils. The whole
OF our domestic industry and enter
prise, every calling and occupation in
which an intelligent and progressive
people can possibly engage. has bean
subjected to the most searching inves-
tgation by trained experts. stimulated
by selfish personal interests to die
cover useful articles of consumntiop
upon which new additional burdens
could be imposed to rob the people
OF their honest earnings without rails
ing revenue for the Government.
IN this work of spoliation the pro-
tectlonists have had not only the svrn-
pathy, but the active cooperation and
support of many of the most able and
influential members of the free silver
party in Congress, who did not even 70
celVe for their indispensable services a
falr division of the spoils. In the Sem
ate the free silver party had the abso-
lutte control of the situation and the
conceded power, with the aid of the
sound money and reform Democrats
to pass through the body any tariff bill
II desired to pass, or to defeat any
tar1H bill it desired to defeat. and con-
Sequently it cannot escape responsible
ity to the people for the unjust and op-
pressive measure which is now about
to become a law"
In conclusion, he said: "GentIen1en
shall forbear to say anything on this
occasion concerning the recent Demo-
cratic administration of national af-
fairs, except to assure its friends and
enemies alike that from the President
down to the humblest officer who CO.
operated with him in the exercise of
Executive authority, every member of
that administration is content to sub
NIT all its acts to the severest scrutiny,
and to wait patiently for the verdict of
impartial history When the passion
and prejudice, the personal animosi-
ties and the personal grievances of
those disordered times have passed
away, and the public mind is prepared
TO consider administrative measures
and domestic and foreign policies on
their real merits. the last administra-
tion of Grover Cleveland will need no
champion to vindicate its wisdom and
patriotism before a just and generous
people"
The manner in which Mr.. Carlisle
treated the heresies of the silver wor-
shippers drew forth recurring applause,
which continued in force until it became