The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-04-14

and ribbons and throwing them to the
women in the boxes.
Mr. Croker held a levee just before the
regular speech-making began. Mr.. Croker
shook hands cordially with everybody and
smiled as man after man congra tulated
him upon the success of the dinner. The
confusion was very great. As the time
drew near for the making of speeches the
orators were almost discouraged at the
prospect of making themselves heard.
Perry Belmont began TO speak at 10
O'clock. The uproar was so great that
he could not be heard a hundred feet
away. By degrees more quiet was obtain
ed. Mr.. Belmont introduced Augustus
Van Wyck by referring to the latter's
canvass for governor. He said Justice
Van Wyck had conducted campaign
with honor TO himself and credit to the
Democracy.
Justice Van Wyck was greeted with
great applause. He said in part:
Laws are not just which burden the
many to the end that favorites may grow
fat. as in the case under our so-called
protective tariff; and when monopolies
are suffered to lay their hands on the
throat OF individual enterprise. the spur
of free competition is blunted IL not de-
strOyed. 1t is the fOulest mockery of rea-
son TO profess in one breath devotion to
the doctrine Of the equality of all men
before the law of the land, and in the
next to applaud a tariff system which
sQueezes the blood out of the avera &c man
for the fattenlng Of select individuals In
respect TO these matters. citizens who
think as the founders of The republic did.
take their stand firmly on the ground that
equal before the law means equality of
industrial opportunity in so far as the
action Of the government is involved. The
tariff has been one prolific source Of mo-
nopOiy, and the monstrous misuse Of the
franchise giving power another. Our
iron, steel. coal ana sugar trusts may be
taken as examples OF what the tariff has
brought TO pass, while in the consolida-
ton OF our railroads, gas companies cleo
trlc light companies We have Illustrations
of what has been and Is being accomplish
ed under the legislative power TO bestow
valuable public rights upon private corpo-
rations That the Democratic party must
address itself 10 the correction OF these
far-reaching evils il 1t is to hold the al
legiance OF the Democratic masses is not
doubtful The cause Of tariff reform was
never more urgent than il is today, and
never before was it less disputable than
AZ this hour that no real relief can be
party"
After vehement protest against an
alliance with England, Judge Van wyck
concluded:
In indulge the hope that the Demo-
cratic party VIII act in its national coun-
els with lively recollection of WAT s
( due TO the commercial interests Of our
country. care NOT by which party he
! evils that have suggested snail be rene
cied or prevented. ! prefer that The party
IN power shah &c SO. because il would
hasten the remedy fer these growing evils.
and an ounce of preventative is worth a
pound Of cure. but if The party in power
fails 10 answer The call OF the people IN
these respects. it viii be but ut,le while
when they viii be replaced by the party
whose history dlscloses that they have al
WAYS been IN nearer sympathy and touch
with the struggling masses"
Al The conclusion Of Justice Van Wvos's
speech many persons left the hall Justice
/ Van Wycks reference To trusts" .-tha
state canal" and the "ina6vfsabfitv OF
an alliance with Great Britain seemed
10 attract more attention than ANYTHING
else he said, and these utrerances were
( aFpiauled with d srsay show OF shirt.
frederick {. Scarauh. who smoke On
me State Democracy" was heard much
oette7 taan any of the other SEEKERS
mere were scarcely sos diners IN me hal
4 "hen SclEaub concluded his speech.