The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-07-12
SAID BY RICHARDSON.
THE PERMANENT CHAIRMAN RE.
VIEWS ISSUES.


s
finance the Leader-Trusts and Inn
perialism Are WARMLY Denounced
Administration's Attitude in Cuba,
Porto Rico and Philippines Criticised.
The speech OF j. ID. Richardson of
Tennessee, permanent chairman of the
national Democratic convention. was as
follows:
l am deeply sensible of the great honor
You have bestowed upon ME In calling me 10
preside over this great Democratic conven-
tion. We have been clothed with the au-
thority 10 name formally the candidates who
at the next election are 10 be chosen l'resi-
dent and Vice President OF the United
States, and to lay down platform OF pm
ciples upon which the battle Is 10 be fought
and the victory won. With your permis-
sion 1 will address myself 10 some Oh the
issues of the impending campaign
The last great national contest for su-
premacy was fought mainly upon one issue:
that Is to say, one issue was paramount
In the struggle. That issue was famiiarly
called ''l6 to l." 1t involved the question OF
the free coinage of gold and silver AT a ratio
of sixteen parts of silver to one part OF gold.
with which all OF us are familiar.
The momentous issue this year Is again III
to To- l. but the sixteen parts TO the % one S par. oi
are wholly different from those Of 1896.
will refer to the sixteen parts and then 10
the one part. These sixteen parts are:
l. We have the issue fraught with inde-
scribable Importance to our people native
born. and those who have for patriotic rea-
sons east their fortunes with us-namey.
that Of the republic against the empire On
this part alone OF the sixteen, IL there were
No ether. we confidently expect to win
sweeping victory In November. The Re-
publican party stands for empire. The Dem
rfv cts
the declaration Of independence, and the
Constitution Of our country.
Trusts a Leading Issue.
2. The paternal and fostering care given
by those with whom We contend to the com
binations Of corporations and companies into
powerful organizations Familiarity known as
trusts Under three years OF Republican
rule. while they controlled the Presidency
the Senate. and the House Of Representa-
tves-that Is, the law-makinS power OF the
gcvernment-trusts have been propagated
and fostered by legislation until they not
only dominate all markets, both the buying
and selling. but defy the very power OF the
government itself. The farcicai efforts put
forth by the Republican party In an alleged
attempt to restrain them in the dying hours
Of the late session Of Congress only excited
ridicule and contempt and served to en-
phasize their Inability and disinclination to
grapple with the monsters and regulate tneir
conduct and actions. No matter what their
excuses may be. the fact Is their policies
have created them. and. though clothed With
all power, they refuse TO enact legislation
3. Called to power March 4. 1897. under
pledge to reform the currency, they seized
the nrst opportunity to fasten upon the land
the highest protective tariff law ever put
upon the statute books OF any country. This
law was enacted, not to raise revenue, but
20 give protection TO favored manufacturers
II failed to raise sufficient revenue for the
government. but answered the purpose OF
enriching the favored few, while II robbed
the many. and at the same time brought
forth trusts to plague. us as numerous as
the lice and locusts of Egypt. Their high
protective tariff Is the mother Of trusts.
4. This administration came into power
with a solemn declaration In favor OF bi-
metallism and a pledge TO promote It. IL
has failed to keep that pledge 1t has erect
ed In its stead the single standard OF gold,
and has endeavored to destroy all hope OF bi-
metallism. In doing this 1t has built up
us a currency based upon the debts and la
bilitics of the government. We stand for bi-
metallism and not for monometallic stand
ard of either one or the other metal
Attitude Toward Monroe Doctrine.
5. The dominant party has recently
made the fraudulent declaration that Ii IA
vored the Monroe doctrine. and yet their
President and Secretary of State have done
that famous and much-revered Democratic
doctrine. In the name Of Its Democratic au-
thor. James Monroe, denounce their vaunt-
ed advocacy Of this truly American doctrine
doctrine In its essence and form, and de-
mand its rigid enforcement.
6. In order to obtain place and power they
pledged themselves, In the interest of an
expanding commerce. to construct water
way TO connect the two great oceans. They
have repudiated this premise. They have
negotiated the Hay-Pauncefotc treaty
which, while IL virtually abrogates the Mon
roe doctrine, renders 1t impossible to build
an American canal. Under the terms and
provisions of this treaty, which is English
nd
constructed. We stand for an American
canal, owned, constructed, operated and
fortified by America.
Z. They declared In their platform that
their party was responsible for the merit
system. that 1t was their creature and that
the civil service law should be protected and
its operations extended. Their protection
of this law has been such as the wolf gives |
the lamb. They did not dare openly repeal
the law 10 modify 1t by an act Of Con- |
gress. but they have insidiously, 10y an or /!
der from the President, ext0rted from him |
10 aid them 10 olSain and hold political |
power. greatly impaired the efficiency Of the |
sand lucrative offices regularly covered by |
the civil service law were taken from under |
Its protection. and these places turned ever |
TO his partisan followers In vain effort to |
satisfy their political greed.
8. They declared In their platform In fa-or |
of the admission OF the territories OF Ari-
xona. New Mexico and Oklahoma as States
Of the Union, yet. after nearly four years Of
full power, they are still Territories. Under |
the wicked rule Of law now applied by the |
Republican party to some OF our Territories
they may at an early date find erected be- |
tween themselves and the balance Of the
Union tariff wall which will serve to pau
perize them while 1t enriches others.
'Piain Duty" in Porto Rico.
8. When Congress last assembled the
President, In his first utterance addressed TO
the representatives fresh from the people,
solemnly urged upon them that ii was their
plain duty 10 give free trade to Porto Rico.
non. made ready TO comply with his recon-
mendafions. But In a nght-almost in the
twinkling OF an eye-fhe mighty magnates OF
the trusts swept down upon Washington and
ipterposed their strong arm. and plain duty
vanished like mist before the rising sun. The
President wheeled into line. the Republican
party reversed its policy. and Set up tariff
wall between the island Of Porto Rico and
The remainder of the United States. II Is
not at all surprising that in the recent some
what lengthy declarations OF principles
enunciated by the party In convention as
sembled. while they enlarge upon almost
every political question, they could not find
the space to point with pride to the achieve
ments OF their party In its dealings with that
unhappy island. The Democratic party
sta ,ds for eQna. taxation, equal rights and
opportunities to all who come under the
folds of the nag.
10. They wholly failed by their legislation
and by the cheaper method of platform dec
laration to tel the country what their policy
is In respect to the Philippine Islands. For
two years, by their equivocating policy. and
no policy at all, they have continued In that
archipelago a war, expensive in human
blood, as well as In money. Incompetent to
deal with this question, and tcO cowardly
TO avow their real purpose of Imperialism
aud miiitarism In dealing with these and
kindred colonial questions. they should be
retired from power, and the control should
be given to a party honest, bold and patri-
otlc enough to apply American theories and
precepts TO existing conditions. and thereby
solve them In harmony with the underlying
principles of the declaration of independ-
ence and the Constitution of our country.
IL Another part OF the issue Of the cam
paign this year is the Scandalous dealings CT
a high cabinet officer with private banks OF
the country. These scandals are notorious.
and are based upon the earnest and repeated
written demands of the officers Of some OF
these banks that they should be favored by
this administration because Of money CON
trtbuted by them with which to buy the