The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-23
MR.. oLEvELAND,s SPEECH.

That Mr.. Cleveland is still a power
in politics. particularly in New York,
was abundantly shown in the splendid
reception given him at the Carnegie
Hall meeting on Friday night. Had
he been the candidate for President
it is doubtful if the applause that fol-
lowed his appearance would have
been longer or louder; and the warmth
Of the greeting was unquestionably
hear the great ex-President deliver his
only address of the campaign
that the hall was packed to
the doors and hundreds of
persons were unable to gain an en-
trance. The people knew that Mr..
Cleveland had something interesting
and Of Importance to say and they
wanted to hear him say it. Nor were
they disappointed. Those who were
fortunate enough to secure a position
within the sound of his voice went
home from the meeting encouraged
and more firmly grounded in the
Democratic faith, and therefore better
citizens. And the reading of the
speech yesterday morning by hun
dreds of thousands of voters through
eficial effect, since it was a deliverance
well calculated to stimulate political
morality and stiffen the backbone of
the militant Democracy.
With firm grasp Mr.. Cleveland tore
the mask from the face Of Repubn-
canism and exposed it to the world for
what it really is-a finely, highly or
ganized scheme for the enrichment of
the few at the expense Of the many
He showed how the high protective
tariff, the mother Of trusts and mo-
nopolies, operates to rob the consum-
er and place in a few hands the power
to control prices and commodities
Years ago the Republican party urged
a high protective tariff for the foster
ing of infant American industries.
Can it be claimed that the tariff is
still needed for the same reason?
Where are the infant industries that
need the wet-nursing? The Billion
Dollar steel trust is one Of the most
conspicuous benefciaries of the pro-
tective tariff; does it need protection?
1t is selling steel rails in Europe, de-
livered, at some Sc or So per ton less
than it charges American consumers
for them in Pittsburg. That is how
one of the fostered infants" is
oh he,
there are the sugar trust, the coal
trust, the meat trust, the pillow trust
can it be maintained before intelligent
people that either of these, or a num-
Der of others that might be named,
stands in need of the indirect bounty
of the government and the people?
This government is pledged to the
principle that all just powers of gov
eminent are derived from the consent
of the governed; and yet. under Re
are engaged in the subjugation of an
alien people thousands of miles
away, at an enormous cost in men and
money, and at the greater cost of re-
pudiatlon Of principle, National mo-
rality was violated, too, in the matter
Of the Panama canal affair. The value
of diamond is not diminished be-
cause a highwayman with big stick
takes it away from it's lawful owner;
but the self-respect of the nation that
plays highwayman must necessarily
be diminished by the act.
1t may be said that there was moth
ing new in Mr.. Cleveland's speech. The
Republicans will assert that he merely
threshed over old straw. If he did,
it was with vigor and thoroughness
that scattered the dust and chan and
made the mice scamper.