The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-11-04
JUDGE A. B. PARKER ON THE TARIFF

throughout the country, the Demo-
cratic party could not be trusted, and
foremost in the struggle furnishing the
'sinews' for the political battle were
the men who were enjoying special
privileges.
"The other presidential campaign
In which | took part was that in 1884,
which resulted in the nomination, the
election and Inauguration of Grover
Cleveland. AS | look back now upon
this campaign, l recall that its one
dominating feature was the cry that
the Democratic party could not be
trusted to deal with the business in
terests of the country. From every
Republican newspaper in the land
went UP that foul stream of personal
abuse which made that canvass a dis
grace to the party that resorted to
these methods.
hoods was the fear that the gains of
greedy monopolies would, in some
way, be interfered with, and an at
tempt was made at every turn to rep
resent to the country that these rep
resented it's great business interests.
In spite of this indecency and bitter
ness, in spite of the unlimited expen-
diture of money in every quarter, the
Democrats carried the election. 1t
would scarcely become me, in speak
ing before an audience of business
men, more than to ask the question
whether or not. in their opinion, every
legitimate business interest of the
country was not promoted and enlarg-
ed by the election and the subsequent
administration of this man? He en-
forced economy, he settled great dis
puted questions, and he administered
the government with an honesty and
a courage than which nothing in all
our history could be more positive or
distinctive.
I'VE now hear again the same old
of the country cannot be entrusted to
the keeping of one half of its people,
and that their chosen representative,
whoever he may be, Is the enemy of
thrift and industry.
"And that cry wells up from the
throats of men whose interests it is to
preserve untouched the statutes which
permit to collect tribute from tue peo-
pie, or who are interested in COM
missions organized to prevent compe-
tition.
you, who, as business men, are
here tonight, and those whom you rep
resent, have not thus shown an inter-
est in politics because you thing there
is something in it for, because you
are the beneficaries of favors grant
ed by law, or because you desire legis-
lation which will turn taxes from the
government treasury, in which they
properly belong, and put them into
your own pockets. You have come
here because you represent industry,
patience, prudence and the primal vir-
tues which have made our people what
they are. You do not seek to gather
at the expense of your neighbors
grains which you have not worked for
and earned. You only seek the re-
ward of your labor, and that because
you have earned it, You have not
yet concluded that the other doctrine
which demanded equality of oppor-
tunity is outgrown absolutely.
You do not belong to that order of
business men who levy contributions
in Wall street upon timid or grasping
industries. You are not compelled to
purchase immunity for some wrong
doing, either actual or prospective, or
to compaund some offense committed
in the past, or contemplated in the fu-
ture Nor do you belong to those who
hope further to enrich themselves at
the expense of the investing public
ment, by contributing illegally from
funds entrusted to you, what you
know will be expended to corrupt the
suffrages of your countrymen.
"On the contrary you are interested,
as all right minded men are, in the en-
couragement of thrift. the accumula-
tion of property, the upbuilding of all
industries, the development of every
part of our great country and the per-
petuation of the government on the
lines laid down by our fathers!
And you know that an equal
chance for all men is absolutely es-
sential to that healthful prosperity.
which all patriotic men most desire
for our beloved country.
"We stand as a country upon the
threshold of a great foreign trade.
Our national resources: the enter
prise and Ingenuity of our people; our
ability to command efficient labor
from every quarter of the globe; and
the strength and 1exibility of the in
stitutions founded for us on strong
and right lines, all combine to fit for
supplying an almost infinitely increas-
ed demand for our products.
Our merchants and manufacturers,