The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-05

are either wilfully reckless of their na- tion's safety or needless of their duty of citizenship or insensible to their rights and interests; but whether they will hear or whether they will forbear, l cannot refrain from urging upon them the espe- cial necessity at this time of sober, con- scientious reflection, and exhorting them to a dutiful review of the intent of our nations establishment, the character of its mission and it's present plight IT this is honestly undertaken, and If the exi- gencies of the hour are clearly seen and patriotically met, I shall not fear for tho result.
 q will not conclude without speaking of the contemptible charge made by des- picable partisanship that the democratic party is not entitled to the confidence of the people in the emergency which has come upon us Democracy is conservative and a conservative government was never more needed than now Democracy in sists that the constitution should be the chart and constant guide of national conduct; and never was a renewal or obedience to constitutional commahus more necessary. lie democratic party regards tariff charges as tax upon the people justified only by the neces- sity of providing for the expenses or their government; and 1t holds that like all other taxes these charges should be as eouitably distributed IS possible. It con demns tariff legislation for the sole pur- pose of protection, as an unavoldaple source of inequality and favorit1sm ana as a promotive of oppressive industrlal combinations; and so far as tariff duties imposed fro revenue may accidentally re- suit in some degree of protection 1t in- sists that this should be so arranged as to best subserve the general welfare.
 Embraces All People.
 Our party makes no warfare upon the rich nor upon any legitimate enterprise It's definition of American citizenship IS broad enough and just enough to embrace all people-the rich and poor alike-anu all corporations and associations or capl- tai, legitimately engaged in legitimate business; but 1t insists that the govern ment should in no way and by no deVlco or abuse of its functions be accessory to the creation of vast combinations or in- dustrial and business enterprises whose inevitable tendencies are to Wrong1ully control the cost of our peoples living and strangle independent and individual business effort.
 "Eouality before the law and equal onnortunity for all, define cardinal demo- cratic doctrine. Under this flag we fight the battle of the people. We seek to in- vest them again with the equality which is their right by virtue of American citi- zenship and to restore to them the equal opportunity which is the right of Ameri- can manhood
 James H. EckeIs Speaks.
 Following MT. Cleveland, former Comp trolIer of the Currency James H. Eckels of Chicago addressed the meeting, besides congressional candidates. MT. Eckels said;
 Ut is charged that on more than one occasion the democrats have changed their position from time to time. If this he true. what shall we say of the repub- lican changes on the tariff question. At first they maintained the protective the ory to diversity and build up infant in- dustries at home then to make a home market; then in the laborer's interest, as against the pauper labor of Europe; then because the foreigner paid the tax, and again in the laborers' interest. At last, however, driven from one position to an- other, today feeling the strength of an alliance with great industrial combna- tions of the country, they defiantly assert that the protective system is the estab- lished system of the country and the query is made by them to the people What are you going to do about it? Has Changed Position.
 "The President, once a member of the Golden club of London, a member of the Reform club of New York, and an ardent tariff reformer verging upon free trade, now leads them all, and oue-herods herod in his devotion to this latest announced position. He sneers at the student in the closet and the economist. and pins his faith to the doctrine and wishes of the favored beneficiaries, and declares that they, the friends of the system, and not the great body of consumers as well, shall be the revisers for the present un- reasonable and unjust scale of taxes. 'I call attention to the fact that 1t was a republican and not democratic legisla- tion which created conditions that found frujtinn in the husinass derangement of