The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-03-29

So far are we in advance of any
thing which has preceded that the
thoughtful are becoming fearful lest
history repeat itself. The protective
tariff is again assailed. The metro
politan PRESS is again attacking both
the principle and it's application. Re-
publican orators are again teaching
discomfort. Several times during the
resent session of Congress prominent
members of the opposition party have
quoted distinguished Republican of
this state as saying in effect that all
the robberies and thefts committed
by all the insurance officers since life
insurance business was originated, do
not amount to as much extortion as
the Dingley bill for one year. This
is but sample of what has been
taught not only in this but in one or
two other states. 1t is one thing to
urge that the time has arrived when
the schedules should be re-adjusted
and quite another to denounce the law
as it stands as both vicious and harm
full and so discredit the party that al
lows it to stand. What the gentleman
said to be exact was -'.The
amount of graft of all the insurance
companies for all time will not equal
over fifth of the amount of which the
people are robbed every year by excess
sive tariffs The Democratic plat
form of 1882 and again in 1904 calls the
lican tariff robbery.
i l ma Republican, and during all
the years of my manhood l have an
nually taught as best l could the prin-
ciples of the party to which belong.
If did not believe these principles
would join another party or keep still.
Already l have requests for more
work in the Forthcoming campaign
than can possibly perform. l expect
to take such part as the duties of my
Office will permit, and l expect to de-
fend as best can the principles of
my party, the Congress it has elected,
and the Chief Executive it has exalt-
ed. Our opponents have seldom been
more alert, and never more aggressive.
They declare that the battle shall be
waged on the tariff issues. Protection
as principle will be assaulted, and it's
application will be criticized on every
platform where representative of
the opposition party speaks. They
will quote and requote every criticism
of the Republican party that has been
uttered by prominent Republican Off
Gals. am perfectly willing to an
swer the Democratic leaders of the
House. am willing to answer the
defeated candidate Of the opposite
party for president, and all those who
admittedly believe and openly teach
free trade and who declare that the
protective principle is unconstitutional
and its application always vicious.
But what am | to say when met with
speeches made by men of prominence
in my own party whose public utter
ances indict their party of disloyalty
to the interests of the people and of
unfaithfulnss to its great trust.
l am confident of success in the
coming election. l do not, l cannot,
believe the virus of unrest has vet
spread sufficiently to work our I'M
doing. We are to be confronted, how
ever, with some things which we have
not met since the early nineties.
Alton B. Parker the other day openly
charged the Republican party with
being corrupt to the core, and the
germ of the alleged corruption was
the protective tariff. l do not mind
that. No one will take Mr.. Parker
seriously. Grover Cleveland said one
year ago that young men of patriotism
had no place to turn but to the Demo-
cratic party. do not mind that.
Every one knows better. Attacks
from without are relatively harmless.
No one pays much attention to them.
But want to ask you gentlemen of
Iowa, you members of the legislature,
you representatives of this great state,
heretofore outclassed by none in its
influence within the party and within
the nation, what am to say in answer
to these criticisms from our own
people?
In large sense am to be your re-
preventative in the Forthcoming cam
paign. am sometimes introduced
as Secretary of the United States
Treasury, sometimes as Governor,
but l know you will appreciate the
thrill which experience when in
troduced simply as Shaw, of Iowa.
Let me ask you, therefore, what is
Shaw, of Iowa, to say in answer to
these criticisms of the Republican
platform, for it made no promise of
revision; these criticisms of the Re-
publican Congress, for it has not re-
vised the tariff; these criticisms of
the President, for he has not recon-