Gloucester County Democrat., 1906-01-18


the air we breathe and the water we
on it. Even the pagan Romans knew better
than that. A standing order to the Ro-
man army was that they should never
levy tribute of salt on conquered people.
wish I had time to make a speech on
Thomas Fl. Renton and the work he did
in putting salt on the free list. For years
In the Roman senate Cato, no matter
what was the subject of his speech,
wound up with Carthage deisnda est
('.Carthage must be destroyed'o And,
no difference what the subject Of debate
IN the American senate, Colonel Benton
lugged in the subject of protected salt.
He was one of the greatest Democrats
that ever lived, and the speeches which he
delivered In the United States senate upon
TINS subject will amply repay perusal.
lven at this late day, for the learning
llsey contain and which at last put salt
pn the free list. When he had accomplish
re his purpose, so pleased was he that he
said, in his ponpous way. that he mag
fned he heard the aocks and herds on a
thousand hills believing out their love
and gratitude to him for it. No doubt
they would have done so could they have
understood his splendid labor in their
behalf
In conclusion. | want to ask you all a
question. II Thomas Fl. Benton deserves
the highest credit for putting salt upon
the free list, as Colonel Roosevelt said he
did, would not deserve the highest credit
for putting salt back on the free list? /
have introduced a bill in five or six con-
gresses to do it, and l intend to introduce
it into every congress as long as stay
here so help me Cod until / triumph as
did s.the Great Missourian.' whose high
career constitutes one Of the priceless
heritages of the imperial commonwealth
which he loved so well and served so
nobly. If Benton deserved the highest
credit for doing that as President Roose-
Welt SAYS he did, why would not Mr.. Will
liams or Judge De Almond or any other
man in this house deserve the highest
credit for putting any other prime neces-
sity of life upon the free list?
These gentlemen have lured me far
afield by their numerous. ingenious and
interesting questions. Let us return for a
moment to the consideration of the pres
ent crisis in our tariff affairs
Juggling With Invoices.
What sort of a modus vivendf is it that
Secretary Root is endeavoring to induce
Secretary Shaw to enter into with Ger
many? Why, If the papers are to be be-
lieved, it is to be nothing more than
systematic Juggling with invoices of Ger
man products imported into this country
from Germany-a sleight of hand per-
formance by which invoices from that
country are to be fixed lower than they
should be in order to placate Germany
temporarily and tide the Republican party
over the rocks during this session. In the
meantime we are to be amused with this
maximum and minimum p1aything. Then,
congress having done nothing-absolutely
nething-to permanently improve the situ-
alton and having adjourned; the Repub-
licans will play another stupendous con
fidence game by going to the country with
roseate promises of what they will do by
way of tariff revision at the short ses-
sion-in which great game they will be all
things to all men, hoping thereby to carry
the congressional elections. This. trick
may prove successful, but do not believe
that it will. The people are not all fools
+ Gentlemen, have exceeded by very
much the time that expected to occupy
I thank the house profoundly for its cour-
tesy and its kindness. This speech is
somewhat disjointed because it was not
written out beforehand and because there
have been ceaseless Interruptions. have
tried to be fair about it. I have denied no
member a chance to interrogate me.
hope that this days work will open up
a discussion that viii be the cause and
beginning of wider discussion In the
country, which will do one OF Two tnlngs
lit will either drive the Republicans OF
the agricultural districts into electing
.outspoken Republican tariff revisionists
here or else the next house will be a
Democratic house Truth is mighty and
will prevail. If | have contributed even
s.the widows mite to the approaching
trlun1ph of a righteous cause the three
hours which l have consumed have been
proftably spent have an abiding faith
that when the eyes of the taxpayers Of
the land are opened to the situation they
viii no longer stand for the monstrosities
Of the Dingley tariff bill.