The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-16
minutes. adhering closely to his manu-
script. He said:

minutes. adhering closely to his manu-
script. He said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CoNyENTIoN
We are entering upon n contest for
the election OF a President and the con-
troll OF Government under conditions es-
sentially new in the experience Of our
party and Of our country. The forms
and methods which We arc about TO fol-
low are old and familiar: but the
grounds for action. the demand of great
events for decision upon national con-
duct. tho moral forces urging to a 80
luton of vaguely outlined questions. the
tremendous consequences OF wisdom or
folly IN national policy. all these ar,
new TO tho great mass OF American
voters now living.
Never since 1864 has an election been
fraught with consequences so vital 10
Rational life. All the ordinary consid-
erations which play so great u part In
our Presidential campaigns are and
ought to he dwarfed into insignifcance.
For tho first time In twenty years W.
enter tho field as the party Of opposi-
ton. and indeed II IL n much longer
time. for in 1896. in all respects save
the tariff. the real opposition to the
sturdy and patriotic course Of presi-
dent Cleveland was TO be found In the
party that followed Mr.. Bryan. II Is
our duty. as the Opposition. to bring
Tho Democratic party to the bar o,
public judgment, To put II upon is de-
fence so far as We see Just and sub
stantial grounds to ~criticise its conduct
and to ask the voters Of the country to
decide whether that party. organized as
II is. represented as IL has been since
1t came into power. has shown itself
competent to COWS the country as II
should he governed and whether It's
spirit. it's policies and it's performance
are the best that the American people
can do in the way of popular self-gov-
eminent.
hen the War DesaW.
IT, the field of domestic affairs some
facts ievelant 10 these questions had
already been ascertained when In Au-
gust. 1914. the great European war be.
gan. During the year and a half OF
Democratic control Of Government in 4
period %: profound peace tfcre had been
n steady decrease in American pioduc-
ton. In exports and In revenues. and a
steady increase in imports and expendi-
lures. Enterprise had halted. New
undertakings no longer made their np-
pearance Established business ceased
to increase its facilities or enlarge It's
fields of action.
The great productive industries of the
country. the farmer. the miner. the ium-
herman. the manufacturer, were labor
ing under a mistit tariff devised by the
Democratic party In a spirit OF suspicion.
disirust and hostility toward American
business enterprise and with the the
disturbance of these great basic indus
tries. transportation and commerce had
become dull and respondent. The Demo-
cratic tarifr had been framed upon sn
avowed reputation of all protection.
however moderate and reasonable and
because all protection was repudiated
practically all information from COM
petent witnesses as TO the effect new
provisions would have upon business
was rejected.
The Tariff Commission. created under
Republican legislation to ascertain the
facts upon which tariff laws should he
based was driven out Of Office and no
substitute was provided. With s.lf-sat-
isfed complacency the Democratic CON-
gress assumed that the theory OF q tariff
for revenue only was "A satisfactory sub
stitute for knowledge of business condi-
lions in the framing OF "A customs law.
and they made a tariN which stopped
the development OF business along all the
great lines OF production and also failed
TO produce revenue.
uO1tlllty 10 b0eI0eso.
The men who represented the Demo-
cratic party in Washington had been SO
long declaiming against those whom they
considered the ben~efciaries OF the pro-
tective tariff that their hostility extended
TO American business itself and to the
men who conducted II. All profitable
enterprise was under suspicion. Govern.
ment had no sympathy with II. no desire
IN nynn,nta ~ no SpnS, OF FesYpDgihint
to protect 1t. There was u nervous dread
lest somebody should make money. Envy
OF business success and the phrases OF
the ~denagogue Were potent elements In
the framing OF legislation and the a d
ministration of the laws.
II was with Just cause that the enter.
prise OF the country halted. timid and ir.
resolute. because 1t felt and feared the
hostility of government.
The great war has not changed the
lesson which we had already learned
when it began. 1t has but obscured fur'
ther demonstration. II has caused at
enormous demand for some things which
the United States ia able to produce II
large quantities. and In these lines OF
production. while other Industries still
languish. there have been extensive EN-
ployment of labor. great expor and 6
great influx of money.
But this is temporary. It must sooi
cease. and when the factories hav'
stopped and their laborers are no longei
employed we must deal with a situation
for which wise forethought should maxi
provision.
More important still. the war haI
paralyzed the peaceful industries OF al
Europe and has stopped that competitive
foreign production which in July. 1914
had already entered American market
10 supersede American products unde
the tariff law OF 1913. The war has thu
given to American products an immunit,
from competition far more effective thai
any possible protective tariff.
Dumping GrOund After War.
But that is temporary. and when tn
var is over, when foreign production be
gins again, the American market. com
pared with impoverished Europe. will b
more Than ever bt fore the object OF de
sire and effort. and we shall become tn
dumping ground OF the world to the dc
struction OF our own industries unles
that is prevented by "A wise and compe
tent Government.
But il is not from domestic question
that the most difficult problems Of thl
day arise. The events OF the last fey
years have taught us many lessons. W
nave learned that civilization Is but
veneer thinly covering the savage natur
81 man that conventions. courtesies, re
snnct fOr law regard fOr iustic. opd Ia,