Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-05-07
RANDALL'S SPEECH.
The Pennsylvania Protectionist Makes n
strong Appeal.

Mr. Randall, of PENNSYLVANIA, rose to
speak and members fairly rushed from
all parts of the Halland surrounded his desk
Mr. f. 3. Taylor. of Ohio, rose to point
of order and said if all kept their seats they
could hear, but if they were permitted to
crowd around the orator but few would be
able 10 hear The Chair Mr.. Cox, of New
York. required all to be seated and Mr.. Ran
dali proceeded amid unusually good order.
He opened with quotation from Lord Chat
ham. that capital was timid and that any leg
station to destroy confidence was not only
hlUnder but crime. Great Britain, he
said, had during our late war, sought every
means 70 cripple this country, and having
failed in that now sought to coax Us into
FIRE trade In her ayarice she held in her
iron "Trip Gibralter and commanded the
Nu"Z Canal, while she compelled millions of
Chinese To swallow her opium. He de-
nuuuccd constant tinkering with the tariff
and leaving apprehcnSionS that no tariff
could last longer than from one Congress to
another. Such course he declared was
murderouS and suicidal He next pro-
cccdCd Ia review the more recent action of
Congress On the tariff He said that after
thc last change time enough had not elapsed
TO ascertain its results or for the various
industries 10 accommodate themselves
70 II before new measure was
proposed which, although impossi-
hlc to pass with a Republican Senate
and "a Republican Executive at the present
session. had caused much injury by its agi-
tation. He criticised the horizontal feature
Of the hill and declared that its introduction
was to produce agitation for the sake of
agitation. which was unwl>e. Ii was not so
much the 20 per cent reduction as what 1t
promises II had been declared as a step
toward free trade. He quoted Mr., Dor
,hcimcr of New York, who said that If this
did no; reduce the revenue they would cut
IN the uuick and draw the blOOd-that T20
per cent did not answer they would reduce
30 per cent. Mr. Randall then went into a
discussion of the two systems Of revenue,
direct taxation and the customs
duties. The only man he had
ever known having the power to abolish GUS
toms duties and substitute direct taxation
was Nero and he was everything that was
bad The first act Of JeiIersOu's admins
tion was To remove the internal taxes made
necessary by the war which had preceded.
He conceded that there was surplus rev
ennr but argued that It could be properly
r,,Iured hy the abolition of the internal svs-
TEN. Temperance people had insisted upon
a lax on whisky, and in this had been aid
Ell and encouraged by the free traders.
Gibson speaks.
Mr. Gibson of West Virginia, said he
n =.
10 DO Justice to his State, hut it can like all
other legislation BE- acted upon and
amended. And to decline now to consider
il would he to stand aS obStrUCtiOniStS in the
wav of much needed legislation He was
not willing 20 enter into u coalition with the
Republican party To ObStruct wise and
patriotic legislation by Democratic major
itv. He was willing tn trust To the wisdom.
honesty, and good sense and good faith of
the friends of the measure 10 do exact JUS
tice to his State aud act in justice to all
sections.
blackburn of KentCky.
The address of Mr.. Blackburn was elo-
oucut in its defense Of the bill. In the
course of his remarks several sharp passages
occurred between the speaker and members
of the House, notably with Mr.. Eaton, OF
Connecticut
Mr. Blackburn in conclusion said: Il ex-
press the hope that in the near future we
NAV BE- able to bring to this House enough
enTghteumeut patriotism and progressive
intelligence To repudiate the bigotry which
digraces politics in the shape of protection.
No bigot. whether he be Christian
M noIifi,iap ever contributed one
atom 10 the advancement Of
humanity'S cause. and ask at the hands Of
this House. with a firm reliance for favor
allie answer. that it may uesrer be said that
a Democratic House in the American Con
greSS refused even to consider bill which
proposed to reduce admitted excessive taxa
tion. and revise to degree an admitted bad
tariff. Applause.
KnsSon Closes for the Negative.
Mr.. kasson closed the debate in opposition
20 the bin in severe arraignment ofitS
provisions. which he declared to be impossi-
Bic under the present administration: "A |
hail he exclaimed in conclusion, ITO the
giant Of protection. which StrewS his path
Wav with gold, and lines all her borders
with the flowers Of popular comfort.
Morrison's Last Word.
Nr. Morrison closed the debate with q
rand review OF the objections which have
been made to the bill, and gave equally
rarid and brief answers to those objections.
Should the motion to strike out the enact
inc clause be agreed to, it would be declar-
alton that the tariff taxation would be con-
tiuued, and the Democratic party would appeal
from the Congress of the United States TO
the people, and the people would so under
stand. He referred to the fact that the
Democrats from Iowa, Wisconsin Michigan
and California had been elected on tariff
reform platform, and expressed his fear, it
the bill should be defeated, that they woa.d
be succeeded BY Page, and Burrows, and
Hazel;on. and my dear Hubbel He
then turned his attention to Mr.. Randall,
and addressing him said: "Iou claim to
have power to strike out the euacting clause
ftbis bill Ifyou have that power ycu
have power to amend this bill and make it
what it should be-" Loud applause on
Democratic side After few more CIR
sorv remarks on the subject Of tariff reform,
Morisou's time expired and murmur Of
expectancy ran through the ranks both OF