New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-07
DEFEAT or TIE MORRISON 81


DEFEAT or TIE MORRISON ELL.
The end of the most i'll advised effort TO re-
duco the tariff ever made i'll Congress was
reached yesterday in the defeat OF the Morrison
bill. BY a vote of yeas 159, nays 155, the
House struck out the cnacting clause.
So far as the Democratic party is concerned 1t
has. bv means of this measure, done what ii
could to strike a deadly blow at the homo in
dustries of the country. The success OF that
party in the last Congressional elections
was attributed by its leaders to the tariff
issue The House OF Representatives was or
gained, and Mr.. Carlisle chosen Speaker on
that issue. He appointed a Ways and Means
Committee for the express purpose OF reporting
a measure to reduce the tariff. The Morrison
bin WAS the result, and it was declared party
measure by caucus of the Democratic mem
bcrs. BY the time it was called MP for con-
sideraiion the injurious effect, ON the business
interests of the country, of the long agitation OF
the question, had become widely apparent
That alarmed sufficient number of Democrats
to enable the Republicans almost to defeat
further discussion of the measure, there being
only a majority of two in favor of it. Since
that time the debate, which has been chiefly
notable for the effective speeches made against
the measure, strengthened the opposition to It,
and led to its defeat yesterday by the narrow
majority of four votes.
The result in the House does not dis
pose of the tariff issue in the next
canvass. The declaration was made with
out reserve by the Democratic leaders that the
Morrison bill was only the first step in the war;
and that other far-reaching more destructive
campaigns are to follow. Even Mr.. Randall III
his speech yesterday confessed that among his
chiefreasons for opposing the measure was the
effect itspassage would have on the coming cleo
tions, promising a willingness thereafter to en-
ter into consideration of the subject. But Mr.
Randall and his few Democratic followers are
denounced in the severest terms by their party
associates. Senator Beck has applied to them
the epithets Of "sncaks and towards Mt.
Wood, of Indiana, has said that "they ought
mot to remain in the party and stab ITS vital
"princpes to death under cover OF Dem
"Ocracy." Mr.. Blackburn says that they hold no
further title or claim to be called Democrats;
and that this tariff question Is the Issue IN
American politics to-day.
Last year a revision Of the tariff was made by
the Republicans, largely guided by the aid of
!
authorized by Congress Before tina revision
had been in practical operation beyond
fraction of one year. with results
unknown and unasccrtainable, it was de-
nounced by the Democrats, and the
entire business interests of the country were
threatened with disaster and ruin by new
crusade started to resurrect an old party and
give it new character. The 100000 per-
sons engaged in or dependent on manufact-
uring industries in this country have hat
their interests njuriously affected for
many months by this vain and fruitleSs discus
sion. The business of Congress has been de-
layed in scandalOus manner. over 1--we
months of the session have gone, but hardly
half-a-dozen measures Of general interest
have been acted upon. The Porter bill, Pension
bin designed to take from 9SO,OOO,O0O to
500, OO0,O 900 from the Treasury, and one or
two other such measures make the record OF
the session.
II is fortunate that an election is approaching
which viii enable the voters to pass upon the
use Of a party given over to such hopeless
imJecnity. When we look for its leaders and
its votes on the tariff and all similar issues
we find them-in the solid South.