The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-03-22
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Manoeuverings of the Democratic Con
gressmen on the Tariff Question
Bitter Feelings in their Camp
The Maryland Repub-
lican Association,
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 18th, 1884.

WASHINGTON, ID. o., March l7th, 1854.
Messrs. Editors When the Converse bill, to
restore the duty upon wool to what it was before
it was cut down last winter, was presented in the
House week or ago. and there were signs that
it would be pushed to VOTE the Democratic par
ty, so far as its representatives in Congress are
concerned, was in imminent danger of a split and
such a rumpus as would have completely torn the
party asunder was only prevented by both wings
seeing the danger lying before them and taking
the first opportunity that presented itself to adj
journ the House, which they did, and thus, as it
were ran away from the question. But still the
tariff question hangs like an incubus upon the
neck of the party.
Speaker Carlisle and other anti protection DEM
ocratic members of the House ran off to New York
last we& to attend the banquet of the New York
Free Trade Club, and made speeches in which
they declared for free trade as the true and con-
stitutiona policy of the Government. Mild let
ters of regret on account of absence were read
from Senator Bayard, Senator Pendleton and
others. but not one word was heard from Repre- !
him for Speaker and who will as certainly vote
against the Morrison tariff bill, that was reported
from the Ways and Means Committee last week.
any caucus ruling-if caucus be hsld-that
shall essay in anywse to them to its sup
port. This fact is significant. Mr.. Randall and
his conferrees of the protection wing of The party
know precisely what free trade is, and like the
man by the physic, ''they will have none of it,
They know that the thnly disguised, sugar coated
pill of Messrs. Carlisle and Morrison, called Tariff
Reform" which is offered them is after Iii moth
ing but "free trade physic" and the country at
large or any of its industries do not wan any of
it, they determined that they will resist its
imposition upon the country, though it rend the
Democratic party assunder and lose it the Presi-
dency, which it is sure to do. Thus doe; dishar-
mony tenacious and destructive, still exist in the
Democratic party.
thn tari tod Ia n
week. Mr.. Mckinley, for the Republican members
of the committee, also made a minority report on
the subject of the tariff, which concluded rs fol.
lows: ave dissent from the statement of the
majority of the committee that reduction OF the
duties Tighten by so much the burden of taxation.
The whole history of our National experience
shows constantly decreasing price as the effect
of increased home competition. reduction of
duties which destroys our production and compe-
titon inevitably results in putting up the price
demanded by foreign rivals. y y What the
country most wants is relief from Congressional
agitation. All the industries of the country are
extremely sensitive, and just at this time, when
business in every branch is more or less depressed,
the threat or fear of change introduces an element
Of uncertainty and disturbance throughout the
country, the evil effects of which no one can fore
see i = We believe that if after q sufficient
trial of the last revision (by the Republican Con-
gress last winter it shall appear that the indus
trial interests of the country can be maintained
with it, and the condition of the treasury will JUS
tify further revision, such action will be more
wisely undertaken by the friends of the protective
system and with less disturbance to the public
prosperity than if done now by the avowed advo-
Gates of the destruction of the American system Of
protection"
Although Mr. Randall and his friends are very
loath to see rupture In their party, and probably
are willing to 60 into conference caucus simply
with the rest of the Democratic members to discuss
their different views ON the tariff and the Morrison
BILL as appears to day, yet there is hardly any
possibility of a reconciliation between the two
wings, and the probability is that all the Demo-
cratic proectionists, to the number of about fifty
in the House, will vote for this minority report in
preference to the bill when it comes before the
House.
Another extraordinary feature in the proceed
ings of the House last week-I say extraordinary
because Of the hitherto unprecedented slowness of
the public business in the present House, which
poJes.tve t5PafdifasE-r the appropriations
Committee and which has been extensively dis
cussed by the members. The reporting of it was
concidental with that OF the Morrison tariff bill,
and being but one of many which Mr.. Randall
may have ready to douse down upon the House
every time it is attempted to bring forward Mr..
Morrisons bill, the discussion of and vote upon
the latter may be indefinitely postponed. Many
here believe this is Mr.. Randalls intention if the
Morrison bill becomes too disagreeably pressing.
The Lasker resolutions, introduced by Hon.
Tom Ochiltrce, and which caused such u political
sensation here few weeks ago by being returned
by Prince Bismarck without being presented to
the German Reichstag, to which they were ad-
dressed, have reached here and are again engaging
the attention Of one of the committees of the
House. 1t is not likely that any trouble between
the two Governments will grow out of Bismarck
act, there is, by the latters note accompanying
their return, but very little ground for our Gov
eminent or Congress to make fuss about. Sec
rotary Freelinghuysen has handled the matter in
such diplomatic way and Prince Bismarck hav-
ing since invited our Minister to Germany-Mr.
Sergeant-whom it was said he had offended, to
banquet with himself, thus showing amicable
feelings towards our Government, no doubt it will
all now be smoothed over, with the exception,
perhaps, of the banquet of disgust that Mr.. Ochi-
tree who considers himself particularly injured,
will have to sit down to.
The Maryland State Republican Association of
this District composed of voters in the State but
residents here, received an agreeable and instruc-
tive treat at their regular monthly meeting last
Wednesday night, in the shape of an excellent
address by the Hon. Thomas S. Rodson, State
Senator from Somerset county, Md, who came
over from Annapolis for the purpose, and was the
guest of Hon. Hart B. Holton, Congressional Rep
resentative from the Fifth district. Although Mr..
Hodson had been up all thepreyious night flabus-
tering against the confirmation of Gov. McLane's
appointees for Election Supervisors of Baltimore
city he did not seem to lack vigor, and such an
address delivered throughout Maryland could not
fail to do great good for Republicanism in that
State. Hons. Hart B. Holton, president, and
Lewis E. McComas also addressed the association,
which is composed of body of men more than
ordinarily intelligent politically. ANON.
P{o. Fnoc ", tho Sfor Po,1%o