New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-18
THE TARIFF AGITATION.
ATTITUDE OF THE REPUBLICANS.
DEMOCRATS PERPLExED BY THE MORRISON BILL
OPINIONS OF Mn. wATTERsoN.

wise course for them to pursue in respect to the
Morrison bill. Several Republicans, who desire to
make speeches against the BILL inclined to be
anxious that Republicans shall not oppose its con-
sideration, but consent TO allow reasonable time
for general debate before a motion is made to
strike out the enactng clauses. A
few Republicans who do not care
to speak are also inclined TO think
the policy suggested would be wise one They
urge that the Republicans have nothing to lose and
much to gain by such discussion. majority Of
the Republican members Of the Ways and Means
Committee, however, as well az a majority of the
leading Republicans in the House. strongly op-
posed to such course. They urge that debate
is necessary in order TO define the position of either
political party in respect to the tarl that the Re-
publican party is opposed 20 tariff agita-
tiOn as well as TO tariff revision by
free trade Democratic House; that
within the last two years every phase of the tariff
has been elaboraely discussed in both branches OF
Congress; that the Republican members of the
Ways aud Means Committee voted sOlidly against
bringing the Morrison bill before the House at all [;
that the Republican Representatives from Pennsyl-
vania for example, cannot afford to vote with
Morrison and his free-rade colleagues at any stage
of this question while Mr. Randall and his Demo-
cratic colleagues from that State are voting the
other way.
Probably even Chairman Morrison would be ready
to admit, in case the House should refuse by de-
cisive majority consider his BILL that such action
was equivalent to the defeat of the measure. At
any rate it would be so regarded by the business
and industrial interests of the country, which are
suffering from the present agitation and uncer-
tainty, and the Republican party would receive, as
it would deserve credit for its prompt and decisive
action.
DEMOCRATIC UNCERTAINTY.
The Free-Trade Democrats in the House grow
more belligerant day by day. and they have arrived
at that stage when they ready openly to declare
that the Morrison bill is to be made test Of fealty
to the Democratic party that no man who opposes
it shall be thereafter regarded as orthodox Demo-
crat. They think they discover signs of weak
ness in the ranks of the faction styled Democratic
Protectoniss,P and they propose to push their adj
vantage to the utmost. The speeches at the Nee
trade meeting in New-York on Saturday night have
also had some influence in making the attitude of
Chairman Morrison and his colleagues more ag-
gressive and determined. What their position and
| purposes are Henry Watterson, who enjoys their
full confidence, and takes the deepest interest IN
their plans sets forth in the following editorial dis
patch sent tonight to The COurie-J0arnal:
The squad of Prote tonsts, claiming 70 be Democrats
and led by Mr. Randall have undoubtedly mistaken the
generosity aud courtesy Of Mr. Carlisle for vac llau0n
and have lured themselves INTO the beet tha because
Mr. Morrison has not been rash, ne II uncertain nee sna
Of confusion and rage over the strong ana clear
uterances OF the speaker Oh { their ri time IN
about equal portions With bullying weakneed Demo-
and Oglng expectant Republicans with whom they
are in correspondence and conspiracy All through to-
day they have been whining putting up poor mouth
The the break comes the better There can be
arrangement short OF the Morrison bi between me
and followers cannot support conservative meas
ure they support nothing except high tarif bill,
| RcnuDlcanE,
better pack their grpacRs and 20 over 10 the Repu-
@ e Sat Sa 5 mssans s end The Demo-
cratic masses sick OF IT, and 1t would have been
termination OF Mr.. Carlisle and Mr. Morrison TO exhaust
every of concation before they opened the cam
pag which the present organization OF the House made
from the first fOregone conclusion.
Mr. MOrrisOn's bill is far from being all that the friends
OF reform, It's author, could desire 10
was laid in the liberal spirit or concession and Is
simply step right direction. Its failure means the
defeat and may involve the dssoiulon' OF the Demo-
| cratic party. ,.., ,,,..
! headed by Mr. Chairman BaTnum, and In Congress,
headed by Mr. Randall. which procured the defeat OF
ignorance and terror from the tariff issue IS now seeking
to couple the party 10 tne rear ncS SE Si o e Se
West and south are not gong 10 TO So,,oi GLOW It,
We NAV he beaten in the coming struggle The these
semi Republican wOuldbe Democratic leaders are going
S rs as HSn WITH we 6a onF & Ga Ws a though we lose
our baggage, may we not atleast save our hohor'
sna. TILDEN NOT A CANDIDATE.
talk about the old icke" is the sheeret nonsense IL
comes mainly from those who opposed the old ticket"
when 1t meant something and might have counted for
something Mr. Tilden would not, could not, take the
office, far loss nomination Inc scnetners
know TnS afS this '0ii m Wt He Is not in this light ALL
directly indirectly Long ago he made u ms nina noe
Hoadly aud for Mr. Randall he entertans the warmest
sentiments OF personal regard. And why should he not
his life Times changed and With them Issues The
everpresent issue of reiorn which was
the Of his day Is tnis moment 0nS Sps OF
the nssGd OT @ has the
and yet though e Il T Usn IN mot the s Louis G PLATFORM
was as carefully and elabOratey drawn as any other
plank in that platform. II was substantially hr Iidens
brought back receive hi: approval The plank seh
declares for tariff only for revenue In spite OF ms
'old ticket to get nd OF ,nneuon the tsTin ar am
g cr% he nGs e d r S2HSsss
Il Is all trick mslesd the people Those who are
cation and money they hope TO make the DenoGraue Va
tiona Convention. Then, whichever way the election
goes they all right.
our enemies and caucus shall have at an early day
DeliberatiOn has been had, and the time for elaboration
has GONE nv The time for action has The Speaker
and the chairman OF the Ways and Means Committee are
fully conscious Of tns They are t9s Leaders OF nS tne
full trust and Il the army or tried and true 9eno es
Gratis who waiting FOR their WOfd nave uoupt 0s
them be treasured They will not have long TO walt
CONFERENCE, NOT CAUCUS, DESIRED.
Chairman Morrison was asked, when no yop
propose to hold the caucus opthe tariu ohI'
"When we get ready" he replied.
when will that bep
"Well pretty soon now | think we shall begin
to talk about il in a day or two"
The Democrats who are opposed to the Morrison
hill do not like the use OF the word caucus"
They express o willingness to attend a confer
eneev to discuss tho merits and demerts
of the bill, but they insist it must
be free conference" for an interchange of views
only, and not one for the purpose of binding any
- L., attend 70 the snnnnrt of nart