St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-05-07

prehension to be groundless, there would be
no one more willing to acknowledge his er-
ror and rejoice that his associates had been
right. But to him, it seemed an inevitable
satisfaction that the committee of ways and
means would fall little short of public con-
demnation. He deplored that such an ill
advised step should be taken, as the triumphs
of the Democratic party were dear to him
and he had sought them ardently and eagerly
for nearly quarter of a century. If disas-
ter came, he at least would have the consola-
ton of knowing it was led to defeat by other
advice than his. Theorists might fight for
impossible doctrines, but he knew by eXper-
ience how valuable in the government was a
mere theory, and how valuable was common
sense. He believed in that which had stood
the strain of long practice; nor could he be
expected to yield it for something impossible,
and impracticable. Applause.
Mr.. Blackburn said that unlike the gen
tleman from Pennsylvania (RandalD he did
not complain of the conduct of the debate.
In the main it has been fair from the differ
ent standpoints from which the bill had
been reviewed. He did regret that the gen
tleman from Connecticut (Eaton) should
have seen fit, in the eXuberance of his zeal,
to have INDUCED in remarks which were re-
ceived, and could be received by many of
his political associates, with sense OF sin
cerest pain. He regretted that the gentle
man should have found it necessary to ap-
peal to prejudices which could have been
buried with the war which gave them birth,
and should have attempted to fiaunt in the
face of an American house the bloody shirt,
which the sense of dignity on the part of the
Republicans themselves had long since con-
signed to oblivion. Applause on the Dem
cratic side.
Mr.. Eaton-'sI suppose my friend allude
to the remark | made in reference to the con
federate constitution. l thought I explained
| to the full satisfaction of the gentleman from
! Georgia (Hammond) exactly what | meant
that | intended to point to their irresistible
argument, that in making that confederate
constitution, leaving out the general welfare
| clause, it showed that the sense of that people
prevailed, and permit me to say that the dis
tinguished senator from Louisiana (Mr. Glib
sony, quoted the same clause Of the confed-
crate constitution, and made precisely the
same line OF remarks. and | have the honor
J to hear that he is sectional"
Mr.. Blackburn-s'I did not blame the
gentleman so much for that reference. 1
know that the original responsil ilty for its
introduction into the debate did not lie at his
door, but that the suggestion was furnished
him by gentleman coming from section
further south. But l regret that the word
traitor should have crept into the tariff de-
| b ten
Mr.. Eaton.-I thought that my public char
acter and public record would be a defense
against any charges of that kind. I was
,oaking of the revolutionary war. l was
81 eaking of Connecticut man who was
called traitor, as he was, and I said there
were other traitors than he, the woods were
full Of them.
Mr.. Blackburn.-f the gentleman's op-
probrious epithets were intended only for
those who figured in the revolutionary strug-
| gle, have no cause for complaint
Mr.. Hunt said, it was he who had shown
the confederate constitution to the gentleman
from Connecticut, for the purpose of show
ing that the constitution with the fifth section
in it, did not mean what the constitution
did, from which the section had been reject
! ed.
! Mr.. Blackburn then proceeded in his ar
gument in favor of the bill. 1t proposed to
abate tariff taxation to the extent of 90 per
cent. 1t did not proposed to insert the knife
too deeply. Would any gentleman dare to
claim the reduction was too heavy? The
gentleman from Pennsylvania, Randall,
stood complaining of the committee of ways
and means, and said the bill was confession
of incapacity. Same gentleman, at last
congress stood advocating, at its every stage
what could only be described as tariff abor-
ton, in the sha pc of its commission bill,
The gentleman had changed his opinion on
| the SThinct of tariff c1a 1900 Io
had expressed himself in favor of reduction
of the tariff-now he did not want anv re-
duction. He had gone forward and as an
illustration of that aggressive nature for
which he was prominent, he now protested
against even whisper in the direction of
the agitation of the tariff ques ton. If it
was necessary in 1882 to reduce the surplus
revenues, why was it not more needed now
He (Blackburn), opposed the repeal of the
internal revenue system of taxation. The
friends of that repeal, advocated it for the
sole and i'll disguised purpose of main ntaining
the protective tariff rates. The issue pre-
sented by the Republican side was protection
for the sake Of projection. If it was revenue
the gentlemen wanted let them take all the
government needed, but when they had got
that, let them stay the land tax gatherer, for
whenever they had passed that limit, or gone
the land became the robbers of the land.
Loud applause on the Democratic side. I
The time was not far distant, when
the people would repudiate the bold political
hypocrisy of protection, and refuse to submit
to such political jugglery. For the first
time the people were aroused on this ques-
ton. 1t was an issue in American politics
to-day, it would not go down. The cunning
and insincerety that had for years been able
to evade the issue. 1t could not long be de-
| ferred now. Political parties must stand and
fight the battle out. He cared not what the
government might say about free trade, and
the ultimate purpose of the Democratic party
herewith. twas not the issues. There was
no man proposing free trade. There was no
free trade in the bill. 1t was proposition
to limit the taxation of the people to the de
mands of the government. Who ever refuses
to stand by it, could find no grounds on
which to plant himself.
! The man who voted to strike out the en-
| acting clause declared to the people and
country, that he was not willing to have the
tariff revised, taxation reduced, and the sur
plus revenue abated. Applause The man
who voted to strike out the enacting clause
admitted to the country and world, that h e
dare not face the issue of either a revision of
the tariff or the reduction of taxation even,
on those terms which he himself might offer
[Applause]
Protection for the sake of protection was
the battle cry of the republican party. Let
the national contest be inaugurated on the
ground selected by the party, let the republi
can party bear on its standards the motto,
''Taxation for Tribute,' and the Democratic
party would bear on theirs Taxation for
Revenue.' From a party point of view, we
welcomed the contest The fighting would
be made a hot fight and and the democrats