The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-05-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.



| To the Editor of The Morristown Gazette:
As we, have before predicted
would be the case, the much talked
of Morrison bill met its deserved
death in the House on Tuesday.
The motion to strike out the enact
ing clause was made by Mr.. Con-
verse of Ohio, and carried by a vote
of 159 to 155. Forty two Demo
Gratis followed Mr. Randall in voting
] to kill the measure Now tha their
pet scheme has been beheaded, the
/ free trade cranks who have taken
upon themselves to run the party,
are Loudly preclaiming that these
gentlemen have voted themselves
out of the party into the Republican
camp. The men who were the first
to desert the platform of 1880 after
the disaster in Indiana and Ohio,
are now the ones who are trying to
split the party by driving from it
one fifth its numbers and two thirds
its brains. The Post of this city,
and other free trade organs, pro-
claim that the eight" is adjourned
from Congress to Chicago. What
fight? Are they determined that.
because some of the party can't see
as they do, they will force a split,
as the same class of fanatics did in
1860?
Without harmony there can be
no victory. When you force out
these protectionist congressman, you
drive out the constituencies that
back them. Not one of the forty
two has less than ten thousand vo-
tiers behind him, whose behests he
is obeying. What chance for
Democratic president if you wipe
Connecticut, New York, New Jer-
sey, Ohio, and California off the
slate; yet the representatives of
these States are the ones to be
drummed out
All signs now appoint to an early
adjournment of Congress. The APP
preparation bills will be put through
with rush, and the "Over-worked" !
statesmen return to the dear people |
before hot weather There are
many important measures that need |
attention, but the fear that some
thing will be done to injure presi-
dental prospects, of one side or the
other, will cause them all to be laid
on the shelf Perhaps the most
needed general legislation, is on the |
subject Of eur navy. 1t is humili-
ating fact that this country with its
great wealth, strength and popula-
ton, has not one single war vessel
afoat that would not be sunk in
five minutes fight with any modern
war vessel. All our tubs are not
equal to the ships of little Portugal
or insignificant Chill. For courage,
the officers and men of our navy
cannot be equalled. Their skill and
gallantry has not deteriorated since
the days when our guns freed the
commerce Of the world from the ex-
actions of Barbary pirates, and
opened the way for trade in China
and Japan. Of what use would
courage and devotion be, with
smooth bore guns and rstten wooden
hulks, when opposed to rified- can
non of the greatest weight and i'm
penetrable iron -clads Then again,
our coast defences are absolutely
nothing. With more miles of sea
front and more prosperous thriving |
cities upon, than any other country
on the globe, we are absolutely
without a single modern gun, or
:ert with which to defend it. Hel-
land or Spain or any third rate
power could lombard, and destroy
Boston, New York, Charleston, San
Francisco, and even the National
capital, while we would be power
less to protect ourselves or strike a
blow in return. Our defenceless
condition invites attack from those
nations whom our continued exist
ence imperils. 1 FEB.