National Republican., 1884-05-07


expressed in the Ohio platform. lie had no
difficulty in choosing between the two lines
of public policy, and he chose for ms own
people and his own country. lie did inns IN
the full assurance that free trade would Dflng
nothing but disaster and ruin, Wnile the
principles expressed in the Ohio declaration
would bring prosperity, happiness, anu
higher order of civilization,
The remainder Of Mr. RandalPs remarks
were devoted TO an appeal to demoCrauc
members to defeat the bill as matter OF
party expedienoy. AS he took his seat there
was hearty round of applause, and the
members who had surrounded his desk and
listened with closest attention scattered to
their places, while people in the galleries
drew long breath of very bad air, changed
position, and settled down again to see aud
hear what was to follow.
Mr.. MoAdoo, of New Jersey, and Mr..
Finley, of Maryland, put themselves on
record as opposing the bill, ana then MT
Blackburn, OF Kentuoky, took tho door, and
both the house and galleries prepared
to give him the closest atten-
ton He began by expressing satisfaction
with tho tone and temper of the debate
though regretting, he said, that tho gentle
man from Connecticut should have seen fit to
appeal to prejudice and passion and Haunt in
the face of an American house the bloody.
shirt, which sense of dignity on the part of
republicans themselves had long since con-
signed to oblivion. Loud applause from the
democratic side.
This brought Mr.. Eaton to his feet, and
everybody prepared for something exciting,
but the colloquy which followed was rather
tame. At its close Mr.. Blackburn proceeded
with his argument in favor of the bill. He
criticised Mr.. Randall and his argument,
holding that he had materially changed
his opinions on the tariff In 1852
ho had expressed himself in favor of a
reduction. Now he did not want any reduc-
tion. He had gone forward, and, illustrating
that aggressive nature Tor which no was
prominent, now protested against even q
whisper in the direction Of tho agitation of
the question. If il was necessary in 1889
10 reduce the surplus revenues why was 1t
not more needed now2
The issue presented by the republican side
was protection for tho sake Of protection.
For the first time, the people were aroused
on the question. IL was tho issue in Amori-
can politics to-day. 1t would not dawn.
Cunning and insincerity had for years been
able to evade the issue. lt could not long be
deferred now. The political parties must
stand and fight tho battle out.
The man who voted to strike out the enact
ing clause declared to the people and the
country that be was not willing TO have the
tariff revised, taxation reduced, the surplus
revenue abated LAppauso,l The man who
voted to strike out the enacting clause ad.
mitted to the country and to the world that
he dare not face the issue either of revision
of the tariff or a reduction of taxation even
on the terms which he himself might offer.
lApplause.
There should be frank and candid state
ment Of the issue made that the people
Bhoulda understand without any gauze or
guise being drawn over the question. He did
not know what tho fate of this bill was to
be. If it were good bill, it should be
II I,l eli, la
amended and perfected and no excuse could
be offered for a refusal to make an effort TO
perfect 1t. Protection for the sake of protoc-
tion was the battle cry of tho republican
party. Let the national contest be inaugu-
rated on the ground selected by that party.
From a party point Of view he welcomed the
contest.
The advocates of reduction were ready for
the fray. Armed in cause which 1t knew to
be just, proud of its history and proud of its
hopes, remembering the victories with which
it had blazoned the century that lay behind
it, trusting to the fairness of its tenets, re-
calling all tho glorious traditions which
cluster about 1t, and cheered by the opening
promises Of its future the democratic party
abided the issue which was to come. He
trusted in the ultimate triumph of his party.
The end of the conflict must come, and when
it came, the people would stand for the right
He wanted to protest against that injustice
which had created the impression that the
advocates of the bill desired to exile from
the party any who might differ from them
He held no power of expulsion. He had nu
commission to issue a threat against any
man. 1t rested with eachSand every man to
determine his party affiliations. Any man
could vote himself out I party II he wished
to, He had no harsh words to utter, but on
measure so broad and fair as this one he
appealed to those who sat around him tc
stand together and keep the promises they
made to tho people. They had told the
people that they would revise the tariff
laws and make them just. Here they held
the power to make that promise good, and Il
they failed to do SO they would not be worthy
to receive the Endorsement OF the people
Let him who would strike down his party
her principles, her measures, and the people
show by tho record whose hand the blood
was to be found upon. Looking up he saw
the grand and wise motto of his own com
mopwealth, and he could no more than EN-
phasize that motto In an earnest, honest, ant
final appeal-'lf we do, stand united we vii
conquer; if we are divided disaster vii
readily come" [Applausel
In conclusion, he said l express the hope
that in the near future We may be able Il
bring to the house enough Of enlightenment
of patriotism, of progressive intelligence t
repudiate the bigotry which disgraces poll
tics in the shape of protection. No bigot
contributed one atom to the advancement 0
humanity's cause, and ask at the hands o
this house, with firm reliance for q favor
able answer, that it may never be said tha
a democratic house in an American congress
refused even to consider bill which pro
posed to reduce admitted excessive taxation
and revise to degree an admittedly ba'
tariff. IApplause.]
Mr.. Kasson, of Iowa, closed the debate il
opposition to the bill in severe arraignmou
of its provisions, which ho declared to b
impossible of administration, He challenges
the tariffs of the world to present provision
of an enormity and confusion approaching
those of the pending measure, asserted tha
it would require special CRteChsm TO answe
the questions which must be asked before an
goods were imported and predicted that
the bill were enacted into q law, before
year every importing merchant would b
clamOring to congress to restore the ol
rates of duty. The bill tossed into the lap O
Europe one-hfth of tho duties which nov
flowed into the treasury of the United state
without eKaCtnh an equivalent from any {
the countries of Europe. To call that statel
manship was to nullify tho meaning Of tn
English language. He then proceeded, in rC
ply to Blackburns speech, 20 detail tho bone
fas which tho country had derived from til
protective system and his remarks were cor
stantly greeted with the applause Of his part
associates. IAN hail w he exclaimed in col
clusion, "tO the giant Of protection whic
strews his pathway with gold and lines all tn
borders with tho flowers of popular comfort,
Although Mr.. Morrison, Of Illinois,
Mother u brilliant orator nor torCible res