Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-21

He Points Out Wherein He Thinks HI
Has been UnjustIy Criticised By the

REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLS.
He Points Out Wherein He Thinks He
Has been UnjustIy Criticised By the
News"
House OF REPRESENTATIVES, 7. =,
WASHINGTON. ID. c., May l.. 1Ss4.-Edf-
TOR Morning Nslcs: In the News Of the
18th inst. you take occasion TO arraign my
course in Congress on the tariff bin. Your
criticism is unjust, and feel assured
that your conclusion IS erroneous. 1t is
true that was opposed 70 the Morrison
bill. that paired against its considera-
ton. and that would have voted 10 strike
out the enacting clause If 1 had been
present when the vote was taken-not be-
cause / am not strongly in favor Of tariff
reform. but for the reason that 1 reg arded
that bin as unwise in policy and unjust
in principle. 1t certainly was not
sound policy TO disturb the harmony Of
the party. and 10 alarm the business cen
tres OF the country on the eve OF Presl-
dental election. especially as Repub-
ican Executive and Senate stood ready
10 strange any reform we might inaugu-
rate. The matter should have been
RENTED 70 its proper forum, the
should first acquire the power, and then
deal with this purely business question IN
a business manner. making such reduc-
tons as accord with the great interests
involved. and retaining the duty intact on
industries absolutely requiring prOtec-
ton. / could see no good result from the
discussion Of this ill-timed measure.
therefore paired against its consideration.
The bin was framed on the plan Of
hrs~f ynr fol fC ri
nate reduction on all articles. without re-
gard TO the necessity Of incidental protec-
ton al the present rate Of duty OF some OF
the industries Of the country, and with
out reference TO the justice OF reducing
the rate To a much greater extent on
many other Of such Enthusiastically
the reduction by this bill Of % per cent.
on rice, absolutely destroying this IN
dustTy.
have the facts and figures to demon
strate that cur planters cannot compete
with the cheap foreign labor at a less rate
OF duty than is now fixed by law. This
bill was fOisted upon the House in great
measure BIZ tariff reform" cranks, who
esteemed the passage Of this bill through
the House as infinitely more important
than the election Of a Democratic Presi-
dent, and by tidal wave Democrats
from States that are hOpelessly Republi-
can. As a representative Of the people,
my action cannot be controlled for one
moment by this class Of leaders against
my honest convictions Of party policy
and Of my sense Of duty in guarding the
great business interests involved in this
question. You say that ! ''dO not repre-
sent my constituents and am not in har-
ROny with my party on the tariff question:
that during the present session
have acted with that small
squad Of prOt-ctionists led by Mr.. Ran
DALI" l deny your assertion. Who in
formed YOU that / misrepTesented my con-
stituents: Henry WattersOn? or the
leaders" who are willing to subordinate
the success OF the party to the nOtOriety
they have achieved by their self-assumed
leadership: You certainly did not ac-
quire this knowledge from the people for
whom you volunteer to speak. This is
sue was not raised in my canv ass, and l
have reliable information that you are
mistaken as to their present views. Now,
/ maintain that on this question your pa
per il in antagOnsm with the intelligent
sentiment Of the Democracy of the First
Congressional district. / regretted most
sincerely that my colleagues and myself
were not in ACCORDION l entertain
the highest respect for the
judgment Of each one of
them-no one can question their
high order Of Intelligence, or their 10y
atty 10 the party, but they are human
and may commit errors. Ny action, how
ever, was in accord with the views Of Sen
atOrs Brown and COlquitt and Of Gen.
Gordon, wise and patriotic GeOrgians and
representative Democrats. And am not
singular among Southern Democrats who
stood alone on this question against the
views Of his associates. My classmate at
college and personal friend-Hon. Geo. ID.
Wise. Of the Richmond another
Of the ':sqGad," acted as | did. He alone
Of the Virginia delegation voted against
the Morrison bill, and the Democracy Of
his State on Wednesday last heartily
indOrsed his action. They say "the agita-
ton OF this question was unwise-that we
must first get control Of the government
before we can hope to reform the tariff"
and ''that il we tail to get such control
We may expect further oppressive legisla-
ton Tor the South"
There is another fact worthy Of mention,
it is estimated that at least twenty Demo-
Gratis would have voted against the bill on
its final passage, who voted against
striking out the enacting clause. Your
criticism IS not fair in another particular.
You in effect, say that my assertion that
/ am not candidate really means that
am a candidate for reelection. / conclude
that your own methods may well be sus-
pected when you so recklessly impugn
the sincerity Of others. Those who know
me will not believe that ! am capable Of
saying one thing and meaning another.
am not a candidate, and | am not "dOing
what | can to get the nomination" If,
however, the people should disagree with
YOU, and say that ] have so discharged
the duties of the Office as to meet their APP
prevail, and should require my further
service, ! would be ungrateful for their
past confidence and untrue to my cOnvic-
tiOns Of duty if / declined to serve them.
One word as to the implied charge that |
was blindly led by Mr.. Randall. / took
position on the folly of this fruitless agi-
tation before l knew his views upon the
subject. Not a word or a line has ever
passed between us with reference to it.
He did not even know, until informed by
one Of my colleagues, Col. Hardeman. that
| was opposed to and paired against the
bill sin all its stages" | was guided by
my own judgment, and no one is in any
wise responsible for my course.
There is no question, however, that Mr..
Randall is the great leader Of the party on
the floor Of the House, and that he was
our leader in defeating legislation most
oppressive to the Southern people in the
past, when it required true courage to be
a Democrat and to be a friend to our peo-
pie. and no one can question that his re-
cord is without a STAN as to his personal
integrity or his party fealty. He is
worthy to lead not only the Democratic
party, but even to lead the editor OF the
Savannah MORNING NEWS. Very re-
sDectfIIllV JOHN G.. NICHOLAS