New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-02
APPROACHING THE VOTE.
THE TARIFF DEBATE NEARING A CLosH
STRONG SPEECH BY Mr.. EATON AGAINST TH1
MORRISON BILL.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.

| lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBCSR.l
! WAsHrNGTON, May 1.-The general debate on the
| Morrison bill is to end Tuesday afternoon, when a
vote will be taken on the motion to strike ont the
enacting clause. 1t is expected that Mr. Kasson
| will close the discussion the Republican side
and that Colonel Morrison will perform the sams
duty in behalf Of the free-trade faction of the
majority, while Mr.. Randall will speak an hour
against the bill. Two Democrats spoke
against it to-day-Messrs. Finerty and Eaton.
The remarks of the latter commanded the earnest
and undivided attention Of both sides and the Re-
publicans went over almost in body to be neaI
the speaker, whose caustc criticisms Of the Morrt
bill were rewarded with hearty and generous
applause.
Mr. Eaton complained that in Connecticut he waf
attacked on account of his supposed free-tradd
views while in the House he Is denounced by
Democrats as a protectionist. " It seems that ths
candle is to be burned at both ends
at my expense" he exclaimed. Wei!
known. as he is to be a strict constructions
of the Constitution, Mr.. Eaton's remarks on the
general welfare" provision of that instrument
must have surprised some of the free traders, who
have argued that Congress has no right TO collect
duties except =" for revenue only" The Morrison
bill he declared to be utterly and directly OPP
posed to the Consttution-the staggering OF a
political inebrlate.v Further on he described
the bill as "a misbegotten bantllng'
and said: "Tll none of II, and tho
people will have none of it," As political meas
ure, the Morrison bill, called, is unworthy or
the distinguished committee which brought it be-
fore the House, The present tariff Mr.. Eaton de-
scrbed as "a miserable Republican bantling," and
said that the majority of the Ways and Means
Committee ask the House " to cut off the tail OK
this bantling and then call it a Democratic meas
ure." why he continued there Is not
car-driver on the streets who could
not make just good tariu
bill as this by taking his car-hoOk and cutting-oha
piece of the present law"
THE NEw-ENGLAND MARKET A BENEFIT.
In expoundIng the general welfare" provision
of the Constitution, Mr.. Eaton said: New-England
manufacturers buy and consume every year $780,
900 900 worth of cotton from the South. and $780,
600 600 of breadstufs from the West. Is il not for
the general welfare that the South and West should
retain that market' But they would lose
it If New-England manufactures should be-
closed. Would that promote the gen'
eral welfare :" Mr.. Eaton read from section
of the Constitution Of the so-called Confederate
States the provision which declared that mo due
ties or taxes on importatiOns from foreign nations
should be laid to promote or foster any branch OF
industry The Morrison bill, in his opinion, is in
a strict consonance with this provision, and he re-
marked: 1t seems to me some of our friends
think they are acting under that Constitution ln-
stead of the Constitution of the United States"
Their arguments fitted the Confederate Consttu'
ton and would have been appropriate in the Con.
federate Congress in Richmond some twenty years
ago.
AN OFFER TO MR. MORRISON
Mr.. Eaton adverted to the offer made by himself
and other Democrats to Morrison several weeks ago
to assist in the preparation and passage of tariff
bill Colonel Morrison, who had been restless for
some time, rose and asked "DO you say that you
brought me the draft of BILL"
"No; If you desire or are willing can inform the
House of the exact nature of the proposition sub.
mitted to you and which you refused TO enter
tain.'
Colonel Morrison did not ask for the explanation.
DEFENDING THE YANKEE MANUFACTURER
Nr. Eatons exposure of the inconsistencies and
contradictions of the Free Trade speakers was keen
and merciess. lone of them told us the Yankee
manufacturers rob the South every year of
So OOO. 900 900. Mr. Welbom, of Texas, put tho
amount at 81 l50,O00,000; Mr.. Clay, of Kentucky,
at 81 $50, 900 900; another man at S556,O0O,OOO,
and Mr. Hurd at only $i50,0O0,OOO by
the first estimate of $4,000, 100000 | vas
a good deal staggered, when Remembered that the
entire cotton crop of the South amounts 10 only
1900 100000 | wondered where the Yankee
manufacturers found the other 81 zoo, ,OOO.'
Mr. Eaton SAID that some time ago little manu-
featuring village in his district was visited by
professor belonging to o neighborlng Connectlcut
college. "a free-trade theorist of the first
vaterD who delivered an address. He
assured farmer in the audience that tho
manufacturers were robblng and running him.
"Whvr said the farmer " came here few years
ago with $500 and bought farm, upon which l
placed mortgage of 81, 800 have paid on tho
mortgage my farm is well stocked and have
money in the savings bank; | did not know any
body was robbng me- oh We'll fepe' tS lIHs IHs
through it. But yOu are being robbed
all the same Why. let me tell yOu that for every
ward of cloth in the shirt that you are wearing you
are compelled to pay g cents per yard more than
YOU would have TO pay if it were not for the robber
tariff Now" rejOned the farmer, yOu would
not say that if YOU did not believe II but you cap
not prove it with all the algebra and logarthms III
the world Although you might perhaps do 80
from Esop's fables, The fact is only paid cents
a ward for that cloth"
STANDING Up FOR THE YANKEE.
Mr Eaton took Oscar Turner. of ofKentucky. TO task
for some slurring remarks about " the Yankees"
81 am a New-Enaland Yankee, and proud OF it,
said Mr.. Eaton. He defined the word Yankee
and then went on with glowing words to reclte tho
history of Yankee achievements. Referring 20 tho
battle of Saratoga he applauded the conduct OF
Benedict Arnold without mentioning his name. A
Democrat asked, ironically TO whom he referred.
"To Arnold, who | am sorry 10 say afterward be-
came traitor to his country, hut whose conduct
on the field of Saratoga was brave and patriotic"
A litter ran through the ex-ConfedeTate ranks
and Mr. Hammond, of Georgia seemed especially
delighted. This attracted Mr.. Eatons
attention aud he blazed out: IL see the gentleman
from Georgia is smiling. Let me say that Arnold
was the only New-England Yankee ever heard OF
who was a traitor to his country. think could
40 to her States and find good many men who
were traitors Half the seats on the Democratic
side were occupied by Republicans, who loudly APP
pauded this sally, which the Southern free-traders
by no means enjoyed. , .
The speech produced great effect, but whetherit
will promote harmony or the general welfare OK
the Democratic party may be fairly questioned.
When Mr. Eaton had concluded. he was immedi-
ately surrounded and warmly congrsst-