Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-05-07
Aancasfcr .gntelItgenccr.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 7, 1884.
the Defeat OF tpe Morrison Bl,I.

WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY z. 1884.
The Defeat OF tpe Morrison Blil.
The House has peRatived the Morrison
bill by majority OK four, forty-one Of
the majority beng Democratic votes,
mainly from Pennsylvania, New York,
New Jersey and Ohio. The Democracy
OF the South ard West generally sus-
tained the bill. The issue was mainly
between the advocates and opponents Of
tariff reduction, although 1t was decided
by o smaller body Of men who are favor
able to tariff reduction but opposed to
the scheme prepared for II in the Morri-
son bill. Prominent among these men
was Mr.. Eaton, of Connecticut, who
endeavored to induce Mr.. Morrison to
surrender his plan Of tariff reform for
scheme that could and would be sus.
tained by the Democratic vote in the
House. Mr.. Eaton's position was one
of opposition to tariff tinkering at this
session Of Congress, amid the excitement
of a pending presidential canvass but
he proposed to surrender this opinion
for the sake of harmony and united
party action, II an acceptable bill was
offered TO him and those Democrats
who were ready to act with him, among
whom were Mr.. Randall and most if
not all of the foTty-one who have now
recorded themselves against the Morri.
son bill and killed it.
Mr.. Morrison declined Mr.. Eaton's
proposition, and has the result to-day in
an ignominious defeat. Upon what
ground Mr.. Morrison and those who
voted with him can defend their under.
taking to force through tariff bill which
forty. one Democratic representatives re
fused to vote for, especially when they
represented the sentiment OF the states
OF Connecticut, New York, New jersey,
Pennsylvania and Ohio, we cannot com.
prehend. Certainly, the Demo cratic
party cannot afford to surrender all
these states ; and it would shem to have
been the dictate of a most or
dinarily prudent craftsmanship to
accept eagerly proposition, made by
the representatives Of sentiment in these
states, to formulate bill on the tariff
which would secure their assent and be
in the line of the tariff reform and re-
duction which the Democratic repre-
sentatives from other states were solic- |
i.ous to establish. Mr.. Morrison in
refusing Mr., Eaton's proposition sur
rendered all claim to consideration as a
oNn hna , L..
essential Of his craft to keep his party
united, sacrificing what he needs TO do
Of his own opinion to keep the foundation
beneath him without which he can
achieve nothing.
We are very glad, indeed, that the
Morrison bill has been slain, though it
is not because we do not ourselves be-
lieve in the coming need of tariff reduc-
ton. The newspaper report Of Mr..
Randall's speech in opposition to the bill
makes him urge against it that it is a
step in the direction of free trade. We
do not believe that Mr.. Randall present
ed this as an objection to the bill but
II he did, We do not at all agree with
A'e4 N'"N NhN oiii 10 lOl
that reason, since that is indeed its only
recommendation. We thoroughly be
lieVe that the Democratic party
should set its face in the direc
tion of free trade and should, at the
proper time and in the proper way. I'm.
dertake revision of the tariff. We do
not regard this as the best time, because
the political campaign will affect the
calm consideration of questions which
evidently require dispassionate treat
ment for their true solution and we
are sure that Mr.. MOrrison's plan is not
the best, and, in truth, but little better
than the worst method of treatment
possible to be devised. l. is a scheme,
as Mr.. Eaton bluntly said, unworthy of
those who proposed it and its defeat by
their own party puts the finishing stroke
upon their claim to craftsmanship.