St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-05-07

aud patr1otlc legislation by a Democrat ma
jority. He was willing to trust to the wis
dom, honesty, good sense and good faith of
the friends of the measure to do exact Justice
to his state, and exact justice to all sections.
Mr. Randall then took the floor in opposition
to the bill. He opened by saying the extreme
quickness with whsch the capital invested
in large industries and establishments took
the alarm, while in other interests. it was Ii
able to be called on for taxation to aid in the
support of the government. Congress, it owed
to itself, that nothing like
vindictive policy should be adopted. In the
nice adjustment of business affairs there was
nothing more conducive to success than sta
bility. If there was stability, it was the sure
foundation of confidence and as a natural
result, capital and labor moved forward in
their respective spheres in the content and
in accordance with mutual profit. To judge
from the incorporate language and exagger-
ated rhetoric which had so frequently marked
the debate, it would seem as if those engaged
in industrial pursuits were robbers and out
laws. AS matter OF TACT
they were nothing of sort
business of the country, and have been uni
ted under the law to engage in those employ
ments, and therefore if for no other reason,
they were entitled to the protection of the
law. They were part of our resources, and
it was test of true craftsmanship. He re-
joiced in the growth and prosperity of every
section of the country. If the denunciations
of the advocates of the bill were believed, the
men who had built up our manufactures COM
mitted the unfardonable sin. He could see
a good reason why England should think
so, but not why such should BIS the
feeling of any citizen of the
United States. Great Britain had never
ceased to deplore the loss of her American
colonies. She had struck, as she thought,
deadly blow in 1912, and during our late
civil war had done her best to sunder the
two sections. Since that time, she had
changed her policy, and instead of force re-
sorted to persuasion and advice. She eked
out the lions skin with that of the fox. The
United States should remember to fear the
Greeks even when bringing gifts. He then
went on to argue against the policy of un-
settling the business interests by constant
tinkering with the tariff. Should
no law last longer than
the next meeting of congress, then should the
meeting of congress cause fear, and its ad-
journment cause enjoyment. Should moth
ing be settled, for a time at least, but should
doubt and mistrust always haunt the work
ing and sleeping hours of the people. For
one he was emphatically opposed to any such
suicidal policy. 1t would be madness for
any party to pursue it. 1t was submitted to
every members judgment to apply an
heroic remedy to this bill, or to let it inger
out a sickly existence, bearing in its wake
business confusion and general bankruptcy.
1t was not based upon any sound
principle. There had been apologies for it
but no defense. 1t was guessed that it
might reduced the surplus revenue, but no
body pretended to speak with certainty.
There was no attempt for an adjustment of
the tariff. 1t sliced reckless of injury. 1t
might do for certain interests and industries,
as well as to revenues. It was like the
famous bed of the old robber-if man was
too small he was stretched to its inexorable
length, and If too long he was cut down to
fit it. 1t was thing of measurement and
not wise scheme of reduction. A horizon
tai reduction offered no remedy. On the con-
trary, it made worse what was
bad before. 1t was palpable confusion and
inability to handle the intricate problem at
issue or else rash eagerness to do what was
once uncalled for, unwise and unfortunate
1t appeared to be an agitation only for the
sake of agitation, which was always a mis-
take. 1t was the clear doctrine of common
sense to have waited until the effect of the
last tariff bill could have been learned, and
thus hay e saved from all passion and turbu-
lence the presidential election, question
on which the public welfare was so deeply
concerned, and which, if possible should
never be made purely partisan issue.
This 20 per cent. reduction was not so
dangerous for what it did as for what it prom
ised. In this respect there was no room for
conjecture; it was proclaimed to be the first
step toward free trade. Let the gentleman
consider what free trade, so called, meant.
it meant change in our whole scheme of
collecting the revenue. The people had be
come accustomed to an import duty, and it
had been proved the safest and best method
of taxation. 1t caused no friction, or COM
paratively little. All this would be abolished
and the internal war taxes continued. Was
that the wish of the peoples The old con-
federation relied on direct taxation, and it
was failure. Our fathers government
sought refuge in different system, and the
result was more perfect union in order to
provide for common defense and the gen
eral welfare. The bill bore a captivatin o
caption, and it was doubtless intended to be
captivating. 1t did not abolish the
war taxes, for if it did it would
repeal the internal revenue taxes. If those
taxes were abolished there would be no sur
plus revenue, and the administration of pub
lie affairs would be run properly and we'll
The surplus revenue for this current year
would be about 100000, 900. The house was
invited here to ceoose between the first steps
towards free trade or to wait to reform the
tariff until such time as the Democratic par
ty should build on the principles expressed
in the Ohio platform. He had no difficulty
in choosing between the two lines of public
policy, and he chose for his own people and
his own country. He did this in the full as
surance that free trade would bring nothing
but disaster and ruin. The whole principles
expressed in the Ohio declaration would
bring prosperity, happiness and higher Or
der of civilization.
Would it not be wise to defer this consids
Grafton of so important question until the
country had passed through the excitement
of a presidential struggle, and until some in
formation could be secured as to the work
ings of the tariff bill of 1883 Then a real re
form measure could be adopted which viii