Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-12-23
THE NORTHWEST.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tFrom DIR Regular CorreRpondcnt.)
WAsHrNarON, d. O., Dec. IL, 1886.


.wAsHrSaroN, d. O., Dec. IL, 1886.
The first week of the new session of
Congress shows the Senate's record as a
blank, as far as public business is.ron-
cerned.' But the much abused Hnnse
of Representatives, which is too bulky
to transact business, which is scomposed
Of q dozen heterogene eous elements, and
which-fs under Democratic control, ac-
complished some useful work. Fl
The Tarifquestion will not 'down'.
1t has made its appearance several
times since the session began at uneX-
pected times and places. Senator Nor
rill introduced it with the same speech
he has made for about twenty successive
years. Senator Beck, who is heartily
in favor of q radical reduction of Gus
toms duties, answered the Senator
from Vennont in q speech in which he
quoted Secretary Manning, Senator
Sherman, and the Bible in support of
free trade, or "fair trade" He quoted
what Senator Sherman had once said
in advocacy ofthe utmost freedom of
intercourse hetween nations.
The Ohio Senator next took the floor
to answer the remarks of the able Ken
tuckian, but his speech was simply an
arraignment of the Democratic party.
Mr.. Sherman is working with his usual
adrOitness and with more energy than
any of the other Republican aspirants
for nomination at the National conven-
ton in 1888. He has never forgiven
Gen. Garfield for having gotten the
nomination at Chicago; when he eX-
pected 1t himself.
While many Democrats seem to
think that Mr.. Sherman is strong
man with his. party, the truth is that
his Republican associates do not like
him. He is not a man whom anybody
could like without great effort. AS
in the case of Senator Edmunds, any
liking for him must be an acquired
taste. Indeed there is such cOmplica
ton Of dislikes and hatreds and old
grudges among the Republican aspirants
that not many men of real eminence in
the party are solicitous for the nOmina-
tion in 1885, Said one ofvthema a few
days since ''what' would be! tile use of
getting IL nomination. The Democrats
have come in to stay for a long time"
Returning to the Tariff, it seems now
to he foreg0ne conclusion that the two
opposing forces In Congress willcross
swords on this issue during the winter.
Both sides are in earnest. An Ohio
Member remarked yesterday: "Hhis
thing has gone on long enough. The Tar
iff'must be reduced. We have hundred
millions coming in which we do not
know what to do with" J
The Tariff refOrmers and their app0-
nents have been consulting with each
other, and it il thought another effort
o.. " - r. 10 HI.
week. Speculation upon the probable
result of that effort would he mere
wild conjecture. Whether Mr., MOrriT
sons tax-reducipg measure joined with
Mr.. Hewitt's !, oms-administration
measure will pass, or whether one will
pass withont the Others 5or whether
some substitute for The one or f0r both
will pass, or whether every Tariff
proposition will be rejected, 1t isimpos-
sible to say. Atpresent the proposition
to abolish the internal revenue taxes on
whisky and tabacco seems to be most
formidable rival of Mr.. Morrison's
proposition to reduce customs dulies and
to extend the list of articles that shall
be entitled TO free entry. as@ a. '@
The Maine Representatives in Con-
gress are all Republicans and so they do
not indulge, in anyvery fervent praise
of tile published correspondence be-
tween our Department of State and the
British Foreign Office in regard to the
fisheries question. The only fault they
have to find with it, however, is that
the storm from the State Department
did not start sooner. They agree that
both Secretary Bayard and our own
Minister to London are on the right
track now. rs. sgstry yys vag, .-.,..
The course adopted by the Secretary
of State in sending the fisheries cores
pondence to the House of Re2resenta-
tives instead of to the Senate, as usual,
was in reproof OF Senatorial discourtesy
to the State Department. Last sum-
mer, without gathering facts, the Sen
ate committee on Foreign Relations as
sumed hostile attitude to Mr.. Bayard,
and proceeded to Investigate the fish
cries trouble on the assumption that he
was not doing his duty in the matter.
Now the correspondence proves that
Mr.. Bayard was closely attentive to it.
and jealous in maintaining just claim
of the United States. All of this the
Senate Committee could have learned
had 1t not been more anxious to find
political capital than to be just and
courteous to Democratic Secretary Of
State.