Omaha daily bee., 1888-07-28
a Republican differences.

The republicans OF the senate who
favor the submission OF a tariff measure
as a substitute for the Mills bill are
meeting with a vigorous and determined
opposition from republican members OF
the house. A few republicans of the
senate are in sympathy with this oppo-
sition, but n large majority take the
view that both duty and e~xpediency re-
quire hat a republican measure shall be
submitted. Certain republican organs
are with the opposition. The ground
taken by the house republicans is that
the majority of that body, which is re-
sponsible for revenue legislation, having
passed n tariff bill, it is not incum-
bent upon the republicans to pro-
pose another measure. They insist, in
effect, that neither duty nor policy de-
mands of them any further action than
that OF opposition before the country to
the democratic policy of tariff revision.
1t was in pursuance of this view that a
substitute for the Mills bill was not Of
fered in the house, and for this reasan
in part the republican members of the
house appear TO regard the proposed
action OF the senate republicans rs in the
nature of an arrogant assumption, car
rying with it a reflection upon the judg-
ment of the former. The right of the
republicans Of the senate to submit a
new bill is not questionable, and in view
of the fact that they are a ma
jority of that body it is not
easy to see how they would be able to
satisfactorily explain a failure to at
least make an honest attempt to frame
and bring forward another bill. If the
house is not willing to wait for it the
senate will not be blamed for that. But
the republicans of the lower branch of
congress demand that the issue shall
stand where it is, believing that the
party can make it's fight before the
people to better advantage if not called
upon to defend q tariff measure of it's
own.
We have no doubt that the attitude Of
the republicans of the house is a mis-
taken one, for reasons which we have
heretofore given. Very likely the large
majority Of republicans would be
| satisfied with a position of simple mega
ton, but there are thousands OF others
who desire a definite statement of the
method by which the party proposes to
reduce taxation and prevent the on
national treasury beyond the require
ments of the government. 1t will not
be wise to disregard this desire, and
thereby subject the party to the charge
OF having less courage than its oppo-
nents. The confession of fear of being
placed on the defensive, if the party
shall plainly set forth its policy of tax
revision and reduction, is not at this
juncture ~reassuring. 1t is not in keep.
ing with the character and course of the
republican party in the past. 1t has
never hitherto hesitated to show that it
had the courage Of it's convictions, and
in this respect, quite as much as in any
other, it had during all the years of its
success a distinct advantage over its Hp'
ponents. Never before in the history
of the party has there been any expires.
sion of a desire to avoid the defense OF
Of its principles and policy. 1t must be
believed that the men who manifest
this desire now represent the feeling OF
only a small minority of the party
and that they have not intellig.
emily and thoroughly considered the
probable consequences of placing the
party in the attitude OF mere opposition
and obstruction.
1t is to be hoped, therefore, that the
decision Of the republican senatorial
conference in favor of submitting
tariff measure as a substitute for the
Mills bill will be adhered to. 1t may
be necessary to prolong the session fal
into the autumn months, but this is not
a matter to be given any consideration
Duty and policy require that the repub
licans In congress shall not halt in the
position Of mere DIRECTORS and OBJ
structionists, confessing themselves un
able or afraid to go further, and if the.
fail to see this and act upon it, the labo
Of defense may be found much harde'
than would be imposed by any tarif
measure they might submit.