Mohave County miner., 1888-06-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
tyRoM oUK REGULAR CORRESPONDENT. }

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tvRoM 0UR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WAsnrSGToS, May n, 1883.
The past few days in Congress have
been notable for what viii be known in
political history rs the great tariff debate
Of 1883. 1t began nearly q month ago
and has continued almost uninteruptedly
with steadily growing interest. II Ii a
great mistake TO say that the people arc
not interested in tariff talk or that they
pay no attention TO the discussion. Pro-
tracted debates may be often wearisome
TO professional politicians, but such q dis
cussion as this, on question that touches
every interest Of every citizen, has great
attractions for the voting masses.
There has been no time since the fiery
debates Of the reconstruction period when
the demand for copies Of speeches has
been SO great as the calls for tariff
speeches within the past few weeks.
The appearance Of the minor psrtici-
pants in the great debate has attracted
comparatively little attention here, in
creased only when an exchange Of bitter
personalities or an exciting, interesting
bit Of repsrtee has broken the monoton-
GUS progress Of the strife. But on Friday
last all this was changed. 1t was day
Of great oratory. The tariff issue was
presented from it's three sides.
As in the olden times when the bravest
and fercest fighters were reserved until
the last, 30 the two parties in the House Of
Representatives have held back their
recognized leaders in order thst only the
worthiest foemen should meet face to
face. So Mr.. Randall spoke for the pro-
lection Democrats, Mr.. M'Kinley for the
Republicans, and Mr.. Breckenridge for
the Democrats who would reform the
present tariff system. And from the
crowded galleries Of the House, with their
rising tiers Of seats like the old Coliseum
Of Rome, an immense throng Of people
looked down upon the floor az If into an
arena. 30. .
At the close of Mr.. M'Kinley's brilliant
effort the House went wild with enthusi-
asm. The Republicans cheered with all
their might and even many Of the Demo-
Gratis joined In congratulating him at its
close. II was conceded to be the great
speech Of the debate on the protection
side Of the question.
The greatest Democratic speech follow
ed Immediately and was made by Mr..
Breckenridge, Of Kentucky. His speech
had been looked forward to in and out Of
Congress. 1t came fully up to the expec-
tations Of the public and at its close three
cheers went up from the floor and from
the galleries. Every member arose from
his seat and there wal general rush TO
seize the orators hand. >
Saturday was another great day in the
House. The tariff talk was not 80 bril-
liant probably as on the preceding day,
but long before the hour for the house to
convene the galleries were densly packed
with people who had come to hear
speeches by the two acknowledged leaders
Of their respective parties, Speaker Car.
Isle and Mr. Reed, Of Maine, and prob
ably no single session since 1876 has fur.
nished more to entertain and interest
spectators in the galleries than the hours
Of Saturdays closing debate on the tariff.
Mr.. Reed kept his party friends pretty
constantly occupied for two hours with
laughter and applause, and made what
was admitted to be great speech against
the Mills tariff bill. He used the story q
the dog who dropped his bone in the
water when he saw his own image re.
fected by the surface and so lost bis
supper in the hope OF getting more when
he already had enough, TO describe what
he considered the folly Of giving up the
control OF our own markets to obtain the
markets OF the world, and the illustration
as he produced it caused even his oppon
ents to laugh.
! believe this is the first speech Mr.
Carlisle has made on the floor of Congress
since he became Speaker Of the House
He has been closely confined at home fo'
several days previous, girding his loini
for the part he was destined TO take ir
the combat. Consequently he looked .
little pale and as II he had been i'll. Ye
he spoke clearly, effectively and yer,
acceptably to his party friends. His cool
passionless marshaling Of facts and figure,
for the bill were in marked contrast with
Mr.. Reeds vigorous and rather comics
attack. upon II.
! The greatest tariff debate since ls4'
closed in the House Of Representative
with the speeches Of Messrs. Reed ant
Carlisle, and II should be sod that tn,
, conduct Of the debate and the speeche
, pro and con, on the Mills bill have beer
, worthy Of the occasion. The leaders hav'
) agreed upon q truce for ten days, durini
which the tariff bill will be laid aside ant
the House will proceed with other busi
mss. At the end of that time we vii
, zoe whether vots will be taken upon tn
Q Mills bill and the Republican substitut.
I for It, or whether the debate on section
ol the bill will proceed, with amendments