The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-09
THE GONG-BEATING POLICY
The House Continues the Debate On the
Canadian Retaliation Measure,
And. After an Eloquent Defense of Cleveland
by Criminal Lawyer, Passes the Bill,
There Being Only Four Negative Votes.


the reading of the journal the House
resumed. consideration of the retaliation
bill, and was addressed by Mr. White, of
New York, who declared for retaliation such as
would retaliate upon the enemy and not upon
the people of the United States. He believed
the first section Of the bill would inure 20 the
benefit of the Dominion of Canada, and to the
permanent injury Of the commerce of this coun-
try and OF American labor. The stoppage of
the shipment of freight in bond would not hurt
a single Canadian fisherman who had been
guilty of wrong. but would hurt the people of
the Western provinces. who had not committed
q grievance, and while the province of Manitoba
must pay more for the transfer of its freight.
American workingmen would lose Sc, 250, 900 a
year if the provisions of the bill were carried in
to effect. The question came to him whether, I'M
der his oath, he should vote for q measure which
he believed to be directly detrimental to the la
boring men Of his district, in behalf Of what had
bcen characterized by the gentleman from Illi-
nois Mr. Cannon as beating q gong and furnish
ing another mallet for the purpose. He would
never vote for putting mallet in the hand of
struck the gong. necessarily hit the heads OF
American workingmen and American enter
prise. lApplause on the Republican side. He
believed the bill was unjust, Illogical and wrong
ard. If he voted alone, as he probably would, he
would vote against the bill. Mr.. White thought
If the President prevented Canadian fish coming
into this country he would strike the blue noses
where it hurt He favored retaliation that
would hurt somebody. Proceeding to speak OF
tho competition existing between the American
and Canadian trunk lines of railroads, he was
interrupted by Mr.. O'Neall of Pennsylvania,
with question whether he could not devise an
amendment to the interstate commerce act
which would bring the Canadian railroads under
its provisions.
Mr.. White admitted the justice of this course,
which Mr.. Wilson. of Minnesota, declared would
turn the farmers of the Northwest over to the
tender mercies of Wall street. Mr.. Wilson assert
cd that the ruler who would precipitate war with
out imperative necessity, and exhausting
every honorable means to avoid it,
would merit and call down upon himself the
execraton OF every just ana right minded man.
He then analysed the act of 1887 to support
His assertion that every mischief and every in
jury which, it was charged, would result to the
people of the Northwest from the enactment of
the pending bill, would have resulted to them
by the enforcement OF the act OF 1857. That act
authorized the President TO prohibit the intro
duction of Canadian goods Did any one sup
pose that the Canadian government would not
rctaliate in kindl
Mr.. Lind of Minnesota, inquired whether bis
colleague did not suppose that under the pend
States back in its own CONT
Mr.. Wilson replied that the bill did not make
any such thing possible or necessary. The pend
ing bill Was particularly guarded so as not to
destroy the business OF the Northwest, as the
act of 1887 would have done. Gentlemen on the
other side, with one exception, while denounc-
ing the pending bill. had declared their intention
of voting for it. This showed low state of
morals or lack of Independence, unbecoming in
men who ventured TO charge the President with
nuelllanfmtty Referring TO the charge mi do
by gentlemen on the other side that the Presi
dents annual message was a free-trade docu-
ment, Mr.. Wilson entered an emphatic denial.
and in the course of his remarks declared that
Mr.. Carnegie received en- income of 81 SOC, 600 q
year.
Mr.. Dalzell, Of Pennsylvania inquired where
the gentleman got his figures.
Mr.. Wilson replied that he got them from the
statement Of an honored member Of the House,
meaning Mr.. Scott, Of Pennsylvanial and the
explanation made by Mr.. Carnegie had made it
certain that the statement was true Mr.. Will
son declined to say who his informant was.
Mr.. Dalzell asserted that the statement was
absurd. ridiculous, and false in addition, and
that he must be a credulous man who would
swallow it.
Mr.. Wison-How much does he makel
Mr.. Dalzell-I don't know. Do you know how
much the gentleman from Erie Mr.. ScottI who
made the statement, makes every yearl
Mr.. Wilson-That has nothing to do with il.
lDerisive laughter on the Republican side.
Continuing. Mr.. Wilson said, should war be
declared-which God forbid-a gunboa: of
Great Britain would scarcely have time to reach
our shores before Canada would be part of the
United States He thought that there would be
no war, but should the Queen of England, for
getting the lessons to her ancestors in the past.
aim or discharge at Us one unfriendy gun from
one OF her gunboats, he predicted that the echo
which il would awaken would not to re-
verbrate before Grover Cleveland, President Of
the greatest republic on earth. would salute
Charles Stewart Parnell as the President of the
Youngest republic on earth. Applause on the
Democratic side.
Mr.. Lind, of Minnesota, said that if the pend
ing bill became q law the President could, by a
60, 000, 600 bushels of Minnesota and Dakota
wheat cents oushel. Heicould enhance the ex-
actions of the Northwestern railroads at least %
per cent. He could rob Duluth of half her ship
ping. He could ruin the trade of the twin
cities-the pride of Minnesota aud the North
west. He could cripple the enterprising men Of
tho Northwest. But it was not account of
selfish reasons that he would vote against the
bill. He would vote against 1t because he be-
lieved that it was conceived fer i'm
proper purposes. 1t was unca.,ed for, wrong
in theory, and an unworthy exponent of the
power, dignity and honor of tho Anne ricsn peo-
pie. Turning HE attention TO Mr. SCOTS
speech, Mr.. Lind said that that gentleman had
admitted that he was q stockholder and director
in the Canadian Pacific company. He found no
fault with the gentleman for that 1t was his
right as an American citizen, but when the gen.
tleman came here to advocate scheme to the
detrlment of the American people and for the
purpose offurthering his lintsrests as the
officer Of foreign corporation, it time to call
q halt. Applause on Republican side. II the
provisions OF the bill were carried into effect the
produce of the Northwest, which was now car
ried through Canada TO New York and Boston.
would be carried &c Halifax, ana the object OF
Mr.. Scott the Canadian Pacific monopoly, and
the Tory administration, would be accomplished.
Republican applause.
The discussion was further continued by
Messrs. O'Neil of Missouri, and Tarsney OF
Michigan. The latter expressed his adherence
Of war and his preference for peaceful methods
in the adjustment of differences. But il peace
full methods would not avail, then the State oil
| q couple of Democratic States out of her. The
people OF Michigan desired peace. but 1t must be
| peace on honorable terms. Let England and
Canada distinctly understand that though the
| United States desired peace, it would not unie,
any circumstances submit to insult. Jap
plause.
Mr.. Cochran, OF New York. said that the ad
| dress on the other side which had furnished the
key note of the discussion had been the able
| speech OF the gentleman from Illinois mr.
| Hitt.l To that gentleman. and to him alone,
was due the credit of lifting the discussion Q
| high level in the plane Of parliamentary pro
cedure. But he regretted that while the speech
| was eloquent, it lacked that element of candoI
| and fairness which would have made it one oil
| tine greatest productions OF this session The
| gentleman from Illinois had charged the repre-
sentatives OF the government in the treaty nego
| tistions with distinct act Of BETRAYAL oil
American rights, and had said there
was an unwrtten postscript to the