The Portland daily press., 1888-07-12
PRICE THREE CENTS.

on the Republican side.l Why should he NOT
have stood up here to-day and reiterated the
sentiments which awakened so much ap-
plause on his side Of the House on that oc-
casion? Why, 1t Is because Of his recent
visit to New York. do not know what he
said there, but II can judge by what other
Democratic patriots are now busy saying 10
the country he went there for the purpose Of
denying that he Is a free-trader. He went
over there fer the purpose OF assuring the
Democracy Of that region that they need not
him.
Is it not strange what effect climate has
upon gentlemen's courage and upon their
terms OF expression? Under the swelterlng
sun Of New York, surrounded by importers,
he recollected that he was In the largest
manufacturing city Of the United States;
not word Of this bold brave talk with
which he says he always treats people was
heard on that occasion, / venture 10 saw
And when l challenge him here 10 repeat il
he does not seem to have exhibited that alac-
Tity which would correspond 10 the pr0elama-
ti0n Of courage he has been kind enough 10
make. He therefore imposes upon me the
duty OF repeating the courage which he ex-
hlbited In the long-gone days Of four years
ago.
Mr.. Mills-I win give my friend the last
WORD. Let us have vote upon this PROPOSE
Mr.. Burr9ws-one moment. move to
STRIKE out the last word.
Mr.. Mills insist upon a vote. That Is
my speech. l suppose the gentleman wants
Mr.. Reed-We had better have the whole
Oh II, so that there will be no misunderstand-
ing. think II will come In well on whiskey
and sugar.
Mr.. Burrows-I think, with the gentleman
from Maine, that II is high time the chair
man Of the Committee on Ways and Means,
as the leader of the Democratic majority,
should plant himself and his party on the
real ground they occupy. The gentleman
from Texas Mr.. Mills few years ago so
clearly outlined the policy Of his party
and so clearly foreshadowed the bill that he
now champions, that desire 10 read a few
words from a speech delivered by him In
this House, showing that 1t Is the purpose Of
the Democratic party TO land this country
ultimately ON free trade. The gentleman
said:
The eommtte have imposed duties at 20 per
cent, as a general rule, making few exceptions
above that standard and many below, and raised
one hundred millions instead OF one hundred and
tOrty-one. The next year the same duties would
bring one hundred and twenty millions because
low duties.
Just what we have changed will be the ef-
feet Of this bill II it should become law.
Our pellcy should be 10 take the smallest
amount Of taxes that we can by customs
Now mark this language
and we should gradually decrease this amount
until our customs taxes come alone from n0n-cOm-
petlng articles entering our custom-houses.
There Is the distinct declaration Of free
trade. First by lowering the duties, you
will increase the importations, and year alter
year as the importatiOns increase and the
revenues grow, the policy Is to strike the
duties still lower, until, what? Until the
time comes when there shall be no duty lev
led upon any article that comes in competi-
tion with an American product. That Is the
declaration OF the gentleman from Texas, the
chairman OF the Committee on Ways and
Means. 1t Is upon that theory that this bill
Is framed, and the gentleman himself has
confessed that the practical effect Of the
measure will be to, first, to stimulate impor-
tations, increase the revenue, and drive the
country to free trade.
Mr.. Reed-The definition show the gentle
man knew what free trade was when he saw
It.
Mr.. Burrows-Certainly.
Another thing. Speaking Of whiskey and
tobacco, 70 which the gentleman has alluded
today, falsely charging that the Republican
party has committed Itself TO the doctrine Of
Tree whiskey, the gentleman had something
TO say. IL was this.
We now have over a hundred millions from
whiskey and tobacco and other internaftaxes, but
they are on the same principle as the tariff taxes
on consumption, and tall TO the poor, and should
De largely decreased.
Applause on the Republican side.l
Here the hammer fell.
Mr.. Mills-I want to yield two minutes to
the gentleman to permit him 10 continue that
reading little further.
Mr.. Burrows-That covers all you said on
thli point.
Mr.. Mills-NO; there are a few sentences
following.
:, Mr.. BurrOws-The balance is in the same
line.
The amendment was rejected.