New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-18
FUN OVER THE TARIFF.
HUMOROUS SPEECHES ON BOTH SIDES
Mr.. COX SETS the BALL IN MoTIoS-MR MASON
OF ILLINOIS SURPRISES THE HOUSE.
FIR TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuxEJ


WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE tariff debate was
not dull TO-DAY, and during large part Of tho
afternoon the galleries were crowded and stand
ing room In the aises and doorways was at
premium. This was due partly TO the fact that
" an entertaining speech by s S. Cox was an
attraction which had been widely advertised, that
Mr. Cox was graduated at Brown University when
that eminent Baptist, Francis Wayland, was its
president, and that the Baptists Of the United
States are holding their annual convention in
Washington. Thus it happened that Just before
Mr.. Cox rose the Baptist delegates and their wives
and daughters began to pour in, and when he began
to speak he had an audience of which any orator
might have hccn proud. 1t was natural, under the
circumstances, that he should refer as he did
more than once to the teachings of his old precep.
tor, Dr. wayland Mr. Cox's speech had been
prepared with the utmost care, and IL fully bore
out the promises of the advertisements, that il
would be entertaining
Mr. Cox did not devote much il any space 70
the Mills BILL nor did he even praise that hetero-
geneous measure. In fact so far as pending leg
islation was concerned, he was again a Buckeye
abroad very far abroad Mr. Cox has complain
ed many times that the newspapers have given
him the reputation Of being legislator who treats
serious subjects lightly. His speech to-day was
sufficient proof that the reputation is not ILL
deserved
MR.. Cox's GENEALOGICAL TREE
But the speech entertained the House. Both
sides applauded, and the applause sweetened
by laughter. Republicans as well Democrats
enjoyed it with keen zest, after the rather
solemn, not to say drcary and tedious argument
by Mr. Breckenridge of Arkansas, who preceded
him in support of the bill. Among the items
of information contributed to the subject by
Mr.. Cox one TO the effect that the Sullvans
his middle name is Sullvan-came from the Far
family carried hod at the building of the
Temple at Jerusalem. This information came in
incidentally, for Mr.. Cox devoted good deal Of
the serious parts OF his discourse TO an effort to
tickle the Irish voters
Another piece of information which he con-
tributed was to the effect that before the election
q bargain was made by the latters friends whereby
it was made condition that Speaker Blaine
should appoint q Ways and Means Committee
revision OF the tariff. That was in March 1871.
Mr.. Cox appeared TO think that this was SO i'm
portant as bearing on the. present condition OF
affairs that it needed to be fortified, and he rather
dramatically declared that eX-Congressman Farms
worth OF Illinois, who was Q member OF that
Congress and who was in the House to-day, could
vouch for the truth of his assertion. Mr.. Cox
read without giving the name Of the writer,
n letter which he said he had received from q
man who Republican member Of that
Congress, and who was one of the persons by
whom the negotiations were conducted in behalf
OF the revenue reformerS
SPEAKERS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
On the Republican side, Mr.. Peters, of Kansas,
and Ex-Governor Stewart, Of Vermont delivered
good speeches, as representatives OF agricultural
constituencies which favored the preservation OF
the protective policy. Governor Stewart was
especially happy in his reply to some of the imagi-
native flights in which Mr.. Russell, Of Massa-
| chusetts, indulged yesterday.
After Mr.. Cox sat down, Mr.; Mason, Of IL
| lnois, . new member, arose He is no taller
| than Mr.. Coz but he is great deal bigger.
His massive i've head Is set on body which weighs
sais aSC oSs OF fs form an and 10
Douglas. His speech was the surprise of tho
debate, Seldom, if ever, has there been heard
in the House hslf-hour's speech which combined
so much that was effective in wit, humor and
sarcasm, as well as eloquence. For twenty min.
utes he kept the House and the
ganss and IN laughter roar Of the OF soe
tude expressed by Southern Democrats in this
debate for the wordngman, he was reminded Of a
get a job of work He applied to planter who
said: Well, 1 am sorry. my friend, but bought
two carpenters Yesterday
Again he said The most popular party in Eng.
land to-day is the Democratic party Of the United
States, the most popular man in England TODAY
is the President Of the United States"
Mr. MASON DROPS INTO POETRY.
! Mr.. Mason cited the deadlock Of few weeks
ago upon the Direct Tax BILL stating that North
crn Democrats said they would rot in their seats
i
Democracy but when King Caucus tapped the
bell the Democrats all scooted" Said the
speaker:
| The brigadIers ring the bei
The doughface cries for shame
, I'll not be Tossed by the brgadlers,
But he gets there just the same" (Laughtery
Mr.. Mason then attacked the proposition made
| by Mr.. Mills that the people ought to have the
right to buy where they could buy the cheapest,
and gave description Of the working classes CALI
tn agl m tphu ba xyic had h,u
the products Of labor in England, where he could
buy it so much cheaper He made Mr.. Mills say:
can buy them cheaper, to help the poor shoe
makers Of America and that he wanted to buy
his cloth OF other countries to help the spinners
and wesvers of America and that he wanted to
buy his machinery and iron tools in England,
where the wages were just half what they were in
this country to help the poor iron-workers OF this
country. Said Mr.. Mason:
have never been in favor Of sending . man TO the
pencnary FOR preaching free trade, but when he asks
buy products of labor in other countries and
the that is to help the laborng
Of this country think he ought to be sent down for SIX
months twice year for nfy years, for hypocrisy.
Mr.. Mason attacked the Mills bill, saying that
it was in the interests of trusts and syndicates,
and cited the Sugar Trust which, he said, was
Of the largest, if not the largest trust in the
world that affected the price OF any OF the neces-
sities Of life He said that while the Democrats
were denouncing syndicatcs and trusts they had
the power to take of the tariff on refined sugar
and thereby compel the trust TO compete with the
markets of the world But instead OF that the
Democratic party had not the courage TO do IL,
but under the Mills bill had left the duty and tho
tax on sugar practically as high as ever.
lie suggested to the gentleman from Mississippi
(Allen that the comic opera he quoted from was
not suited to his style Of voice and form, and
suggested that instead thereof he should singf
Rockaby Sugar Trust you're on the tree top
While we are in power your cradle will rock;
But II the tariff busts the cradle will fall
And down will come Sugar Trust Mills's bill and a
Or if he insists on rising to that higher realm of
aMother Goose" he would suggest:
Little Boy Blue come blow your horn nce;
Blow sheol Of mutton. but not touch our rice.
Great applause on the Republican side
Mr.. Mason also suggested that the gentleman
hold the infant trust in his hands and saw