San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-05
MONDAY, MARCH, 5, 1888.
FREE CATGUT.


Under this singing caption the Waco
Examiner goes for Chairman Mills, Of
the committee on ways and means, In
way decidedly unusual In well regu-
lated democratic journals. The Exam
liner evidently does not jubilste over the
list of free articles as cstalogued in the
Grover-Mllls tariff schedule, nor lie it
moved to rspturous applause by the
manner in. which the dutiable articles
are disposed Of. The Examiners edi-
torial is nitre on vinegar, and touches
the aspirant for Coke's seat on the raw.
1t 10 refreshing on the eve Of hot pres
idential campaign, that is refreshing
to q republican journal, TO see the nu-
merous and savage assaults made upon
this bill. Ii reminds one In some OF Its
features very forcible Of cartoon in one
Of the London papers, published score
or more OF years since. The scene is
miners cabin; drsmatis personse, the
old miner. his son Of about sixteen, and
. full.bloOdcd English pup. The educa-
ton OF the pup Is under consideration.
At the boys suggestion the old man
places himself upon his hands and knees
on the floor, upon the far side Of the
cabin. The boy, with the pup between
his knees, is on the opposite side Of the
room, the boy holding the bull pup tight
by the ears and shaking him to make
him savage and excited, and the father
initiating, to the best Of his ability, the
angry believing Of q bull. The boy
suddenly releases his hold on the eErsged
pup, and with Q sharp sic'en! sic'em! the
pup darts across the cabin so suddenly
that before the old man takes In the stu
alton the sharp teeth Of the little infuri-
ate have gone through the grIstle Of his
nose and he Is pinned to the cabin floor.
Smarting with pain he cuffs at the pup,
calling loudly to his son. TAX him of
lad, TAX him of, e 'urts." Nay, nay,
says the boy, don't touch i'm dad, twill
be the maxim of the pup" Just SO with
Mill. III the democratic protectionists
don't take Mills of, 1t will be the max
ing Of the republican party, but 1t
will swfully dlsfgure Mills nose and
politically speaking, put 1t out of joint.
This Is what the Examiner says:
"At last Mr.. Mills has introduced his
tariff bill, and Ii Is In direct and perfect
accord with the reports OF his Proyi-
denoe speech, which has been disoredit-
ed by some of the press Of the state. In
every line Ii is apparent that the princi-
pie OF protection to manufactures is ieal-
ously guarded, while raw materials with
few exceptions are to come in free.
Wool is to be free, while wOolens are to
be protected by tariff Of forty per cent.
The duties upon sugar are cut down
twenty-five per cent. The whole bill is
marked BY an utter disregard OF the
south except In two respects.
Catgut strings and cotton ties
are TO De exempt from taxation.
Thus does Mr.. Mills display a degree
OF economic and political knowledge
that could hardly have been expected In
one so young. New England is to be
won over by free raw materials and pro-
tected manufactures. The sugar bust
ness Of Louisiana is not to be entirely
ruined. The wool business OF Texas is
TO be utterly smashed. The rest OF the
south is to be kept solid by free cotton
ties and the color line.
But what does 1t matter II the south
is to be sacrificed for the northeast
Has IL not always been so ? Arkansas.
at any Fate, oan have cheap violin
strings, and Mr.. Mills can fiddle while
the sheep business is burning"
When the true democracy Of this state
go for democratic measure, which lie
fsthered by democratic president be-
fore whom the democratic hosts bow in
alteration, In such a fashion as the
above, the day Of miracles is not al.
together departed. 1t certainly does
mark the beginning Of the end OF the
adhesion Of intelligent men to old party
lines on dead issues and the re-arrange-
ment OF those lines on living issues.
When that time comes there will be no
more a solid south or solid north, SEQ.
tionalism will die out and men will be
ranged 10 parties according to their
agreement with or. dissent from certain
broad policies Of government. Then
will this country be In every respect DO
llticaily cleaner and more practical IN
its governmental service than today.