Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-03
KENNA,.
West Virginia's Young Senator
Answers Sherman
IN DEFENSE OF THG PRESIDENT.
0hiO's Senator Convicted Out of His Own
Mouth.
CLEYELAND'S POSITION JUSTIFIED
By the Highest NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Of His Critics RuthlsSsly
Exposed.
0hiO's Senator Convicted Out of His Own
Mouth.
CLEYELAND'S POSITION JUSTIFIED
ELOQUENT ANSWER TO CHARGES
Made by Sherman, Frye & Co. The
Democratic Doctrine as Set Forth
and Defended by Jefferson, Jack
son, Webster, Arthur and
Cleveland.

special Tslegram 10 tie Register.
WASHINGTON, February BLAIR hay-
ing been shut of to-day before he could
grind out another edition of census statis-
tics on the educational bill, Senator ,Kenna
delivered a magnificent speech in reply to
John Sherman's criticism Of the Presi-
dents message. 1t was o discussion
equally as good as the tariff tourney
between Senators Sherman and Voorhees, a
month ago. The spectacle of the youngest
Senator in the body, rising leader in his
own party, attacking the most sagacious
anil adroit OF the Republican Presidential
candidates, and one who had seen decades
of public servi'e, added to the interest OF
the occasion. hsnua seized the strongest
point that could be urged against the wiley
Ohio statesman, namely his vacillation on
great public questions, in order to swing
with the tide OF public opinion.
Sherman's lengthy political career, in
which he has been on both sides Of every
great National issue, gave his young oppO-
nent the opportunity 10 pile up unanswer-
able evidence of inconsistency out of Sher-
mans own recorded utterances. His
weightiest point was when he seized upon
an interruption by Sherman to show that
Sherman now favored the repeal
of tax, which he had once said was the
easiest to collect, the most stable snd the
least burdensome to the people. Sher-
mans record was ventilated from 1860
until the present time, his able and adroit
straddles were exposed in vigorous and
powerful style by the West Virginia Sena-
tor, and he left Sherman no gr ound for de-
tense, by simply quoting the
Mansfield Statesmau's own language,
Throughout the arrangement Sherman
listened attentively and occasionally made
a memorandum on sheet of paper lying
on his desk. Now and then he made a
sort of an attempt to rise to his feet, but
Kenna gave him no opportunity for quib-
bling or interruption, except when Sher-
man would be unusually persistent.
Mr.. Kenua's address was a. follows:
MR.. PRESIDENT:-On the 18th day Of
this month the honorable Senator from
Ohio Mr.. Sherman submitted to the
Senate and to the country his reply TO the
Presideut'smesSage. Ihad read the message
of the President more than once, and with
more than ordinary care; have likewise
devoted to that speech more than casual
examination.
The honorable Senator, as We all know,
is conspicuous in the councils OF his party.
He has had much to do with the shaping
of its policies. His assault Oh the Presi-
dents position in favor of revenue reform
and reduction oftaxation is therefore to be
regarded g significant. The honorable
Senator from Ohio does not speak precipi-
lately. The Presidents message came on
the 9th day of December, 1887, and the
motion of the Senator to refer it was made
on the 10Th day of the same month. 1t
NAV, therefore, be fairly assumed that the
reply" of the honorable Senator is ex-
haustiye of his own and OF bis party's re-
sources on this important subject. In the
light of this fact, as the message has pro-
voked his criticism. the speech may justly
be regarded as challenge to the examina-
tion OF others.
The honorable Senator has been prom
inent for years in the discussion of subjects
of revenue and taxation. have heard
much and read more Of what he has said.
have had something of familiarity with
his past utterances, and know something
of his past connection with this class of
legislation. When 1 read his recent
speech confess that it surprised me. 1t
presents, Mr.. President, the square issue
Is to whether the honorable Senator's
party shall stand in this assault or fall in
the defense. His speech is before You.
His past record is equally apart and parcel
of his contribution to the literature of the
country and to the debates of Congress.
GLARING INCONSISTENCIES.
l can not reconcile the one with the other,
nor have l the right in this presence or in
decent respect for the proprieties OF daily
intercourse, to sScribe the irreconcilable
conflict to the exigencies Of political or
party necessity. 1 only know that the
speech of the honorable Senator, taken IN
connection with his former uttersnces on
the. same and similar subjects, presents
contrast as astounding as it is unexpected
"a con fict as irreconcilsble as it is positive
and absolute-ar enigma which, confessing
my own inability to solve, 1 will now pro-
ceed brifiy to analyze and will then leave
it's further consideration to the Senator and
to the country.
The President, in his message, calls at
tention to the unnecessary accumulation
OF surplus of the peoples money in the
Treasury, already amounting to $4,000
900, presages that it will reach $40, OOO,-
600 BY the end of the fiscal year, and de-
elAres that if disaster shall result from the
continued inaction of Congress, the re-
spOnsibiity must rest where 1t belongs.
The honorable Senator has dismissed this
solemn warning of the President with a
wave of the hand. 1.-The existence Of a
surplus has been constant occurrence be-
fore and since the close of the war;" he
says. And, continuing, he declares that
when, in 1906, President Jefferson
had the good fortune of surplus revenue,
he, in his message, said: To what other
objects shall these surpluses be appropri-
sted = after the entire discharge of
the public debt and during those intervals
when war shall not call for them9 Shall