The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-01-14
Current Events.

On Saturday last, Secretary of the Inter
Tor Department Lamar, handed In his re-
signation to the President This step was
taken because OF the delay of the Senate
in acting on the nomination by the Presi.
den, of Mr.. Lamar for Justice OF the
Supreme Court and Mr.. Villas as his sue.
cessor as Secretary, &c. Mr.. Lamar says:
This delay may, to some extent, at least,
EN- barrass the administration Of the public
business in the departments mentioned.
To avoid such endorsements, which Is
my duty To you and to the country, and to
leave before the senate, In its final judg
ment upon my nomination, the sole ques-
ton of my fitness for the position, dis
sociated from any other nomination and
unaffected by any other considerations,
now respectfully ask you to accept my
resignation as Secretary of the Interior,
which hereby tender" The resignation
was accepted. Mr.. Lamars confirmation
still hangs fire and has furnished the
bloody. shutters plenty of material for an.
achronistic speeches, but In the end II Is
now believed he will be confirmed.
The Blair educational bill has been the
subject OF much debate In the Senate dur
ing the past week, as we'll as In the house.
What pressure there Ia, for the bill
comes from the south, though many mem.
bers from that section are opposed TO 1t
The truth is, the bill Is 80 manifestly one
means for squanderiug the surplus and an
attempt to wipe out local government and
bring the central government into direct
control of local affairs In their mlnutest
detail, that It seems hardly possible that
the great democratic party can surrender
Its doctorines, persisted In for hundred
years, and pass the bill. Senator Vest calls
attention 70 the most pernicious fault Of the
bill, when he said: 1.-THE highest education
is that which teaches self respect and self
reliance and individual independence.
Without 1t, individuals and communities
must deteriorate. This measure Is intend
cd to destroy tho common school system of
the states and put upon II stamp OF federal
authority"-make II the pauper dependent
on papa government for support. 1t Is
absurd to say that the New South, whose
material and social progress tslnce the vul
lures of q carpetbag republican govern
ment disappeared), has been the marvel OF
the world, Is unable to maintain free
school system! And even were Ii not, the
general government has no right TO step In
and take charge of II.
Democratic members OF the ways anG
means committee are Of the opinion that Q
tariff bill will be introduced In the House
and referred within the coming ten days
80 that debate on the bill may be expected
In progress by March l. A vote will bt
taken at the furthest about March 10. The
opinion Is expressed that no reduction o.
revenue above seventy millions will be at
tempted, by which occasion will be fully
met. A release of seventy millions Of dol
lars to the people will afford all the relief
demanded and tone up business to the de-
sired healthfullness; but just how tina
figure Is TO be reached Is the interesting
point. The behavior OF Mr.. Randall Is alst
Of interest. The story 10 that he will sub
NIT TO the committee plan representing
his side Of the question. He expects tn,
reduction on tobacco TO reach thirty mil
lions and he is reported to have said tina
he could suggest how &c, 00O, 600 might b,
dropped from tariff taxes without disturb
Ing business In any quarter or violatin,
any incidental protection now enjoyed
But he Is not quoted as to how the knife Il
TO be applied TO get rid Of the remaining
$2OO,000000 necessary to make up tn,
$70,00O,000. Most likely he does not him
self know as yet, although he Is believed
10 be engaged at present on the Who'll,
question. The truth Is, II Is pretty Difficult
TO see how Mr.. Randall can continue (,
carry water on both shoulders and not ge
vet.
Meantime the utter absurdity Of the
protectionist claim that high protective
tariff Is laid solely for the benefit of tn,
working man, when there Is absolute fret
trade In labor, has begun to show itsell
officially, 30 to speak, and Representative
Oates, OF Alabama, has come to the con
clusion that unlimited foreign immigration
10 ct the root OF oil the many difficulties