Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-09
John Sherman In the Senate.

John Sherman In the Senate.
? Senator Sherman, Wednesday last, in
he United States Senate, made speech on
Presio6af Cievelandss re4aarkable message
70 Cos6ressand the country ON the tariff.
e wasja such speecffas the true Amer
IeanssO1 the land had reason TO expect
from John Sherman Of Ohio. II there is
a public man in the nation who knows
Whist the industrial and financial interests
Of the country demand, whose practical
common sense and long experience qualify
him 70 speak on the questions which
Cleveland in his Free Trade essay discusses
to the exclusion Of everything else. John
Sherman is the man to make his opinions
known at this time. He represents large
and populous State, in which the farmers
and laborers ia factories are numerous,
whose manufactured productions and
great wool interests are assailed with con-
temptnous hostility by him chosen and
sworn as the guardian Of their welfare.
With the terse severity Of truth
Senator Sherman says the President
of,the United States departed from the
uniform course Of all his predecessors in
the omission in his message Of all refer
ence to the foreign relations Of the United
States and to interesting and important
questions in national affairs, not even
making the usual recognition of the
Supreme Ruler OF the Universe, aud
postponing all things celestial and
terrestrial until the surplus revenue be
got rid Of. He well calls 1t a remarkable
message document which contains
views carefully elaborated, which are in
direct hostility to the doctrines and
opinions OF President Thomas Jefferson
and President Andrew Jackson. at similar
financial periods in the history of the
gOvernment--the two Democratic states
men and leaders who more successfully
guided the destinies Of their party than
any other two men who were ever iden-
tilted with it. Mr.. Sherman calls the
attention Of the country to the fact, that
in 1906, when there was a surplus of
revenue in the national treasury. Jeffer-
son expressed the belief that the patriotism
OF the people would prefer continuance
OF the imposts and the application of
the money to the great pur-
poses OF public education, roads,
rivers and canals. Today our vastly
extended domain, rapidly increasing popu-
lation, numerous opened mines, and vast
products Of fields, forests and factories
require immensely increased means OF
transport and travel on land, lakes, rivers
and seas. This is fundamentally impor
tant to the home interests Of our people
and AS the means OF enabling us to com
pete with orr commercial rivals abroad
President Jackson during his official tern
recommended the distribution of the sur
plus among the States. II the President
followed the example Of his predecessor,
by using the powers imposed upon the
Secretary Of the Treasury, he could apply
the surplus to a reduction of the publ,
debt. He pointed out, what too many Of
Cleveland's blind followers have forgotten
that II the President regarded an increas
ing surplus danger, he had failed tc
bring to bear an influence on Congress tC
provide for reduction of taxation
to apply the remedy. If it had
been his desire to reduce taxation
without the reduction OF the production
OF the country, the task was not difficult
Instead Of this the enormous powers Of the
Speaker Of the House were used to prevent
it and in this the Speaker had the hearty
sympathy and support Of the President
and Of his Secretary OF the Treasury. Thus
Senator Sherman made it as clear as the
incontrOvertibe facts of recent history
demonstrate, that the President in his
message was not guided by the wisest ex.
amples Of his ablest predecessors both
Democratic and Republican, who advised
the national revenues to be so expended
as to develope and improve the country
to foster American industry, and to shield
IL from the assaults OF our foreign rivals
Cleveland preferred to please the Free
Traders on both sides OF the Atlantic rather
than to respond to the pressing industrial
commercial and financial wants of the
American people. The speech OF the Ohio
Senator is vigorous, compact, logical, equa
to the level Of the present political situa.
ton, and has the genuine ring of American
patriotism. 1t is a fitting document to &c
with the Paris answer Of the Maine states
man to Cleveland's British Free Trade
manifesto.