Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-05
1nsu-mountable Obstacle.

An Insurmount0Ole Obstacle.
How the Republicans OF the Senste are 70
succeed in their attempt to offer 70 the coun'
trya substitute for the MILLS blll we cannot
forecast. when one Republican votes with
the Democrats the Senate is tied; and when
the Senate Is tied the proposition falls which
occAsioned the tie. For instance, some on
The Republicans thought it would be WIN
ming card for their party II they shQuld re-
duco the duty on sugar by % per
cent: but Mr.. Plum, Of Kausas, whose con-
,tituents are largely interested in making
sugar ont a sorghum. notified his party $3.50
eisies IN prcttyplain terms mat II tie sugar
duty were cot down, one ball Kansas would
have TO have free lumber and free wire rods
for barbed fcnnea by way Of compensation. In
other words, II Mr.. PLUNB's constituents are
nos to be protected in sugar-makiug, some
ofher Reylnblican's constituents cannot be
protected in the lumber business nor the
barbed-wlre business.
Again: Mr RIDDLEBERGER can tio the
Seude whenever be chooses 10 do so. II Is
not To DO supposed for a moment that he will
allow his Republican associates to put iron
ore, or coal. or sumac, or peanuts, or manu-
featured tobacco upon tho free list. None Of
these articles are on the free list in the MILLS
hIn. and consequently oven II the Senate con-
siders that bin il will require affirmative az
ton q put them on that list.
Now, how ia this diGlculty 90 be sur
mounted? We cannot see that 1t is possi0lc
20 overcome II. 1t IS by no means strange
that the Republicans hsvo beeen unable to
srroe even in caucus upon a substitute FOR
The BIN which the Democrats have formulated
and placed before the country. We take II
for granted that there will always be one
Penublican senator who will refuse to sscfi'
fee tho Interests OF his constituents to TIE
necessities ot the Republican patty. For
whether "protection protects" or not is not
question in the mind OF any genuine Re
publican. IIe knows. or at least he thinks
he knows, that protection does protect, and
he knows that DE has taught his constituents
70 hold th4t doctrine. Nor can bis party
associates in the senate make any reply 10
ms arguments on this point
Why. then. should Congress remain in ses-
eiOn unit ialc li-t hl Nfhtt44i'Ni vi hsHt Va Wv
toberf We cannot yet understand the pre-
dictions 10 thi, effect; aud, a. We have SAID
heretofore, we shall not until the event
proves the fact believe that Congress wilt
protract its session TO the extent predicted.
rs. Since writing the foregoing article
we have come across the following in The
Washin.t ton letter ofthc Alexandria Gazette:
at Is said to-day that the divergence Of
The idea. Of some OF the Republican senators
on the tariff question y 80 great that tho diI-
f,culty of tormuiaiiuga bill that will reconcile
those differences and AT the same time make 1t
COMFORT with The chicago platform Is almost
insurmonniahle. and that tho bill when
brought before the senate VIII be so oulec'
uonable 90 some Of the Republican members
az that body tuat no real effort VIII be made
a. pa. il. and that consequently the session
sfler all may adjourn by the last OF tue cur
rent month"