Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-02-09
KENNA.
West Yirginia'S Young Senator
Answers Sherman
IN DEFENSE OF The PRESIDENT.
Ohio's Senator Convicted Out Of His Own
Mouth.
CLBYELAED'S POSITION JUSTIFIED
By the Highest NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Of His Critics RuthleSSly
Exposed.
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.
ELOQUENT ANSWER TO CHARGES

WASHINGTON, February BLAIR nav
ing been shut of to-day before he could
Grind out another edition OF census stalls
ties on the educational BILL Senator kenna
delivered a magnificent speech IN reply 10
John Shermap's criticism Of the Presi-
dents message. It was a discussion
equally as coed 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
aud adroit OF the Republican Presidential
candidates, and one who had seen decades
OF public service, added TO the interest OF
the occasion. Kenna 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-
nert the opportunity to 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
ola tax, which he had once SAID was the
easiest to collect, the most stable snd the
least burdeusome to the people. Sner-
mans record was ventilated from 1860
until the present time, his able and adrolt
straddles were exposed in vigorous and
powerful style by the West Virginia Sena-
tor. and be left sherman no gr ound for de-
Tense, by simply quoting the
Mansfield Satesman's own language,
Throughout the arraignment Sherman
listened atteutively and occasionally made
a memorandum on a sheet Of paper lying
On his desk Now and then he made
sort of an attempt to rise 10 bis feet, but
Kenna gave him no opportunity for quib-
bling or interruption, except when Sher-
man would be unusually persistent.
Mr. Kenna's address was as follows:
MIR PREsDENr:-On the 4th day OF
this month the honorable Senator from
Ohio MIR Sherman submitted to the
Senate and 20 the country his reply TO the
President'sm message had 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 20 do with the shaping
of its policies. His assault on the Presi-
dents position i'm favor of revenue reform
and reduction oftaxation Is therefore to be
REGARDED g significant. The honorable
Senator from Ohio does not speak precipl-
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 18th day of the same month 1t
may. therefore be fairly assumed hat the
s.reply' of the honorable Senator is eX-
haustive OF his own and Of bis party's re-
sources on this important subject. In the
Hght of this fact. as the message has pro-
voked bis criticism the speech may justly
be regarded as q challenge 60 the eXamina-
ton Of others
The honorable Senator has been prom
ineut for years in the discussion OF subjects
of revenue and taxation i have heard
much and read more Of what he has said.
/ have had something Of familiarity with
his past utteIances, and know something
Of bis past connection with this class OF
legislation. When / read his recent
speech 1 confess that it surprised me. 1t
presents. Mr. President, the square issue
as 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 part and parcel
of bis contribution to the literature of the
country and 20 the debates of Congress.
GLARING INCONSISTENCIES.
can NOT reconcile the one with the other
nor have / the right in this presence or in
decent respect for the prOprieties of daily
intercourse, TO ascribe the iTreconcilable
conflict to the exigencies Of political or
party necessity. I only know that the
speech Of the honorable Senator, taken in
connection with his former utteranees on