Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-01-12
which his interests should receive IN the treat

which his interests should receiv. the treat
ment of the tariff.
Senator Voorhees, quoted from the Repub-
lican platform of 1884, wherein it pledged itself
to correct the Irregularities of the tariff and to
reduce the surplus" and he said that that was
plain, clear admission, made three and a
half years ago, that the work of the Tariff
Commission had been poorly done and
called for correction, and that the pledge had
never yet by one word. one vote, one step, or
the lifting of one finger been attempted to be
carried out to this day. On the contrary, the
Republican leaders had not only done
nothing themselves to remedy their own
confessed wrong-doing, but had hindered
the efforts of every body else II now
after this long delay, the leaders of the Repub-
hcan organization in Congress and elsewhere
assumed the attitude of tariff reformers it
would only be under the compulsion of public
opinion, invoked and aroused by the powerful
statement and appeal of Mr.. Cleveland in his
late message. They were chiefly 'ncensed
against the President because he had disturbed
their policy of inactlon.
Their anger was kindled because their dila-
tory tactics could avail them no longer. AS
had been said of the charge of the Light Brig
ade at Balaklaya: 1T is magnificent but it is
not war, so many thoughtful observers Of the
tremendous financial power and endurance of
the American people might exclaim: ut
Is glorious. but it is not statesman
ship" 1t was glorious to the manhood and re-
sources of the Republic; but in giving the
orders, in shaping the policy, by which the
American people had been so strained, taxed
and bitterly tested, all the world knew that
biunder equivalent to a crime had been COM
mitted and had been stubbornly persisted in.
But the question still required in its homely,
practical way as to the disposal of the results
Of this laundering policy.
He turned from the propositions for larger
army aud navy and costly coast defenses as
remedy for the Treasury surplus to more nat
ural, necessary and practicable methods for its
use. A generous pension roll, with ali arrearages
paid, liberal appropriations for the improve
ment of rivers and harbors the construc-
ton of public buildings wherever needed
for the public service, were all laudable OBJ
jects and should be attained, but they would
fall far short of restoring the immense sur
plus to circulation and of affording the relief
needed.
AS a further remedy, and indeed as the
greatest and most potent, the American people
would be best pleased to the public debt
diminished, and if the authority to purchase
bonds not yet due was not to be found in eX St
ing law, Congress should promptly supply the
defect. There was no bondage SO cruel as that
Of debt, and when the last Government bond
was paid and the last vestige of the National
debt wiped out there would be a jubilee year
beside whose glores all other jubilees and cen
tennial years would grow pale and insignificant.
He had faith in its coming because the Adj
mnistration had at last been placed upon
sound principles and was being carried on by
honest and able hands. The American people
would see to it that no backward step should
be taken for the future.