The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-03-23
Iudre Kelley Rises TO Explain.


isct IS OF special interest at this time.
we willingly give Judge Kelley the space
hs uses To furnish The best explanation
that can be given of the do-nothing or
obstructive attitude taken by bis party
and himself on the issue. Had there
been a clear and satisfactory answer 10
the general complaint OF the do-no ENG
policy of the Republicans on the ques-
tion of tariff revision. Judge kelley's
letter would not have required one
tenth the space 10 explain but with
himself and his party obviously IN con-
flict with their own solemn pledges 10
the ration and as obviously willing 70
sacrifice great business and Industrlal
interests 10 a Bourbon partv policy,
there is of necessity so much of comics
sion in the explanation that elaborate
avoidance logically follows.
The following is the solemn pledge
given to the nation by the Republican
party and Judge Kelley in the National
platform adopted by the Chicago Con-
yention in 1884
6. The Republican party pledges itself to
correct the inequalities of the tarth and 70
reduce the surplus. not by the vicious ana
undiscriminaJing process OF horizontal re-
ductiou. but by such methods 9s will relieve
the taxpayer without injuring the laborer
or the great productive interests OF the
country.
How has that pledge been respected ?
1t is a proper question to address TO
Judge Kelley. He is the father OF the
House he is the most experienced or
all the present members of the body /;
he is famed throughout the country as
among the best informed Of our public
men on the intTicacieS of the tariff he
saw the war taxes, both tariff and inter
nal, imposed upon the people to save
the government in its gravest peril he
aided in the enactment OF the distinctly
protective tariff OF 1861 he knows
better than any others that the present
tariff duties on many articles in excess
os the protective standard of 1861 are
unwarranted aud oppressive, and he is
the one man who should be to the fore
in the tariff revision and revenue reduc
tion to which he and his party are so
positively pledged. This is the fourth
session OF Congress IN which Judge
Kelley has served since he and his party
gave that pledge, but as yet no measure
o. relief FOX the overtaxed industries OF
the country has been presented by him
nor has any been suggested outside of
House speech for the galleries or the
party. OF a stump speech charging back
upon his political opponents his own
persistent neglect OF the plainest public
duty.
Judge Kelley was right in opposing
tariff revision by 1.-THE vicious and un-
discriminating horizontal reduction"
proposed by MORRISON, and the Times
heartily sustained him in that action.
He was right N opposing the second
Morrison bill, and was as heartily sup
ported in doing so by this journal.
MOrrison's tariff revision was ''vIcious"
because "undiscI .minating" and even
Morrison himself could not tell whether
revenues would be increased or dimin-
ished by many features of the measure
IL was haphsZATd attempt At mere
political eXpediency, and Judge Kelley
did well 10 oppose il, but did his plain
duty to the country as the leader of
protection in the House end with de-
Ieating unintelIigible or otherwise oh
jectionable bills ? Certainly not. He
is proclaimed as an expert il tariff
statesmanship, and why has he contin-
ued as studied do-nothing or o9struc-
zionist during four sessions of Congress
after the pledge OF the party and of
himself vas given for tariff revision and
revenue reduction
But" answers Judge Kelley sub
stantially, "ths Democratic members OF
IuC VI W d1S anu hcdDs dIc
revolutionary IN their action they ex-
clude ms from their deliberations and
withhold from me Knowledge OF their
purposes and methods of procedure. -
Well, admitting the truth OF he ans
wer, how does that hiudsr Judge Kelley
or Mr.. Reed or any other OF all the Re-
publican members o; the committee,
from proposing a tariff and internal
tax bill! Mr.. Randall is not a mem
Der of the Ways and Means Committee
he has not been advised Of the purposes
or methods of the sjJrity, but be has
taken the manly way of meeting his
duty by framing and presenting TO the
( House the tariff and internal tax reVi-
sion that he believes should be made.
/ Why does not Judge Kelley, or Judge
/ Kelley and Mr.. Reed, who are TO lead
10 the dO-nothing or obstructive policy,
do the same? They say that the Mills
bill IS wrong they are in favor of the
Randall bill only so far as IL may serve
TO distract the Democrats they will
not vo.e to pass either, and thus, with
/ their sOlemniy plighted faith TO the
country TO aid in tariff revision and
/ revenue reduction, :hey complain OF all
I that others do TO correct an admittedly
unequal and oppressive revenue system
Z
| honesty to propose anything better.
The Times IS sincerely DEVOTED to the
positive protection OF our general pre-
I ductive industries, and Judge Kelley
Processes to be tie special champion OF
/ projected labor. He knows, as all i'll,
/ Lelligent business men know, tha,
I tariff revision is an imperiOus necessity
/ IN the interest OF our manufacturers a:
| well as In the interest of the people
generally. He knows that the necessa-
/ Ties OF life and the neceSsaries OF oul
/ productive industries, require tariff re-
/ vision TO Increase our labor and Civ,
| increased prosperity 10 both labor anJ
| capital and he certainly knows thai
| any pretended protective duties which
I are now higher than Judge Kslley mad,
/ them in 1861, muSs be excessive anC
I oppressive; but every proposition Il
I return from war taxes TO Judge Kelley
I own protective standard of 1861, when
the need for high protection has beer
greatly lessened bV quarter of a cen
tury or mechanical advancement. il
answered only by the cry OF free tradl
revolution. That cry answered a gooC
I partisan purpose wbeD Judge Kelley anC
! the world were decade or a score o
years younger; but only statesman VIII
close their eyes To the progress OF tn
age ard the changed condition OF com
merce, industry and trade, Low confes
their Inability 20 give reasons for thei
political faith or action, b. denounciue
tariff revision as free trade.
L: Judge Kelly understands the tarii
I question as he ever assumes to under.
stand It, and il nobody has presentel
tariff revision that meets the approya
OF bis Judgment. let him stop speech
making, personal explanations aud le,
ter-writing until he presents a tariff an,
revenue bill that be can defend. III
and his party are pledged to It let tha
pledge he honestly fulfilled. Ii is prac
lcally unimpoTtaGt what Judge Kelle