The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-05
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS
Senate Indulges in a Lengthy Debate
Over What Constitutes a Free-Trader.
The House Passes the Nicaragua Canal Billand
Then Engages in Sharp Discussion Over
the Proposed Change in the Rules.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The presiding Off
rS presented message from the President,
supplementary to that of Wednesday last,
inclosing two copies of kilograms sent in
cipher by the Secretary of State to the
American minister at Pekin, which had
been omitted. Referred to the committee
on foreign relations.
Mr.. Sherman, from the committee ON for
eign relations, reported resolution. which
was agreed to, calling on the President for
correspondence and information touching
recent occurrences in the Island of Hayti,
both as related to the state Of the govern
ment there and to the seizure and delivery
of the American vessel, the Haytian Repub-
lie.
Mr.. Sherman also, from the same commit
tee, reported back favorably Mr.. Ed
munds's joint resolution as to the Panama
canal, as follows:
Resolved, That thef government of the United
States will look with serious concern and dis
approval on any connection of any European
government with the construction or control OF
any ship-canal across the Isthmus of Darien, or
across Central America, and must regard any
such connection or control as Injurious 10 the
just right and interests of the United States, and
as a menace TO their welfare.
Resolved, That the President be requested to
communicate this expression of tina views of
Congress to the governments OF the countries OF
Europe.
The resolution was placed on the calendar,
and Mr.. Sherman gave notice thathe would
tomorrow ask for its consideration, and he
hoped il would receive the unanimous ap-
prevail of the Senate.
Mr. Stewart offered resolution, which
was agreed TO, instructing the committee
on private land claims TO inquire and ascer-
tain what prosecutions suits have been
instituted or authorized as to patents for
Mexican private land grants in California,
az nd WI
such suits have been instituted OF author
lied; what private counsel have been en-
ployed to assist In the prosecution; the
terms and conditions of their employment,
and what interest the United States govern
ment has in such suits-with power to send
for persons and papers.
The Senate, at 1925, resumed cOnsidera-
tion of the tariff bill
Paragraphs 81 and 80 were passed
over informally.
Mr. Vest offered an amendment to Para
graph 323, referring to Hamburg edgings,
by adding the words meek ruftiing and
ruching," but as Mr.. Aldrich explained that
would Increase rather than reduce the duty
on these goods, he withdrew it.
Mr.. Vance moved to amend the same
paragraph, reducing the rate from % cents
per pound and 10 per cent ad valorem,
upon this amendment, Mr.. Hawley asked
Mr.. Vance whether there was any nation
which had any approximately just system
of taxation, and If not, which of the ma
lions was the nearest right
Mr.. Vance replied that the system Of taxa
tion which was nearest right, so far as he
was acquainted with them, was the English
system.
Mr.. Hawley-That is about the answer
which / expected to get.
Mr.. Vance, see what you call ''the true
inwarcness" OF your question. The object
is that you may charge that we are in the
English interest; that we are following the
Enn hot rx-la ora nr rryar RI
our own people. But there never was q
greater piece of hypocrisy than this pre-
tense of dislike to foreigners. You only
dislike the foreigner when he brings, some
thing to sell. When he brings in blanket
or pair of shoes or anything else cheaper
than you are willing TO make and sell 1T,
then you despise the foreigner and appeal
to all kinds of prejudice against him. But
the American workmen and take the bread
cut of his mouth, you welcome him with
open and hypocritical embrace.
Mr.. Hawley-I have no personal reason
for disliking England or Englishmen. /
disbelieve in the English system of taxa
ton, and what | wanted was to get one
Democrat, if i could not get more, to avow
frankly the honest purpose of that party,
that the adoption of free trade is the policy
Of that party. Not one time in fifty, on the
stump or in the newspapers, were we able
IN the last campaign to get Democratic
politician OF editor TO tell the truth In re-
gard to the position of their party. An
avowed free-trade meeting was held in Bos-
ton the other day, clarifying the campaign,
clarifying the President of the United
States. clarifying every effort in behalf of
free trade, .prophesying glorious future
under it, All we ask of the
other side is that they shall tell the
truth about the inevitable drift of their
party-that which the whole world knows,
including themselves, to be the truth-that
bring
adoption of a system of taxation that will
tax only articles of universal consumption
practically poll tax.
Mr.. Vance replied to Mr.. Hawley. He
said: I'VE had once IN this country
philosopher with good deal of hard sense,
expressed III bad English, Josh Billings.
One of his apothegms was that in order, to
bring up child in the way he should 60,
it was necessary for the parent to 60 that
way once in while. Now, in order to get
your political adversaries to tell you tho
truth, the Senator from Connecticut should
do so himself once in a while. fLaughter.l
He says that / am free-trader, and that
the policy of my party is absolute free
trade, and he bases that statement on my
answer to his question as to which
foreign system of taxation most admired.
/ told him that the English system was the
nearest right, meaning all other systems
but our own. Laughter on Republican
side.l Senators will contain themselves
moment, and perhaps the laughter will be
Il
mean by that any approval of that system
under which we live. God forbid, as God
did forbid thousands of years ago from the
top of Mount Sinai, when He said, Thou
shalt not steal Laughter and approval
on the Democratic side.1 1 am not author
lied TO say what the sentiments of the DEM
ocratic party are. The Democratic party of
the United States has pronounced itself
time and again in favor of a system of tax
alton of foreign imports that will yield suf-
ticient revenues TO the government, and it
has never advocated any other system.
That is the system which l prefer to the
English OF any other SYSTEM
Mr.. Reagan also defended the Democratic
party from the charge of being free-trade
party.
The debate was continued at great length,
and participated in by Senators Dawes,
MCPHERSON, Vance, Gray, Coke and Morgan.
The latter commented upon the free list
contained In the substitute, and argued
that the Republican Senators who reported
and sustained it We're pro tanto free traders,
and were not justified In applying that term
TO DemOcF-
Mr.. Hoar asked Dir. Morgan whether he
admitted the correctness of the definition
of a free-trader given by Professor Sumner
of Yale College, the high priest of free
trade, that free-trader was a person who
did not mean TO have the duties so arranged
to attract capital into any business