The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-30
Our Senator's and the Tariff.

Our Senators and the Tariff.
We have the highest regard for Sena-
tor VOORHEES, as a man and as democrat
We admire him for his ability, his elo-
ouence and his courage, and we take pride
in the fame which his public services
have gained for HIM. 1t is therefore not
an agreeable duty to pass criticism upon
the senator for what we conceive to be a
serious error in casting vote in the
senate against the abolition of the duty
on coal. We printed yesterday, from the
Congressional Record, the remarks made by
the senator upon the occasion of casting
that vote, in order that the people of
Indiana might understand the grounds
upon which he based this action.
To our mind. the reasons given
by the senator for his vote are in
sufficient. He declares that as member
of the ST. Louis convention he heard what
Is known as the Mills bill Endorsed in spe-
cial terms; that bill contained provision
levying a duty of 10 cents a ton on coal,
and the senator says he feels bound "to
stand by the authorized expressions of his
party until they are rescinded."
We submit that this is unworthy of
Senator VOORHEES,. The St. Louis plat
form did not indorse the Mills bill. After
the platform was adopted Mr.. ScoTT in
troduced a resolution that was unani-
mously adopted recIting ''that this con-
vention indorse and recommend for early
passage the bill for the reduction of the
revenue now pending in the house of rep
resentatives According TO Sena-
tor VooRHEEs' logic, this declaration
commits every democrat in the country
TO stand, for the next four years, for the
Mills bill cerJatim ct Eteratila. He is
bound, under this declaration, to oppose
any increase of the free list above the
free list OF the Mills bill; or reduction Of
any duty below the point fixed by that
measure, or the change of word or syl-
Liable or letter in any Of its provisions. \
democrat must, according to Senator VooR-
HE'S logic, be for just 40 per cent tax
no more and no Lesson cotton cloth !;
for Just cents per pound-no more and
no Lesson ground mustard; for just 10
cents per cubic foot-no more and no less
ON sawed marble. until another demo-
cratic convention meets, nearly four years
hence, and issues new instructions. This
is absurd, but it is what Senator VooR-
HE'S contention implies
What the St. Louis convention declared
for was a principle, not schedule. 1t in
dorsed the Mills bill as a practical measure
OF tax reform, not as a perfect or final bill.
No democrat everso considered it; like all
such measures. it was the result of conces-
sion and compromise. It's free list was too
short and many of the duties it imposed
were too high. But it was an intelligent
and honest attempt to tighten the burdens
of the people, and as such the st. Louis
convention recommended its passage.
That convention. however, said at the
same time "All unnecessary taxation is I'M
just taxation" ut is repugnant to the
creed OF democracy that by such taxation
the cost Of the necessaries of lifeshould be
unjustifiably increased to all our people; !"
'the interests of the people are be
trayed when, by unnecessary taxation,
trusts and combines are permitted to exist,
which, while unduly enriching the few
that combine, rob the body OF our citi-
zens by depriving them OF the benefit
of natural competition"
II Senator VOORHEES, and Senator TUR-
PIE and every othe. democratic senator
and representative will shape their course
10 conform to these declarations of sound
principle, and not bother their heads
about the details of the Mills bill, they
will be sustained by every genuine demo
crat IN the United States.
Astothe 2,500coal miners in Clay county,
we know, and Senator VOORHEES, knows,
and, we are glad to say, majority of the
miners themselves know, that they are
not benefited to the extent OF a single pen
ny, and never have been. BY the seventy
fve-cent duty on coal. That has all gone to
their employers, who, by virtue of the
"protection" it gives them have been
enabled to form one OF the very
combines or trusts denounced by
the st. Louis platform; who live in