New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-26
4 QUESTION OF courage

Certainly the Senate Tariff bill can be killed,
if q few free-trade masters Of the House see
fit Nobody questions their power. The rules
are so plain that the little knot of Free Traders,
six from Southern country districts, and Mr..
Cleyeland's friend Scott, of Pennsylvania, can
dictate absolutely to the remaining 3lS mem
bers of the House. That is not the question.
After all that has been done, can these Free
Traders afford to confess that they dare NOT
let the House vote upon a Republican bill
One free trade newspaper Of great zeal, but
some sense, 1.-The New-York Herald" warns
them that they cannot. If the majority wishes
to vote down the bill, says The Herald" very
we'll it can do that with safety. But if the
majority in the House happens to prefer the
Senate bill to no revenue reduction at all, the
bill ought to pass. And the Free Traders in
tho House will only hurt themselves, if they
acknowledge that the majority in that body
does prefer the Senate BILL and yet by the Same
act they defraud that majority of its right to
vote. This seems to be a remarkably sensible
warning, but have the Democratic leaders in
the House sense enough to appreciate it
Probably, if it were not for personal rivalry
and personal spite. But MIR. Scott took upon
himself the leadership of the party in Penn
sylvania, casting out Mr.. Randall with con-
tumey and it is not exactly easy for MIR. Scott
to see Mr. Randall triumph in the House. Mr..
Mills took the exalted and responsible position
of Premier and led his party into the ditch.
1t is not exactly pleasant for him to lift from
the mire imploring hands to Mr.. Randall to
come and pull him out. These Free Traders
were shooting deserters last August. 1t will
be uncomfortable TO beg the deserters for help.
He eats bad dinner who has spite for his
sauce. The advice of "The Herald" is abom-
inably unpalatable to the Free Traders, but it
is wholesome. The only chance for them, at
this late day, is to get the tariff question out
of the way for some years, by suffering the
majority in the House to pass protective bill
which accords with the recent verdict Of the
people The probabilities are that they will do
nothing so shrewd. Then, at the next session,
they will have the same old issue to face again,
and the same old bill or a stronger and more
perfect one, to which it will be still more diff
cult to make effective objection.
Mr. Mills probably has great faith in
rhetorical and elaborate report, as usual. With
a minimum Of knowledge about the tariff, he
has q maximum of confidence that his argu-
ments must convince Northern men that they
really are ignorant about their own industries
and their own wages. It would be in harmony
with his record if Mr.. Mills should proceed
to compile long argument about the Senate
bill, and then to get it printed, with especial
care not to allow the House to vote for or
against It, But the tail feathers OF the ostrich
are not the less conspicuous because its head
is in the sand. Every voter, who knows enough
to have any reason for his vote, will under
stand perfectly that Mr.. Mills would ask vote
Of the House to sustain him If he dared. I'm
less he does ask a straight vote on the Senate
BILL all will know that he believes an UNI
shackled majority would favor it, He will
certainly canvass the House with care. If
party discipline and fear of the Administration
can whip in the hesitating members he will
beyond question ask the House to vote down
the Senate bill. If he refuses to permit
vote, his refusal will virtually publish the re-
suit Of his canvass.