Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-21
THE TARIFF ISSUE.
The Amended Mckinley Bin Has the
Right OF Way in the Senate.


Right Of Way In the Senate.
TEE ALL-INPoRIAST SUGAR QUESTION: rroB-
ABLE COMPROMISE BKTwrkx THH ERxE sUsAR
MEN AID TIE RECIPROCITY RKryBLIeAss-rnl
POSITION OF TIE PRESIDENT.
In the great tariff struggle inaugurated in
the Senate today bv the recognition of the
right of way Of the Mckinley bill rs amended
the republicans. while divided, are by no means
in any peril OF going fatally to pieces Mr..
Btafne's objection TO unconditional free sugar
has been very frankly aud forcibly stated, and
he has his followers in both houses of Congress,
but the necessity of action on the general sub
Ject of a lowering Of tariff taxes Is so pressing
that an understanding must be reached and
bill passed. The acknowledgment Of this fact,
too. is 30 universal that II would be next to
suicide for any,republican leader in Congress
or ont TO insist ON his own particular views TO
the point of defeating or even seriously mutt
iltinS TIC Dill As IL has been reported by the
Sensle finance committee.
THE ALL-INroRrASr sreaA QUESTION.
The sugar question rs the all-jmportant dues-
ton. When that has been settled the one
threatening obstacle in the path of the repub-
lican party will have been removed And An
important move, promising common ground
upon which the frieRds of free sugar Nithou.
Conditions and those who would admit thar
staple Tree only on the reciprocal terms OF
trade adTocSted by Mr. Blame likely to
meet was tho amendment to the tariff bin pro-
posed by Senator Pierce Of North Dakota on
FRIDAY last The amendment provides that after
one year from the passage OF the bill the Presi-
dent. In his discretion, may direct that the du-
ties on sugar imposed under the laws now in
force be reimpoSed as against any nation or
country :nlling to enter into adequate recip-
rocal relations with the United States regard
ing the agricultural products of the country:
and the President Is directed to pursue such
negotiations may be deemed necessary 10
secure by treaty or otherwise the unrestricted
entry into any snch country of the agricultural
products of the United States"
THE PIERCE AMENDMENT As A COMPROMISE
MEASURE.
his proposition, in the OPINION OF many
conservative men, covers the whole point at
issue between Mr.. Blaine, who insists that the
markets of Cuba and Porto Rico can :or the
admission Of free sugar here be opened free TO
millions of dollars worth Of American products
aud Mr.. Allison and Mr.. Mckinley. who in the
face OF a commanding cry TOR a revision of the
tariff doubt the ACCESSIBILITY of making action
only tentative. Ii the Pierce amendment il
adopted the result will be this: Free sugar viii
be voted, but If Cuba and Porto Rico remain
msensibIe to the benefits conferred on them
American products free. the sugar tax NAV be
re-imposed and the correctness OF the Blaine
position tested. IL Cuba and Porto Rico vaIne
the America market for their sugar as highly
as Mr.. Blaine believes once they have been
permitted to enjoy it free they will make
proper concessions to hold it
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.
Another point that gives consequence to the
Pierce amendment is the widely credited re-
port that it represents the result OF confer
ence between the North Dakota Senator and
the President Gen. Harrison ahd Mr. Pierce
are warEi friends and in close accord on all
political questions The President probably
feh that some suggestions from him in that
way would be timely He looked with favor ON
the general proposition Of free continental
trade, but like Nr. Mckinley eoald ret zee that
the plan urged by Mr.. Blaiae was as far as
sugar was concerned, Immediately feasible.
The President, 1t is suggested is likely 10 de-
velop great deal OF strength in arranging
compromises between party factions. He
comes from close state, where compromises
are often essential to party success and he Is
accredited with having settled in his time. as
the republican leader there, many grave party
divisions
WHAT MIR. BLAINE's FRIENDS SAY
Friends of Mr.. Blaine resent the talk heard
IN some quarters that he has shown a reckless
spirit in urging his reciprocity views on Con-
gress at this time. He has only done, in Their
opinion. what 1T was clearly his duty to do
The Pan-Amerlcan congress had the full sane
ton of the American Congress and of the ceun-
try, and had Mr.. Blaine neglected 10 press at
once one Of the leading propositions considered
and decided by that congress his own good
faith would have been questioned. He could
not, OF course, provide against legitimate par
tisan mterpre tations OF his motives and actions
by his political opponents. but his friends in
sist that his party should not accept such inter-
pretasions atanything more than their partisan
value. Any opposition newspaper. they point
out can at any time nominate him for the
presidency, suspect him of any scheme it
ple2ses, and daily, If 1t choose. demand his
resignation as Secretary of State. Bu. that
does not commit Mr.. Blaine TO nything.
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
There is one feature of the tariff debate that
both parties view with respectful interest. and
that is the appearance in it of the venerable
Senator from Vermont (Mr. MORRILL,. The
tariff bill of thirty years ago was constructed
under his direction and passed in Congress
under his championship. He was a great
apostle OF protection indeed, before either Mr. |
Blaine or Mr.. Mckinney was known to national |
life. The former was at tina: time an obscure |
young Maine editor, while the latter was
shortly TO grid mp his youthful loins for battle
Tie veteran. however, still holds his own even |
with the brilliant company of later day. and
til republicans find much comfort in the fact !
that the man who met the tariff emergency
a third OF q century ago. and has watched the
operations OF the protective system ever since. |
is still welded to it and advocates its oentinua-