The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-06-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent,

From our Regular Correspondent.)
Washington, d. c. June %, 1890.
What has become of the principle of
protection 80 prominent in the Chicago
platform of 1881
The hardest blow yet received by
the Tariff, and the ring, heretofore the
sole end has Just been delivered by the
President. He has had his occasion to
be seriously provoked by the manner
in which his suggestions were tabled
during the present session, by both
Houses of Congress.
In fact, the old Republican Ship is
at sea, and in aheavy gale OF wind. She
has drifted amongst dangerous rocks
that threaten her with destruction.
The Pilot has ordered ''hard port"
and the g. o. p. is now drifting before
the wind, directly out of the course
that it has pursued "from such time
that the memory of man runneth not
to the contrary.
The constitution authorizes and en-
courages the President to frequently
offer advice to Congress. But the
tariff aud silver questions were so oc-
cult, aud the intrcacies and intere sts
of his political position so great aud
various that the President chose to re-
frain from any public expression on
the subjects. Nevertheless he managed
to have his exact ideas on both questions
conveyed to the prominent republican
members. But, in spite of that eau
ton, his own party has made the pres
ent administration appear ridiculous
and contemplate.
When that body of illustrious and
conservative statesmen in the Senate
flew off on a wild tangent, and depart
ing from every sound principle of pol
itical economy passed the silver Bill,
the ill-tidings Of its action nearly took
away Harrison's breath. He cert
ainly deserves forgiveness, blue-blood-
ed Presbyterian though he is, if he
made some remarks emphatic enough
to bring a blush to the cheeks of Mr..
Wanamsker.
. As the matter no stands, few
men who own silver mines in the West
propose to arrange the whole busin ,ss
of the country for their personal bene-
fit. 1t is natural that they would want
a steady market tor their product.
The bill, which they have just succeed
ed in passing through the Senate,
makes the government their regular Gus
toner, which is obliged to pay them
an exorbitant price for their ore-a
price it would not command in the
market.
The President has been pricked to
heroic measures to recover from the
position it has held so long, to Free
Trade. But to make the journey east
er, as the first stage the President pro.
poses to extend commercial liberty
only to countries of the Western-hemis
here.
The document, which was sent to
Congress through the medium of tue
Secretary of State, is very long and
with it was tran 'mitted report of thu
Pan-American Congress, recommend
ing treaties of reciprocity with Ameri
can countries.
The increase of the duty on wool is
protested against restrictive trade
and utterly useless and unnecessary
The Mckinley tariff bill is sternly at
tackled; generally, and in detail. Th'
Finance committee of the state acknow
lodges that personal assault has beer
made upon it by the President and
Secretary of State.
An amendment to the tariff bill was
offered, and introduced in the Senate
by Mr.. Hale of Maine, the intimat'
friend of the Secretary.
1t provided that the ports of thu
United State shall be declared free ant
open TO the products of any country o
America, whenever such country shsl
admit free bread .stuffs, povisions, ant
other food products, petroleum ant
other articles from the United States.
The message declares that absolute
freedom of trade with the countries O
America "would leap to the opening 0
new and profitable markets for tn
products of which we have 80 large
surplus, and thus invigorate ever.
branch of agricultural and mechanica
industries"
1t was urged that to take the dut
off sugar and wool would give tn
South American countries an advant
age over the United States, in CONNER
ce; but it was recommended that tn
ports be left absolutely free to a
American countries with which treatie
of reciprocity were made
The republican senators are strain
ing themselves in an effort to pass tn
federal election law, that it may be
come operative before the fall elections
Mr.. Lodge has reported the bill, draft
ed in pursuance of instructions fror
the republican caucus. The republica
members say that they will allow tn
democrats about thirty days for debat
and fi!abustering; if they are SO inclir
ed; but at the end of that period, col
sidering the urgency of prompt actio
on their part discussion will be cut o
and the bill passed.