The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-16
Embarrassed by TWO Leaders.

The republicans in congress are greatly
embarrassed. Their embarrassment has
been caused by two of their leaders, Mr..
Blaine and Mr.. Quay. A month or so ago
they had about agreed upon their pro-
gramme and were confident Of carrying it
out. The main features Of their programme
were the tariff bill md the force bill. Speaker
Reed, by dsregarding all the rights of the
minority, had put both these bills through
the House in short order, aud the republican
senator's were expected 10 follow the ex-
ample set them by the HOUSE and pass them
without delay.
The first sign Of threatened trouble was
Mr.. Blaine's letter favoring reciprocity. II
demoralized the republican senators be-
cause it was so promptly approved by their
constituents. In all parts Of the country
the reciprocity idea was thought to be
good one. Why, 1t was argued, should this
country give u an annual revenue of
$50, 900, 900 ant admit free of duty the
sugar Of the sugar producing countries UNI
less these countries would agree to admit
free OF duty sucl of our exports as were
needed by their peoplel the So rate has
not yet reached the sugar schedule
Of the tariff bill, but when
it does there is likely to be
a very interesting discussion of 1t. But Mr.
Blaine went further in mis- criticism Of the
tariff bill than 70 object to free sugar with
out reciprocity. He virtually declared that
the bill was more harmful tn IN helpful to
the farmers, because it imposed additional
l. II
them in any way. Such declaration from
the greatest of the republican leaders and
the most prominent of the protectionists
very naturally created feeling of indiffer-
ence among republicans as to the fate of
the tariff bill, aad it encouraged some of
the republican senators to attack it.
While the tariff bill was being attacked
in the house of its friends the pressure in
favor Of the passage of the force bill was
being increased. Although there was no
demand for the bill the republican leaders
regarded its passage as necessary to the con-
tinuance of the Republican party in power.
While its friends we're still hopeful of its
passage Senator Quay, the chairman of the
national republican committee, struck it a
deadly blow by offering reso-
luton which, if adopted, would
prevent its consideration at this
session. This resolution the republican
senatorial caucus has considered and has
not rejected. The probability is that the
caucus will adopt it. If the force bill is
not passed at this session it is safe to as
sumo that it will never be passed.
Mr.. Blaine and Mr.. Quay are severely
criticised by the republican organs, but
they don't care for such criticism. They
know that they have the support of the
great majority of their party. they have
come to the front as the real leaders of
their party. Reid, Hoar, Mckinley,
Spooner and the rest Of those who have
been thinking that they were run
ming their party may scold and
but what can they
do! They have been forced to take back
seats. where they will likely remain dur ing
the rest of the season. In the meantime the
republicans in congress hardly
know what course to pursue The only
ways out of their embarrassing situation
are those, apparently, which have been sug-
ges ed by Mr. Blaine and Mr.. Q lay. These
are the incorporating of reciprocity into the
tariff bill and the abandonment of the
force bill