Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-16
npron Our Regular correspOndentl


election that tho New England people
should have accepted the Mckinley bill
as a measure that was framed IN the IN
terest of the whole country, and about
the best compromise possible to have
been reached in framing such measure.
But there is another side to the question
and the New England manufacturers OF
steel and iron goods as long ago as Iast
July asked for some concessions and
several at least seemed fair enough, but
their demands were not needed.
ANEW ENGLAND PETITION.
Senator Hale arose last summer in his
place and presented to the digniied and
august body Of which he is prominent
member one OF the most positive and
comprehensive petitions that has ever
been offered in the Senate. 1t was q
plendidly-worded document, and the
signatures embraced more than five hun
bred prominent firms in the New Eng
land States. They went on TO declare
that it was absolutely necessary to the fu-
ture prosperity Of their interests for Con-
gress to give them if not free coal and
coke, then lower duties, and to reduce
greatly the tariff duties on pig aud scrap
iron. They pointed out in strong language
why they ought to have these conces-
sions, and called attention to the fact
that unless relief of this kind was afford
ed it would be impossible forthoir estab-
lishments to successfully do business.
Mr.. Hale presented the bulky petition to
the Senate without comment. He did
not say that the New England people
ought or ought not to he favored. He
merely handed in their request, and Tor
all the public knows made no special
effort to obtain for these firms what they
asked for
THEY WE'RE IGNORED.
The petition was sent to the commit
tee-room and there ii remained. and the
men who got up the tariff bill almost
solely in the interest OF Pennsylvania
and Ohio completely ignored the iron
aud steel manufacturers OF the Now Eng
land States. When 1t was proposed to
take hides from the free list and enter
that article upon the dutiable list there
was such howl from Massachusetts, that
Congressman Lodge and others had to
retreat. But they apparently did not
think the other fellows amounted 10
ANYTHING. Since the election, however,
the New England congressman have
had a demonstration OF the anger OF the
iron and steel men.
ALMOST FREE TRADE.
Several wears ago Congressman Nc
Kinley during the course Of converse
ton IN the Ebbitt-House lobby made
the significant remark that in less than
ten years the people of New England
would be ready to go to war if they did
not have the advantage Of tariff so low
that it would approach free trade or
about 40 near free trade as Is possible
under our system Of government. he
said at the time that he could
see the change gradually coming
on in that section, and noted the
fact that the leading newspapers OF New
England were rapidly wheeling around
on the tariff question. He stated further
that the New England people had reached
q high state of perfection in the art OF
manufactures and that as manufacturing
advanced in the West and South the
New Englanders would be compelled tc
seek the foreign markets. They were
able to compete with the world, and they
were fast beginning to believe thai
they could carry on business with
out being protected TO any great
extent, lie was careful, however, tC
add that he did not expect any serious
set back to the cause Of protection, fol
he believed that all that was lost TO The
cause in New England would be made NJ
by the gain in sentiment In the Yves
and South. Friends of Mr.. Mckinley
have stated here recently that he did no
want such high tariff bill as that which
was recently passed, but this claim wa
not made until after the people had re
pudiated the bill enacted at the last ses
| sion.
AN OVATION TO BRHCKISBIDGE.
The friends Of Hon. Clifton r. Brock
| inridge, Of Arkansas, are preparing t
give that gentleman an ovation whel
he returns to Washington, and they ar
feeling quite jubilant over the fact tina
he has been triumphantly elected TO
both the long and the short terms. /
will be remembered that the Kepubli
cans turned him out Of his seat, and il
the investigation that was ORDERED
bv the partisan House every effor
was made by the Radicals OF tn
committee to besmirch the higI
character OF Mr.. Breckinridge. Though
they could not find anything that con
nected him or his friends with the assas
sination of John NJ. Clayton, yet by tn
vilest insinuations they sought to Great
the impression that Mr.. BrecBinridg
was indirectly, il not directly, response
BILE for the taking off of this man. Tit
Republicans could not put man in Mr.
Breckinridge's place, inasmuch as Clay
ton was dead, but they brutally turned
him out. 1t was only for brief season
however.
HIS TRIUMPH.
He comes back and one OF the frs
things to be done when Congress meet
again next month will be the swearini
in of the bright young member from Ar
kansas. There viii be a storm OF ap
plause from the Democrats and severa
of the conspirators who literally robbed
Mr.. Breckenridge of his seat will hav,
bitter reflections. He is here for nearl,
three years, but they will retire after tn
4th OF March next. Retribution ha
speedily overtaken them. Lacey o
Iowa was chairman of the snb-commit
tee sent to Arkansas to trump up som,
excuse for ejecting the legally elect
ed member. His people have lef
him at home. Rowell of Illinois
Comstock Of Minnesota, and Green
halge of Massachusetts are also mem
bers Of the present Republican end o
the Elections Committee, who have beer
buried under an avalanche of votes
Troubled in spirit Will they truly b.
when they hear the loud Democratic vel
just after Clifton X Breckenridge il
sworn in again next month. The chances
are that they will come TO the CONCLUSION