The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-05-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
A CONFESSION OF WEAKNESS IN AT
TEMPTING TO Birdie FREE
SPEECH.
The Liberal Republicans About to Face
More Than an Empty Treasury
Other Capital Notes
and News.

Special Correspondent:
WASHINGTON, May 19.-No better
evidence could be shown as to the
weakness of the Republicans in the
tariff discussion than is afforded by
the latest movement to check all de-
bate and force a vote at once. The
truth is the Democrats have had their
opponents crowded to the wall, and
they are glad to escape the scathing
review and criticism of their work by
another assumption of arbitrary par
liamentary power, inforcing a final
vote on measure Of great economi-
cal Importance without due and clear
consideration. Although the Demo
Gratis had tight grasp on their politi'
cal Threats, it needed the utterances
of the cratic Ben Butterworth to
complete their generalization. They
had endeavored to choke off the Ohio
man and refused to assign him a
leading place in the debate, although
he is considered one of the
brainiest men on the Republican
side, but the gentleman from Ohio
had something to say and was deter
mined to say it. 1t was, without
doubt, a curious legislative episode to
see leading Republican orator de-
pendent for sympathy and applause
upon his political enemies, while his
own political friends sat around with
misery depicted on their faces. The
Democrats will print this Republican
tariff speech, or rather honest tariff
admissions made by Republican, for
circulation in the next campaign.
AS to the Mckinley bill, it will pass
the house, for the leaders say it must
go through, and the Republicans are
too we'll drilled not to obey the COM
mands of their leaders. That there is
individual dissatisfaction with the
measure, almost in its every line, need
not be said, but personal grievances
and discomfort will all be sunk in the
effort to make record for TIE grand
old party.
The demagogues in the United
State senate of the Blaine stripe have
concluded that the post canteen sys-
tenn in the army must go, because
the enlisted men are there sold light
wines and beer. At the legislative
contest, as is known, the Democratic
senators upheld the catneen system,
not that they had any particular
favor for liquors, but because,
acknowledging the fact that the
soldiers as well as other men will
drink less under restraint than they
would if given full liberty. At the
canteen, too, they got no whisky only
beer and light wines. AS evidence Of
the good sense of the Democratic SEN
ators in this matter, the following let
ter from the commandant of leading
military post has been received
"The canteen has been a success in
every particular. This isolated post
is situated near small town where
only the poorest kind of whisky can
be bought. The canteen has removed
the temptations of town by providing
the men comforts as we'll as light bev-
erages. 1t has done much for the
discipline of the post and the con-
tentment of the enlisted men,"
The Administration is not altogether
pleased with the antics of Mr.. Clark
son, who at the best, it is said, is little
more than head clerk in the post
Office department, although called
first assistant postmaster general.
The gentleman is making himself toe
conspicuous by far, they say, in thrust
ng himself forward as great national
ssue.
But while theyi repudiate the acts
of small man there is no doubt OF
the fact that in what he says he cor
rectly represents their views, although
he has never been commissioned as
the spokesman of that party. AS he
has little to lose he can afford to be
bold in his utterances, while caution
compels his frail superiors to look on
and frown. Meanwhile Clarkson don't
care continental, as he is going out
of the postoffice department anyhow.
and while he remains he is bent upon
putting an official stamp upon the
gell-known Republican doctrine he
lays down, even though the stamp
aforesaid is of diminutive size.
The leaders of the Republicans in
congress now recognize that they are
confronted by condition and not a
theory. The trouble is that with all
that huge surplus in the treasury
which the Democratic administration
left, they have not enough money tc
90 round. One thing must be done
they say, and that is to increase the
pension expenditures by many mil
lions. If the Morrall bill, passed by
the house, is agreed upon, the imme
date annual expenditure, according