The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-03-16
DINGLEY REPLIES.
a Feeble Attempt to Defend the Iniqu'ties
of the Tariff

a Feeble Attempt &c Defend the Iniqu'ties
of the Tariff
Mr.. Dingley Me opened the debate on
behalf OF the republican side in opposition
to the democratic tariff bills. lie said:
If the gentleman from Tennessee represents
in his speech and his recent North American
article the views and purposes of the demo-
cratic party, and have no doubt he does, then
the three sporadic bills reported by the demo-
cratic majority of the ways and means commit
tee, and now before the committee Gs the tariff
reform scheme of q democratic house contain
ing 40 democratic majority, afford the most
striking exhibition OF letting 81 dare not" be-
fore a presidential election wait on 81 would"
after the election that 1t has ever been my fort
une to observe in the political history or this
country. The gentleman from Tennessee con-
demns the Mckinley tariff enacted by the re-
publican party as presenting a complete plan OF
protection and condemns all protective duties as
"class legislation robbery, a wall OF IRE" to
destroy foreign trade and q measure which is
springing ruin upon the country. And he an
uounces-just as he and his democratic assO-
oiates did before the election OF 1890, at the
time the new tariff was fTamed-thRt the mis-
sion OF the democratic party is TO sweep every
line and word OF the ''unholy tariff" from the
statute book and substitute measure OF tariff
reform" from which shall be eliminated all
"class legislation" all robbery" all prOtec-
ton. The voters who were deceived and per-
suaded to accept democratic promises IN New
England that the democratic scheme of tariff
reform looked TO the relief of manufacturers
suffering for want OF free coal, iron ore
and free pig iron with sly intima-
ton that the manufactured articles
would be undisturbed are anxIously
awaiting the redemption of these pledges by
this democratic house. The voters in West
Virginia, Virginia and other coal and iron pro-
ducing states, who were told that tile DEM
l.. g * ~.r.1A .ual
and iron and pig iron undisturbed, and
would severely cut the duties on eastern man.
ufGctured products, are beginning 20 ask for
the redemption of pledges made 10 them. And
those western and southern farmers whose
votes were captured by the assurance that the
democratic plan of tariff reform contemplated
n general overturn OF the Mckinley tfrid aud
protection, are becoming uneasy at the nom
fuifllment OF the pledges made TO them.
In this situation, with the republican policy
fully and clearly set forth in the existing law,
with the representative of the great democratic
majority in this house repeating his old de-
nunciaticns Of the enormlties of the Mckinley
tariF, what do the democratic majority OF the
ways and means committee propose as the DEM
ocratic plan OF tariff retorml % To place
binding Irvine on the free list; CD TO place ca
the free list bagging for cotton and hoop iron
when manufactured into cotton ties, and all
machinery for the manufacture Of cotton bag
ging; (3) 10 place on the free list the farmers
wool and abolish so much OF the duty on cloth
which is for the benefit Of the farmers as to
leave an average ad valorem duty of 80 per
cent. to protect the manufactures.
Mr.. Dingley defended the Mckinley act
eloquently and at length argued that the
three bills proposed by the democratic
majority of the WAYS and means could
result in nothing but injury to the farmer.
The free wool bill, he said, proposed free
trade for the most universal product OF
the farm and continued protection for the
manufacturer of wool. II would certainly
reduce the price and destroy the wool
industry.
Continuing, Mr.. Dingley said:
Every evil prediction relating to the ncKin-
ley tariff has been disproyed by the march Of
events Every prediction OF its benefits las
been made good. Protection is more than JUS
tilted. The policy which has done so much TO
make this country the largest agricultural, the
largest manufacturing, the largest mining and
the most prosperous country on the face of the
earth is here 10 stay. GGreat appiause.l