New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-15
NJBBLTNG.

Between two policies which presented uhem-
selves erst of what was described with uncoh-
scious humor as the logic of the situation al
the oDeninp of Congress, the one-hundred-and-
fifty majority in that body adopted one 1hey
had 70 make their choice, and they took the
ono which whatever else may be said of it, was
in accordance with the traditions of the party
and the instincts of its leaders. 1t was the pol
icy of procrastinatiOn OF evasion, OF trIckery OF
doubledealing and deceit. When they turned
down Mr.. Mills they said in simplest, plalnest
nbrase. eve have used the Free-TIade ISSUE
TO its fullest extent. There are people IN our
Marty who do not believe in it, whom we musO
hold and must not offend. 1t is better to keep
them than to take the chances Of driving them
off by adOpting square and OutspOken p0hcy."
So they turned down Mr.. Mills and his Mug
wump support and adopted the other line OF con-
duct. The significance of the defeat OF Mr..
Mills resides in the fact that 1t sent to back seats
everybody in the hundred and fifty majority
Congress. and the party that elected it, who had
notion that the tariff question was 1--we
issue. upon which it was worth while to make
fight.
There was a kick; momenary spaSnodc
kick. Mr.. Mills kicked himself back to texas,
and Messrs. Sherman Iloar and George FREQ
Williams Of Massachusetts, underwent a muSu-
| lar contraction which prevented their Young lor
Speaker on account of certain campaign lemnS-
cences which had escaped them while the can
vass was going on. All that has passed All
the Mills men with the exception OF NILS MN
self. who has apparently entered upon the en-
joyment of a permanent sulk, have 1aeh mo
line with the gentlemen who when thls Noh-
gress opened antagonzed outspoken Free Trade
in the person of Mr.. Mills antagonzed Grover
Cleveland as the foremost exponent oil the rec
Trade idea, and put at the head OF the party
Mr.. Crisp, as the representative OF supplcness'
| fexibility, and nothing in particular The party
| has changed front since the northumberland
ffty-majority Congress was elected. Then 1t
was Anti-Tariff with 4 whOOp and hurIah'
! Now it is-what? The election CT Crisp indl-
Gated it; the appointment of Springer at the head
| Of Wavs and Means demonstrated il the recent
| announcement of the purpose OF the Mugwlimp
| Contingent under the lead Of Mr. sherman lloar
| emphasizes it, 1t is-nOt the party OF repeal but
the party of small peCing at details OF nlbbIng.
Mr.. Springer has announced with the frank
ness Of loose hung tongue that this Congress
will do nothing about the tariff except peck
away at what are thought to be the Vulnerable
| uoints in the existing law. That is character
| istic and only what was expected when he was
selected for the position of leader. But now
comes in Mr. Sherman Hear as supplement and
annex. Ii is announced that he has plan.
| What is it? Is it the plan Of square hight
err. such as he was supposed to be ? Does he
propose to attack the existing tariff in front?
Not at all Mr. Sherman lloar falls into line
with Springer. Ills proposition is TO have lot
of investigating committees appointed each one
of which shall 60 to work nibbling at the details
Of the bill with view Of finding somewhere
enough of nsufficiency or failure to make cam
! paicn material for the next election. That Is
the whole meaning of Mr.. lloars plan, and 1t Is
expected that the demorazed and di>integrated
Mugwllmp Contingent will reassembe and get
in fighting thin on the poor comfort to be de-
| rived from that sort Of nibbling.
Mr.. Hoar. DO you really want TO know how
the present tariff has affected the industries OF
the country: It's welfare, It's prosperity? You
do not need to have partisan investigating com
mi,tees. going about the country, nibbling at the
details of its operation. Lift mp your eyes.
Lock at a country richer more prosperous, more
attractive and inviting than any on the globe
growing IN wealth, III comfort, IN all things that
make a nation great. This is what stands to-
day in place of all the distress your friends were
p,edicring a wear ago. And this answers all
| your dennnciaion Of the tariff and your nibbling
| at It's details.