Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-15
ONLY A PReTrNsE OF DEBATE.

- OkD60a3kOo
Csapsign Purpssss.
On Wednesday, March ., the tariff
debate opened in tho ho1se of represeo-
tatives. From tho day On which II was
first announced that IN immense Free
trade majosi&y had been elected to that
body IN November. 1890, the star Of
tariff reform" has waned The voters
who, worked up to the desired degree Of
prejudice against the existing law by
tho infamous "KcKinley prices" con-
spiracy, sent tho Frse-traders TO oon-
gress, supposed, Of course, that the days
Of the Mckinley law were Numbered.
They have since been waiting for their
representatives to make their promises
good. But - time went by it became
ever palmer and palmer that the Demo
cratic majority bad become frightened
1t the reaction in favor Of the new tariff
which set in as soon as the people dis
covered how shanelessly reform" ora
tors and papers had lied to them. The
majority began to look around for some
means Of graceful retreat from the ad-
vsnced Free-trads position they neces-
EARLY occupied As result Of the prom
inence Of the tariff in the campaign Of
1890. The signal for retreat was sound
cd in the Free-trsde press, which sud
denly stopped talking about Mckinley
prices" and began chronioling-as in il
capacity Of news purveyor it must do
the events accompanying the tide Of
prosperity which set In after the new
law became operative and has since con-
tinucd to rise concurrently with the de-
cline in Free-tradeu' hopes.
The first effort to get undcr cover was
made when that representative psr excel
lence of Frce-trade "roform,- Roger Q.
Mills. was turned down and Judge
Crisp elected speaker Of the house. Then
Mr.. Springer. Of Illinois. was appointed
chairman Of it's ways and means COM
mittee, who completed the mask for his
party BY formulating the piecemesl plan
of tariff smashing In preference 70 the
proposition for . general revision of the
tariff. On the first of the piecemeal
bills, the free wool bill, in the absence
Of Mr.. Springer, who was i'll. Mr.. Nc
Nillin. OF Tennessee. opened the debate.
His speech was reckless, dishonest and
demagogic to degree seldom attained
In congress. As the voice Of the ways
and means committee, representing the
majority, il was fitting pronuncia-
mento Of the spirit which pervades that
majority, which would probably be q
minority bat for the most stupendous
campaign OF lying on record.
The current debate was insugursted
for oratory only. The free wool bill or
any other Free-trsde hall cannot become
q law. 1t viii. however. serve the pur-
pose Of pinning the enemies Of Protec-
ton down 10 somethine definite ss to
their intentions in regard TO the tariff.
But their policy is one Of deception
They will conceal their ultimate pur-
pose IS much and as long as possible.
They would avoid snr discussion Of tns
subject hut that they fear their ceassatu-
ents woald not brook such fragrant
breach Of faith after ali the b<llicons
threats against "HcKinleyisrn- made
before electaon. They are playing o lo~-
ing game They have no heart in their
sntitariT crusade and can safely tp eft
IN the hands Of Mr. Reed and his little
hand Of valiant Prosectionisss