The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-21

AffNN tAtk nfnoAe ltifQt ll0ll 40 .tff'Na 80
ments placing coal and iron ore on the
duuable list Mr.. Hhls opening Wurda
We're. Theory as well rs COndluOh now
confronts US lie paused, and laush
ran around the galleries. When u @ @hau
been stled By the gavel. MI I'm pro
ceeded: The theory Of the Deinocialic
party Is that IN the enactment OF iailii
legislation free raw materials shOuIu ~
ways be an essential and conspicuous
element.
1T Is 70 our credit that those things
on which the Industrial prosperity anu
progress Of our country so much depends
the materials which enter into our manu-
faCturcS. should be freed from the DuI-
den OF tariff taxation. The best interests
of the manufaC turegs as " ell aS the con-
sumers Of the land demand the recoshI-
tiOn of this wise discrimination. are
committed 10 this side OF the Qu,.uOn,
and we cannot retreat. and We cannot re-
tract. We are hOnOraDly bound 10 redeem
cur prOfessiO and our promises. justice.
good faith, and a decent regard Tor pubic
sentiment all require this course.
Until recently | had supposed thal
there was no dispute upOn this question OF
principle, but that every Democrat worthy
az the name was willing TO cohccde thal
if there was one thing which every Demo-
Crat was committed 10, il was TO doc
trine of free raw materials. Not simply
free raw materials as some now IN
geniOnsly contend. but absolutely free
raw materials. l repeat that We cannot
escape our record upon this subject, even
81 We are disposed TO DO so.
The true and honest construction OF
every Democratic national platform Tor
twelve years past irreVocably commits us
10 this just ana reasonable principle. 1t
is said by some In justification, or eN-
cuse for their present action, that the
Presidents letter of acceptance IN lNz
modified the extreme demands of our
platform. Ii Is true that some portions
Of his letter may tend to bear that CON
struction. 1t was not that bold, ringing
and explicit declaration In favor OIL the
platform which his party had dlsht
10 expect. but was regarded 10y many as
timil, cautious and conservative. but
whether this criticism Is, or Is not Wen
he had 40 power or authority
10 change or alter one line, or
sentence, or provision OF the ndtlohai
platform. which had been deliberately
adopted in national conNehtloh quly a.
eembled. No President can be above ms
party, no President can Mct9te 10 ms
party: no President can change his party >
platform
ENDORSES CLKvELANDs UTTEKAHcEs.
But no matter what idea it may be
claimed was intended 10 be conveyed in
his letter Of acceptance In mitigation or
modification of the platform, there can De
no doubt as 10 the Presidents S pOslllOh
at this time upon this essential principle
of free raw materials. Let me read
from that remarkable letter or the lItSi-
dents, which was yesterday submitted
20 the House Of Representatives. IL tA-
presses better than l can hope TO 90 tne
true sound. and logical position OF the
Democratic party upon this question.
Mr.. Hi here quoted from the IFcsl-
dents letter that part which says
"One topic viii be submitted 10 the CON
ference which embodies Democratic prlh-
ciples So directly that IL cannot be com
promised. We have In our platforms ana
in every way possible declared In favor
% tor ia
We have again and again promised that
this should be accorded to our people
and our manufacturers as soon as the
Democratic party was invested with the
power TO determine the tarH pohcy or
the country. The party now mas tndt
power. We are as certain to-day as we
have ever been OF the great benefit that
would accrue 10 the country from the
Inauguration OF this policy. and nothing
has occurred 20 release us from our obll-
cation TO secure this advantage to our
people It must be admitted that no
tariff measure can accord with Demo
cratic principles and promises, or bear
a genuine Democratic badge, that does
not provide for free raw materials In
the circumstances II may Well excite our
wonder that Democrats are %lllng 10
depart from this. the most Democratic
OF all tariff principles, and that the IN
consistent absurdity OF such a proposed
departure should be emphasized ny the
suggestion that the wool Of the FARMER De
nut on the free list ana the protection OF
tariff taxation be placed around the IRON
ore and coal of corporations ana capltai-
lists How can we face the people dItci
iudulgng in such outrageous dl5crimlna-
tjons and violations OF principle!
1T is quite apparent that this question
of free raw material does not admit OF
adjustment on any middle GrOunds sihce
their subiectiOn 10 any rate OF taIlH taxa
fjon great or small, is alike NioiatlNe OF
Democratic principle and Democratic good
NIr. Hill then proceeded:
Mr. President, l approve every "oIu
that / have here quoted. II Is an honest
and manly statement Of the true altl-
nIde which the party should assume IN
this crisis. -,
nronrlety or wisdom OF the pronunciation
Of This letter at this peculiar time II
may have been indiscreet' II may oper-
ATE as a fire brand to spread the r1me5
Of discord already Nndled among party
friends honestly differing, as am as
uosed 10 concede. upon questions OF
public and party policy. ii may WIDEN
he breach already existing In the SEN
ate and in that view II may be regarded
as Unfortunate and ill-advised. II was 4
time for diplomacy, stdtesHldhaIip' anu
conciliation rather than recriminaton,
denunciatiOn, and arraiGnmcnt but
aside from the question Of rs mere eA-
pcdiency / am here to defend the IItSi-
dents letter in so far as II demands that
tbe party shall not be led astray INTO
the violation of Democratic piedseS anu
purposes
THY PRESIDENT IA RIGHT.
.1rnon the question Of free raw mater
tails me President IS right and you know
IL. You cannot answer has ,argulnen n Is.
You cannot satisfactorily dispute his
nropositions You cannt doubt his SIN
cerity and patriotism. You must yield
in the end TO his views. You cannot
sand up against the sentiment OF the
Great Democratic masses OF the couh-
nv which will rally around the President
in his contest with you upon thls paItlcu-
lar branch of the subject e
a,rbe time TO yield Is now, before
there is further humiliation, embarrass-
ment and discord.' ~
Having disposed OF the theory' Nll, MI
I4iii nroceeded TO discuss the condlu0n
,,ihicb now confronts the party. lie heid
,hat the Presidents letter foreShauoWed
y n,eto of the Senate bill, and he added
maj the President Is right-there Is 10
,niddte ground He then proceeded ,
..if me President in his wisdom hdd
soon fiji while the debate was progress
Ing I'm the Senate. 10 have al9eI NY
efforts to secure adhesion 10 'ils IN ~
ciple. by expressing MS views IN . I%n1a "a
thereof In some proper ana lesluhate
way, | should have been grained, anu II
uno1estionably would have been OF prac-
tical benefit to the cause. / rejoice lhdt
he has expressed them even now, al
though | am not required TO defend the
manner and form of the presentation,
even If they required detence' Whlch
do not assume.
THE SUGAR TARIFF.
81 respectfully differ from the Presi-
dent In his assumption that a tax on
sugar is necessary at this time. con
ceding for the purpose OF argument that
on Income tax Is 10 be retained. Clearly
Roth are not needed for any legitimate
Dnrpose Of the Treasury. 1ne fact has
bsen demonstrated over and over again
during this debate. The President speaks
of the Democratic people and policy
o,hich lead to the taxation of sugar
He asserts that In the taxation Of sugar
.yua are in no danger Of running counter