The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-10
WHAT DOES 1T ALL MEAN q?


The Baltimore Sun is very earnest
Democratic journal. and its Washington
correspondent is one of the most enIight-
ened journalists in this country. He is
also an earnest Democrat. But both the
editorials and the Washington correspond
ent of the Sun preach in every issue now
Democracy which is simply astounding
TO u.s. and which keeps us in constant
state of total bewilderment. Its Washing
ton correspondent writes thus of the eau
Gus:
II the insignificant number Of senatorial
conservatives. who have prevented me
passage by the Senate Of a Democratic
tariff bill, had any hope that the caucus
OF Democratic members of the House OF
Representatives would demonstrate a
Willingness to surrender principle for the
sake Of legislation they must be eXpe-
riencing severe disappointment tonight.
THE caucus this afternoon not only
evinced a decided sentiment in favor of
the House bin. but by its failure TO adopt
any of the propositions made ii pract-
cally indorsed the course the House con-
ferees have assumed and left the settle
ment Of the tarin dispute entirely to
Chairman Wilson and his three associates
upon the conference committee.
There can be no question now that the
sentiment OF the House of Representatives
is Overwhelmingly in favor of continued
resistance to the unjust and undemocratic
demands of the Senate; there can be no
question that the course Of the Senate in
weakly consenting TO the Gorman-Brice
compromise measure is condemned by
the Democratic representatives In the
House, who know and are influenced by
the desires of their constituents, ana
there can be little question that the
House win stand firmly by the principles
OF the party until public sentiment find
ing expression in an overwhelming de
nunciation of the Senate bill, shall force
the Senate to recede from its untenabe
position and adopt a measure worthy OF
the party the people have put In control
of the Government This much was
proved by the caucus this afternoon.
The inevitable conclusion is. therefore.
that the position OF the House has been
greatly strengthened by to-day's develop
ments. and that only n continuation OF
the fight is required to force the Senate
10 accept genuine tariff-reform measure.
When we read statements Of this sort
coming from a distinguished Democrat
and receiving the appreciation of lead
ing Democratic journal we are compelled
10 exclaim again, as we did yesterday. IN
the classic language Of the House. where
are we at?' Democrats tell us that IL we
consent TO have Il reasonable revenue tax
imposed on coal and iron ore imported
pie" we yield TO an unjust and I'M
democratic demand" in refusing TO allow
such tax We stand firmly By the prin-
ciples of the party" and that if we force
the Senate TO abandon its effort TO i'm
pose Il reasonable revenue tax upon I'M
ported coal and iron ore We force il TO
accept a genuine tariff reform measure"
Truly something is out Of gear Either
fhe baltimore Sun and its correspondent
fail to understand Democracy or The
Times does. That is certain. The Times
has been always taught TO understand
that the foundation-stone Of Democracy
was that all men should stand upon a
footlng OF perfect equality before the
laws, ana that the laws should favor
none and bear hardly upon none II TINS
is, In fact the test of Democracy. then
II cannot be surrender of principle"
and an unjust and undemocratic de-
mand' 70 consent 10 the Senate imposing
reasonable tax for revenue upon the
coal and iron ore imported into this coun-
try. Ii would be favoring one industry
and unduly burdenlng another to impose
taxes upon some imports and allow coal
ana iron ore TO come In free
This U.s. 10 our mind. so plain that we
are doubtful OF the sincerity OF those who
30 persistently insist that Democracy oa.
mands free coal and iron ore" We n,a
ourselves compelled TO think either mat
Their mental faculties are SO obtuse maj
'hey are unable 10 understand the plainest
propositions. or else that they have soma
OBJECT TO accomplish other than thai OF
advancing ana establishing Democratic
principles as the rule Of the land
we confess that the state of the case
IN washington now is one which arouses
the most serious suspicious in our mind
II Is now plain that the entire hitch Is
over eosl and iron ore. though great ef-
Forts have been made 10 create the i'm