The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-24
GERMAN ATTACKS CLEVELAND.
The Maryland Senator'S Strong
Speech on the Tariff Bill.
The Action of the. Executive. In Writing
His Letter to Chairman Wilson At
Observation-Disclosures OF the Finance Com
mittee Explain Their Portion on the
Tariff Question.

years mas tne senate cham Der, rich as
1t is In historic "reminiscences, Witnessed
more stirring spectacle than that
which took place there to-day. The
knowledge that Senator German was to
take up the gauntlet thrown down by
Presid dent Cleveland at the feet Of the
Democratic Senators attracted to the
capitol large part of the visitors and
and people Of leisure who delight in
combats Of political gladiators.
German was in his best fighting trim.
Never did he acquit himself of a task
in connection with his Senatorial duties
in manner so calculated to win praise
for himself. Without note or memo
randum to refer to, or to refresh his
momory, he held the floor for nearly
three hours, exhibiting powers of
oratory which few even of his warmest
political admirers would have given
him credit for.
For all that time he WAS the central
figure on which every eye in the i'm
mense assemblsge of spectators and
Senators was fixed, and to whose words
every ear was turned in closest atten-
ton. He accused the President OF in
gratitude to the men who had stood by
campaign, and who had given their
time and labor and wealth to secure his
second election (referring In this con-
nection to Senator Brice, of OHIO;
especially, and asserted that the con-
ference BILL as prepared by Senators
Jones, Of Arkansas, and Vest, and as
finally passed by the Senate. had been
submitted on several occasions to the
Secretary OF the Treasury and to the
President, and had been approved by
both of them; and it was not until the
| publication Of the Wilson letter that the
hostility Of the President to the Senate
bill had been known or suspected.
German Scores Cleveland.
After the expiration OF the prelimi-
nary routine business at 1929, Senator
Voorhees, called up the conference upon
| the tariff bill. Then the storm broke.
| German Immediately arose.
He began by saying that he hoped he
| appreciated the gravity OF the situation.
| Ordin arily the situation would BIO easy
of solution. There would ordinarily be
no difference of opinion about sending
| the bill to conference, where the differ
ences between tho two houses could be
! adjusted. He drew graphic picture of
| the anxiety with which the country
awaited the fate of the bill, the idle
|
unemployed.
| Further suspense was neither to tho
best interests of the country nor to the
| Democratic party. He hoped that the
| Senators would meet the situation as
became patriotic men and duty bound
| Democrats. 1t was idle for him, he
said, to add anything to what had been
said on Friday last by the Senator from
New Jersey. He paid high tribute to
Vest, Jones, Voorhees, and Harris-those
brave men whose laborious work had at
last accomplished the feat OF adjusting
differences and had made the passage OF
any bill possible.
| Then, in dra N attic tones, he delivered
his defiance. The infamous calumnies
heaped upon the Democrats of the Sen
ate forced from his lips, he said plain,
unvarnished statement of tho facts. He
| would make it with malice toward none,
| but he would look his colleagues and
the American people in tho eye and tell
| the truth.
Upon the demands Of patriotism
! 4he Democrats of the Senate had
most difficult work to do to save the
country and keep their party in power,
| when suddenly in the midst OF the
struggle came the Presidents letter
ct was the most uncalled for, the most
munication,' said he in bitter tones,
THAT ever came from President OF the
| United States. 1t placed this body in
position where it's members must see to
it that the dignity and honor OF this
chamber must be preserved.
at places me-" said German, sin a
position where must tell the story as
it occurred. The limit Of endurance
has been reached"
German then proceeded to detail tho
history OF the tariff bill after 1t reached
the Senate and the manner in which, to
meet the obligations and secure the
support OF certain disaifected Demo
Gratis, the changes had been agreed
upon. He stated emphatically that
during the progress of this work Vest
and Jones had frequent conferences
| with Secretary Carlisle and often times
with Cleveland himself. No material
sacrifice OF principle was made. The re-
| suit was, as he had declared on pre-
vious occasion, q Democratic measure
which, in his opinion, led toward the
radical tariff reform sentiment and
which he thought would receive the
support Of Democratic House, Senate
and President.
He believed then, as he believed now,
| that he had authority for that state
| ment. He charged directly that every
ono Of the Senate amendments had been
| seen by Secretary Carlisle and scanned
by him before they were agreed upon.
He drew from his desk and had read an
interview with Secretary Carlisle on
April 30, in which the Secretary OF the
Treasury gave the Senate bill his sweep.
ing Endorsement. That interview said
q n lnfr hn hnr IL III TO-