Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-09

the administration, and gratiucation en-
sued When It's abandonment or failure was
reluctantly announced, Influenced largely
Dy an aroused public sentiment
Ihat unfortunate contemplated policy
was a blunder, and blunder is some
times worse than a crime 1t was how
ever, the natural consequences. which might
well have been anticipated from the other
mistake In placing the Department of
State IN charge OF republican statesman,
distinguished and estimable though he
may be, whose public services have always
oeen Identified In opposition to the demo-
cratic party. who was without sympathy
1or lts traditions and purposes and whose
political convictions upon the disputed puh-
lie questions of the day, If changed at all.
are carefully concealed
1t is to be regretted that the President
should not have been able to find in his own
party some safe and honored statesman in
whom he and his party could have placed
confidence. one of democratic instincts and
training, whose management of foreign af-
fairs would have reflected credit upon the
country. and would have avoided the pro-
mitigation Of that un-American policy-a
departure from democratic precedents-
which was sought to be forced upon an un-
wiling people. In this view of the situa-
ton our opponents must accept some share
OF the responsibility for the blunders COM
mitted in our foreign affairs.
In other respects the present administra-
uon or our government affords scant
grounds for just criticism"
He spoke of the repeal of the federal cleo
tons law as fulfillment of the party's
pledges and triumph for the just doctrine
OF states rights and Endorsed the repeal of
the Sherman law.
As to Tariff Reform.
Coming then to the main question-tariff
reform-he said that revision should be ap-
preached with circumspection, and with a
realizing sense Of the changed conditions
of the country since 1887 and 1890.
An extreme reduction of tariff duties at
a time when the treasury was swollen with
surplus of a hundred million dollars, when
the country was reasonably prosperous
when all our industries were in motion and
all our workingmen were employed, assum-
ed different aspect and presented diff
ferent question when proposed now with a
large and growing treasury deficit instead
OF a surplus staring US in the face. with our
Industries paralyzed, our manufactures
closed, our workingmen idle and following
upon the heels of one of the most disastrous
financial panics in our history.
What was safe and prudent and wise
then, 1t would be criminal folly to attempt
now.
The present was no time for partisanship
and democrats and republicans alike should
strive to solve existing problems in a spirit
of broad patriotism.
I'm the face Of the prostration of private
ind ust tries" he continued and in the pres
ence of such a paralysis of all general busi-
ness as the treasury deficit attests and pro-
longs, this bill as framed by its authors
and as passed by the House sought to
double the deficit by discarding customs
! revenue and to fill the void with an income
tax"
The rest of his speech was given up to the
income tax question: and his opening words
defined his position in unequivocal and
forceful language.
Against the Income Tax.
Against such scheme" he said, "un-
necessary, ill-timed and mischievous-sud-
denly sprung upon the country in the hour
of its distress, un-democratic in it's nature
and socialistic in its tendencies-I enter the
protest of the people of the state of New
York. They utterly dissent from any pro-
posal to get revenue for the general govern
B ment by taxing incomes. Their dissent is
practically unanimous and altogether i'm
placabe."
He intimated that the tariff bill was con-
structed on lines laid down by the adminis-
tration: that IT was a somewhat anomalous
state of affairs when the President should
be able to give Congress information as to
what had occurred in a committee of the
House, and said that in these latter days
the distinctions between the functions and
prerogatives of the executive department On
the one hand and the Legislative department
Oh the other do not seem to be always OBJ
served. The truth is that the first informa-
ton which Congress had of the alleged de-
tails of the proposed bill was in the message
itself.
But the strangest part of the unprecedent-
ed proceeding was that, in fact. at the very
date of the message, to wit, December L.
1893, neither the full committee Of ways
and means nor the democratic members
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