The Washington times., 1894-05-24
GORMAN'S STIRRING SPEECH
Democratic Position Outlined by the
Leader of the Majority.
TARIFF BILL WILL SURELY PASS
His Party Must Stand Firm-Republican
Taunts Will Avail Nothing-No Favorit-
ism to Trusts or Class Interests-Bright
Future of the Democracy.


| German and Mr.. Brice have been credited by
the opposition with the joint authorship Of
the compromise" amendments which con-
solidated the Democratic side, and Mr.. Cor
man especially has been subjected to much
criticism both in and out OF the Senate. His
speech yesterday replying in measure TO the
attacks that had been made upon him, ex-
planning the necessity for the compromise
and defining the theory upon which the modi-
fed bill, now before the Senate, was con-
structed. attracted intense interest. The
speech was not devoid OF drastic comment on
the course of the other side. 1t was regarded
as an exceedingly able exposition OF the posi-
tion OF the conservatives.
After stating that tariff reform was near at
hand, and reciting that delay had been neces-
sary to cure the House bill of imperfections,
he said in part:
After twenty years of political progress, OF
positive growth, of constant development,
and of universal enlightenment. the Dem
ocratic party and the American people are
within sight of the promised land. Emanci-
patton is at hand-emancipation from par
tisan oppression. from the greed of classes,
from extortion. from willful extravaganza.
from financial fantasy, from spoils. from re-
strictions upon individual liberty, from iingo-
ism, from all those evils. in brief, which the
Democratic party inherited as n hateful
legacy from three decades of Republican NAL
administration.
1t was difficult, however, to do away with
all this in day. Yet no sooner did the FL
nance Committee begin its work than the cry
OF action was renewed with extraordinary
vigor. and the Democratic Senators were in
formed that any change would be set down as
betrayal of the party's promises" and that
every Senator who showed the least concern
for the interests OF his own state was traitor
to the Union and his party; that the Senate
was no longer coordinate body, but that its
sole duty was to ratify blindly the action OF
the House.
Such was the situation the Democratic
Senators had to meet. and they had met it ''by
the introduction OF Democratic measure OF
tariff reform. which merits, and believe will
receive every Democratic vote in this body,
the Endorsement of Democratic House, the
signature of a Democratic President. and the
approval OF the Democratic party"
In answer to charges by the Republicans.
Mr.. German asserted that the bill had been
constructed upon the Democratic theory of a
tariff for revenue with such incidental pro-
lection as could be given consistently to the
industries of the country.
Mr.. German, speaking Of this matter Of
trusts, said:
The assertion that any trust or trusts have
pronounce unqualifiedly false. We felt the
necessity of dealing all combinations death
blow. but we found them so hedged abouc
with bounty and other devices of Republican
statesmen that it was possible only to curtail
their privileges 10 the farthest limit consistent
with the rights of others intimately concerned
but not responsible.
This we have DONE We have reduced the
duty on lead 80 per cent, on steel rails So per
cent. and on refined sugar 10 per cent. more
than on the product OF any other trust or on
any other article
Sen ltor German then defended the sugar
duty as only fair to louisiana while other
states were being protected.
Upon the subject of the income tax Mr..
German said:
I'm the matter Of internal revenue may
say that personally am in full accord with
the sentiments SO ably and eloquently eH-
pressed by the Senators from New York and
New Jersey regarding the income tax.
In view of the necessity of obtaining addi-
tional revenue. so that customs taxation
might be reduced without increasing our
debt or disayowing the frightful financial OBJ
legations heaped up by Republican legislation.
he could not, as Democrat, bound in honor
to let no ordinary prejudice or difference pre-
vent the passage of a tariff measure, refuse to
vote for the income tax.
The blame for any further delay in the
settlement of this question must rest upon the
other side Of this chamber We are ready for
final vote to-day-now, at once. Every
hour occupied by useless debate from this
moment must be charged up to the Repub-
Gcan party"
In conclusion. Mr. German said:
TO my friends on this side of the chamber
l say that we have only to stand firm. There
never yet has been time in the history OF
this Senate when a clear majority was unable
to enact u law.
The shadow is not that of the horizon.
Now, of all times. the sun Of Democracy is at
the meridian. Before the second year of re-
sponsibility shall have ended the cloud before
it will have rolled away and its radiance will
rest upon land blest with peace and plenty,
and upon people prosperous and happy in
the knowledge that. after thirty years in the
wilderness, they have at last come into their
own