The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-08-01

was not an accusation leveled at the
senator from Maryland, or the senator
from Missouri or the senator from Ar
kansas, or against any senator. The
president understood the situation in
the senate. He knew the staunch ad-
herence to tariff reform of the senator
from Texas. the senator from Delaware
| and the two senator's from Arkansas.
The presidents letter was wholly i'm
| personal.
German Meant Only One Thing.
Senator Villas said the views of the
replied. but, he went on sarcasticallv.
ne presumed the engagements of the
Maryland senator were so pressing
that he had no time to revise them.
Senator Villas considered it his duty to
reply to that assault.
Spoke a. a Personal Friend.
Senator Villas said be would speak a.
a personal. as we'll as q political friend
OF tho president. He rejoiced in the
honor of Mr.. Cleveland's friendship.
1t was pride to him. The reward
greatest to come to him was his associ-
citation with that lofty and distin-
guished man. 1t was his honest testi-
mony 20 his character that never at
any moment. in any temptation, pol't-
ical or r ersonal, had he failed to see in
Cleveland the pure white light OF up
right purposes. For such q man he
saw tit to say some words. not In de-
tense he needed none), but some cor.
rectiOn OF Il discoloratiOn of facts by
which Mr.. Cleveland had been placed
in false light before the country. He
would make this statement in behalf
of the truth Of history.
"What were the points of the accusa-
tion?" inquired Senator Villas, Tin the
remarkable assault to which l have
alluded?" He regretted, he said, that
Senator German was absent from the
senate chamber. The first accusation,
he proceeded. was that the president
was open to the charge of dupliclty.
That was based upon letter in which
Mr.. Cleveland expressed the hope that
iron and coal would 90 on the free list
in the tariff bill. The second was that
the executive had encroached on the
prerogative of congress, and the third
that the president had traduced the
senate. These charges were true or
false, not as matter of argument, but
as matter of fact.
Cleveland's Position Described.
"Wi:h regard to coal aud iron, lot
us examine the facts" said Senator
Villas. 'And desire to say here that
am under deep obligations to the sena.
tor from New York, who never in his
public career made such an able expo
sition of any subject as he did on Tues
day last.'
Senator Villas then reviewed at
length the presidents position in favor
of free raw material, his letter of 1887
and other public utterances up to his
message to congress at the opening of
the present session. Constantly, Sen
tor Villas declared, MIR. Cleveland had
insisted upon this principle. 1t was
everywhere proclaimed by his sup
porters to be the first step in the en-
Reimbursement of labor from the thrall.
dom Of unjust taxation. Could it be
possible, he asked, that any one sup
posed he had abandoned the principle
that lay at the base of any scheme of
tariff reform?
What was the principle adduced in
of heart? Senator German himself had
no personal testimony to offer. He
called on Senator Vest, who offered
conversation hearsay testimony that
would have been excluded from any
court of justice. The distinguished
senator from Arkansas, whose labor in
behalf Of the bill had earned q, much
respect from his colleagues, testified
that he had personally talked with the
president about the senate bill. Did
Senator J,nes claim that all the details
of the bill had been laid before Mr..
Cleveland? Necessarily not. Only the
general principles OH which the amend
inents were made.
Coal and Iron Amendments.
In regard to those two amendments
upon which the specifications of Sena-
tor Germans charge had been founded,
the testimony of Senator Jones was
clear that the president, whenever coal
and iron orc were mentio ned. ex.
pressed the hope that they would 60
on the free list. Was there anyone
DESTROYS Of doing open and free justice
to the president, who after reading
O0udtOJ JOucS OWu 6NHtcIucuAs WOulu
not say that Mr.. Cleveland had never
faltered in his urgent demand for free
coal and iron? Without duplicily, but
with the openness and boldness that
always characterized him, Mr.. Cleve.
land had expressed I" the chairman of
the ways and means committee the
hope that the result he desired should
be accomplished in conference.
THE LONG AND TRYING DEBATE.
Villas Goes Over tho Hi.tory OF Senate
Proceedings.
The tariff bill was debated week In
and week out. The public was wearied
Of that debate and yet the senate could
reach no result. It was at this juncture
that tho senator from Arkansas had
brought forward over 400 amendments.
These were to be the solution of the
problem aud were to bring the debate
to q close. Still the discussion pro-
ceeded IS days. Senator Villas said he
had recognized the necessity Of yield.
ing to these amendments. 1t was es-
sential o.have revision of the exist.
ing tariff law quickly. It was essential,
too, to reinforce depleted treasury.
meantime, under the operation of
the rules of the senate" continued the
senator, 1--WE encountered the taunt of
our skillful friends on the other side
that we were dumb, we who felt we