The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-13
"Tb. ,rorL or the Statesman"

The cheerful and lthesome ease with
which Herr Professor WILSON can shift his
Fundamental principles to suit the occasion,
or In obedience to a stronger will. Is Illus
trated by the striking parallel which we are
about to print.
In 1884 one OF Professor WILSON'S distln-
gushed predecessors as Chairman OF the
Committee on Ways and Means introduced
Q measure OF tariff reform. We refer to
Col WILLIAM X. MORRISON and his celo-
brated horizontal reduction bill. MIR. NOR
RisoN's bill did not greatly increase the
free list. The only articles Of import from
which he proposed to remove the duty were
salt, lumber. and coal.
Professor WILSON then. as now. repre-
sented West Virginia district. aud pro-
fessed an ardent devotion to the cause OF
tariff reform. He supported the MORRISON
bill In general. but protested strongly
against the idea Of free coal. He delivered
An elaborate speech on the subject on May
8, 1884, which may DO found In the appen-
dix to volume is. part 6, OF the Congress
sional Record 1T Is inevitable. as indeed.
Il lie most wholesome" said Professor WILL
SON sonorously. that In the discussion Of
any revenue measure there shall be some
discussion OF fundamental principles. In
deed, IL Is the mark OF the statesman. as
distinguished from the emprio or poll
tician. to deal with the principles as well as
the details Of legislation. and frequent
recurrence to first principles has been en-
Joined by q great statesman In the Bill
OF Rights Of great State as part OF that
vigilance which Is the price oi our liberty"
Now. we shall see how this great states
man OF West Virginia required to first
principles when the MORRISON bill proposed
to untax coal. and how he recurs to first
principles when his own bill OF 1898 pro-
poses to do that same thing:
yen Pref Wa.s-. Speech N Prom Prof Who's. Speech n
kay5, 1884 Jan. 8. 1894
"As have said. favor . "The eommittes have
bill for the reduction OF dsAyorsd to meet the duty
taxss where this bill de- intrusted to them far
sarts from its general 80 they could by releasing
scheme Of merely reducing from taxation those great
sxss and seeks 10 enlarge interests on which the in.
the free lst 10 bears un. dustrial prosperity and
evenly. and. believe uslLbsing Of the American
unjustiy OF the psopls are most dependent.
tatsrssts Of ny own state They felt they could not
n great inrss begin reform TIL system
cad .sd,nv 20 the niles hey boldiS and Aonsly
ss hod bary TO sad unseLfshE sosvhits rsiiss.
ell he ,ss. sARs dsprrhv ~ Iroa iaraon the hst
szn share On the oossson ns~ai maisrias N Americans
.prassoia' Whatever re- sadass,y AHd % ns LaI pro
euetton made should be posed b ne free Ha
made gradually not Lsoss elemental ndh>rfa
TO wreck disturb J fsd4aSy. cool or, eel'
Aarm any OF our great In and IuHHb>r. We have In
dustriea and this return these United States to-day
toward peace tarin ought 10: 900 square miles OF
10 be made by even prog Territory uaderaid with
ssss aAd q scale Of JUS coal 100. 900 miles OF
tee 10 ali This bill would which can be probably
permit reciprocal free coal Sorksd: three times
with caaada provision than three times than
think little apt to be car all the coal Of al
gied out, and coal from the OF the world
fnslsnd. Coal 70 now free put together with these
far the foreign and sxhaustlsss supplies so
soastStss trade . con close to the surface THAI
esfnsd having othsruiss the cost Of IN has
auty OF 10 cents ton. reduced TO . minimum
which is less thAn 10 psr,lsss than 10 possible In
cent ad yAl0rem, under . Nova Scotia less than IL
tsrn hose general aver actually psia or possible In
ago 10 90 per cent iEnsIa nd-ths question Of
should proceed 10 the tafd up coal 10 nsithsr
consideration Of this bill question OF protection
ey ssetions ShAl present Of revenue. but simply .
60 the committee such question of subsidy to tue
faots aud hsufss a. viii great railroad corporations
ssar fully on this question. OF the country. Upon
end have every coincidence neither Democratic ground
indeed. . may add, have nor upon Republican
every assurance that can ground you continue
nov be stvsn-that This tue tATin upon coal unless
hfskularity and dserm- you bsIIsys the people
iastIsn win be corrected, should be taxed to pay
ana the interests Of my bountss or subsidies u
state share emily the srsAt railroad carriers
the general fortune OF all lsf ths eOdntry.r
1t is the mark Of the statesman, as dis
tinguished from the empiric or politician.
to deal with fundamental principles as we'll
~ the details OF legislation. Professor
WILSON deals with fundamental principles.
and what distinguishes him from ordinary
statesmen is the circumstance that he has
different sets OF fundamental principles
ready for different occasions.