Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-04-16
the TARIFF DEBATE.
Senator Qasy Speaks Against the wilson Bill
-Tarin Of Revenge.

WASHINGTON. April Ex-senator Walsh
Of Georgia today offered his first bill IN
the senate. 1t was bill to effect minor
reform in the judiciary.
Senator Morgan reported substitute
for the Nicaragua canal bill and an
nounced that his report would be sub
mitted on Monday.
Senator Morrill, announced that he
would address the senate on the tariff ON
next Wednesday.
When these matters were out OF the
way, Senator Quay of Pennsylvania took
the floor to speak upon the Wilson bill.
senator 0uay's speech.
Senator Quay began by saying that II
was hoped, and with apparent reason for
the hope. that when this bill entered tue
senate it would be rectitied as TO its alb
surdities, softened as to its asperities,
hroadened out of its sectionalism.
divorced from its narrow partisanship,
harmonized as TO its inconsistencies,
made straight instead of devious; ana
that, from the mysterious recesses OF the
retort of the so-called sub-com mittee's;
from the superheated furnace of party
caucus and from the seething caldron "i
the full responsible majority of the COM
mittee on finance. it would at last emerge
purified of its dross annealed, and nickel
hardened upon its scanned and SCARED
surface, and so freed from all defects and
dangers as to stand before us a measure
which could be adopted with practical
unanimity, because it would give the
business interests of this country tran
guilty by taking for at least an apprecia-
BILE period the tariff out of politics.
That would be an ideal solution of this
great question, which would inaugurate
an era of peace and herald the return of
prolonged prosperity. But instead of
thus putting an end to these interuecine
raids upon domestic industries which at
intervals closely associated with political
changes have cost this country more than
all the military wars which every genera
ton since the revolution has paid SO
dearly, we now see the party which is in
full control OF the legislative and eXecu
tive branches of the government threaten
the country with "A measure which has
been described as sectional, partisan,
| laundering,
Discriminating and Unjust.
The inevitable result is the paralysis OF
business, the halting of trade, the sus-
pension of purchases. the stoppage of
| prod uction, the deprivation of thousands
of their usual means of livelihood, and
an incredible shrinkage of value.
| Mr.. President, il is this recurring un-
certainty as to the rates of customs duties
which works most dangerous damage TO
business throughout the United States.
| The burden falls upon capital. Money
must lie idle, or. if invested. the venture
is in the nature of a speculation. The
burden falls also upon labor, because the
| idleness or the speculative use of capital
has its reflex in caution and restricted
| production, the cessation or partial sus-
pension of manufacturing operations and
the decrease and irregularity in the in
come of every rank of the army of wage
earners.
| II this be true when the tariff is revised
| by friends of American industry. when
the customs schedules are adjusted in
accordance with an established principle
and in harmony with a well defined svs-
TEN of collecting revenue, so as to pro
| tect American enterprise and labor from
| foreign pauper competition. how much
more enormous do those evil results be-
come when the tariff is to be disturb ed.
not in the interest of domestic. but of
| foreign industry, not with the welfare of
the whole common country in view, but
| for the benefit of a section; not with the
| purpose of providing revenue in accord
ance with an intelligent plan, perfected
| by years of experience and familiar in it's
| general principles to all the people, but
but in fashion which at one stage OF
the proposed legislation. offers an in
creased deficiency to an already depleted
treasury, and at another stage involves
surplus, derived in part from breakfast
table and in a greater part from the often
sive inquisition into the private fortunes
of individuals and an inequitable discour-
agement to that thrift which lies at the
basis of both national character and ma
tional wealth.
But more serious than these changes
wrought with regularity of time but I'M
certainty of extent, is the danger that the
true meaning of popular feeling rs ex-
pressed at the poll, may be misiuterpre-
/ ted by statesmen or
Perverted by Demagoyues
| Let me illustrate this proposition At enc
presidential election the candidates of one
| particular party have been successful be
| fore the people upon platform of princi.
pies asserting the doctrine of protection
Relying upon this popular verdict ana
upon the pledges which have placed the
ruling party in control of the government.
! capital, encouraged by guarantee of
| profits, is r leased from its reservoirs and
| forthwith seeks investment Every year
sees the tide of prosperity rise higher and
| higher.
| Then another election superyenes 1t
may be that the candidates of another
great party are successful upon declara-
ton Of principles antagonistic to protec-
1 ton. Business fslters. besitates, halts:
| mills and factories are closed capital
| withdraws to cautious inactivity; work.
men are discharged, or work at reduced
wages, and the country strips for m ap.
preaching struggle with penury and dis
| ,ress.
/ Nothing is more certain than that even
had not the Democratic party succeeded
4 n 1892 p revision of the Mckinley law at
the hands of the party which enacted it
would nevertheless in time be necessary.
/ II the present congress could devise "A
reasonable measure, which would permit
| the continued employment of American
/ labor and capital at living wages and fair
/ profits, even though involving reductions.
In some instances, perhaps large reduc-