The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1894-06-15

VIM. Lloyd Garrison, the Boston
free trader, made stirring speech
some days ago before the New Eng.
land Tariff Reform League in oppo.
sition to what he contemptuously
styled "the Brice-G0rman corrupt.
ion bill' now before the senate. lie
said in part:
To my thinking the defeat Of this
bill would far better serve our cause
than its Success. If | were a mem
Der of the honse, when the measure
is returned for conference, my vote
would be unyieldingly against il.
It's betrayal of principle, its
shameless surrender to robber
trusts, its personal and sectional
preferences, make 1t a satire upon
reform, and treason to the people
who. trusting to party pledges, .once
more admitted The Democratic par
ty to power.
We come to the parting Of the
ways again. The question to be
decided is, "Shall the boon of a
small reduction of duties IN the sem
ate tariff bill be accepted rather
than no bill ?" The. temporizers
say Eyes" IL seems to me that
he who cares for his party or his
country will best serve both by a
thunderous "No."
Gentlemen, there is a day after
to-day, and to settle the present
difficulty by a sacrifice of princi-
pie to the senatorial highwaymen
is to breed difficulties like baciIli.
Makeshilts beget makeshifts. 1t is
safe and prudent TO meet issues at
the outset and settle them then and
there. Here the tariff issue is
transcended by that Of legislative
decency aud honor.
Project your thoughts to the next
presidential contest. You who be-
lieye reform is enshrined in the
Democratic party and advocate its
support, what will you say when
men deride your professed princi
Piles and fair-weather planks and
point to the German compromise
TARIFF Will they not say to you,
principles, bah !"
go put your creed into your deed,
Nor speak with double tongue"
Some victories are dear. Some |
defeats are glorious. With honor
all is safe whatever may be done. |
Grant that the next election will |
show an overwhelming Republican |
triumph. Resisting present tempt
alton, standing upright for the ln-
tegrily of your principles, how easy |
to suffer the temporary reverse.
Through it, strength will flow into
your veins.
If we believe what we profess,
that McKinIeyism is costly and de-
structive, inimical to trade and fos-
of strikes and tramps,
can we not trust il to work for us
with the same effectiveness that
slavery ever contributed to aboli-
tiOn The burden of hard times
will then rest where ii belongs, up
on Republican shoulders. Pass the
German bill and the Democratic
party assumes the fatal load and all
that il implies. 1t will not only
inherit McKinleyism but will have
sought the curse. Can folly go
further 2
1t was Fletcher, Of Saltoun, who
said, while he Fwould die to serve
bis country, he would not do a base
net to save her." Ny own hope is
that there is virtue enough left in
The true Democrats of the house to
fight the senate bill to the death,
party or no party, in the spirit of
he ancient hero. Rejected, ii ral-
les to Mr.. Cleveland and to his adj
ninistration once more, against the
spoilsmen, the now disheartened
sitizens who place justice above
success and righteousness above
power.