Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-20
That is a Fundamental Principle of
the Democratic Party.
mr.. HILLS SPEECH IN THE SENATE
He Urges the Senate to Retract
Without Delay.
AGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT

Senator HilPs speech in the Senate was
remarkable from the fact that he agreed
almost entirely with the views OF the Pres
fdent, as expressed in his letter to Con-
gresham Wilson. although he did not de-
fend either the propriety of writing that
letter or Of making 1t public. Several times
he was interrupted by applause IN the gal
leries to such an extent that the presiding
officer was obliged to warn spectators
against a repetition.
Mr.. Hill said:
A theory as well as condition now con-
fronts u.s. The theory of the democratic
party is that in the enactment of tariff leg
tslation free raw materials should always
be an essential and conspicuous element
1t Is our creed that the materials which
enter into our manufactures should be freed
from the burden of tariff taxation. The
best interests of the manufacturers as well
as the consumers of the land demand the
recognition of this wise discriminat tiOn
We are committed to this side of the
question and cannot retreat and We cannot
retract- We are honorabfy bound to redeem
our professions and our promises. Justice
good faith and a decent regard for public
sentiment all require this course
Until recently / had supposed that there
was no dispute upon this question of prin-
cip!e. but that every democrat worthy of
the name was willing to concede that il
there was one thing more than another to
which the democratic party was committed
AZ was IN FAVOR OF the doctrine of absolutely
Tree raw materials.
Committed to Free Raw Materials.
The true and honest construction of every
Democratic national platform for twelve
years past irrevocably commits US to this
just and reasonable principle.
Mr.. Hill read the democratic national plat
form of 1892 and continued:
To repeal the Mckinley law in form sim
Ply, TO re-enact il in effect, is keeping this
promise to the letter, but breaking il i'm
. spirit The platform pointed with pride and
ceHoerately approved the measures for free
IRON ore, free lead ore, free coal and fie
wool, which were pending in Congress at
the time of the convention
III any democratic orator in any part of
the country. forgetting the interests of the
vnoIe land and subscribing the supposed in
te-ests of a locality, promised the people of
any state or section that there would be
any exception made to the enforcement OF
the general principle of free raw materials
wnen the democrats should obtain power,
ne exceeded his authority and misinterpret-
ed our position.
Cieveiand's Letter of Acceptance.
1t Ia said by some. in justification Of OF
excuse for their present action, that the
fresidents letter of acceptance in 1892
modiied the extreme demands of our plat
FORM 1t is true that some portions of his
letter may tend to bear that construction
declaration in favor of the platform which
bis party had a right to expect, but was
Regarded by many as tiinid, cautious and
conservatives; but whether this criticism is
or is not well founded, the fact remains
that he had no power authority to
change or alter one line or sentence or pro-
Vision Of the national platform which had
been deliberately adopted In national con-
vsnuon duly assembled. No President can
be above his party; no President can die
tate to his party; 70 President can change
his partys platform.
But nc matter what idea it may be claim
cd was intended to be conveyed in his let
ter OF acceptance in mitigation or modifica-
ton or the platform. there can be no doubt
as to the Presidents position al this time
upon this essential principle of free raw
Materials.
Let me read from that remarkable letter
Of the Presidents. which was yesterday
submitted to the House of Representatives.
1t expresses better than 1 can hope to do
the true sound and logical position of the
democratic party upon this question.
Approves the Presidents Position.
After reading extracts from this letter
Mr.. Hill went on as follows:
Mr. President. 1 approve every word that
I have quoted 1t Is an honest and manly
statement of the true attitude which the
party should assume in this crisis.
1 am not required to defend the propriety
or wisdom of the PRONUNCIATION of this let
ter at this peculiar time. 1t may have been
irdiscreet, it may operate a firebrand
to spread the flames OF discord already
kindled among party friends. honestly diff
fering, as 1 am disposed to concede, upon
questions Of public and party policy.
Ii may widen the breach already existing
In this Senate. and in that view it may be
regarded unfortunate and ill-advised. 1t
was a time for diplomacy, statesmansllp
and conciliation. rather than recrimina ton,
GenuEciatiCn and arraisnment. But aside
from the question of it's mere expediency [
hzr 10 lefn ha Lent latta ;r,
so far as it demands that the party shall
not be led astray into the violation of demo-
cratic pledges and principles
Upon the question of free raw materials
the President is right. and you know il.
You cannot answer his arguments. You
cannot successfully dispute his proposi-
tons You cannot doubt his sincerity and
Patriotism. You must yield In the end to
his views. You cannot stand up against
the sentiment OF the great democratic
masses of the country, which will rally
around the President in his contset with
you upon this particular branch of the sub
tect.
Now f. the Time to Yield.
The time to yield is now, before there is
further humiliation, embarrassment and
discord.
Mr.. President. having demonstrated that
the true democratic theory Of revenue re-
form requires that free raw materials
should be it's distinguished feature. let us
reNt inquire what is the condition wnich
now confronts US?
The Senate bill which has been passed
violates this democi attic theory, and while
Ii reduces the duty on iron, coal, lead and
some other raw materials. from those i'm
posed under the Mckinley law and in that
respect Is comniendable, IL nevertheless
imposes some duties thereon and thereby
Fails to redeem our pledges. 1t is not a
question OF the amount of duties which may
be In posed, question Of principle is in
volved. and single psnny's duty violates
cur promises and places us in n false posi-
tion- AS the President well SAYS, there
Can be no compromise on a matter OF this
character. where a vital principle is at
stake.
The House of Representatives. fresh from
the people, which represents more dis
tinctly and peculiarly than we do the tax
ing power Of the pcople. repddiates our
bill. and a democratic President has en-
phasized that reputation which confronts
Us in one OF extreme embarrassment. Shall
we retreat or advance? Shall we surrender
to the House while We can do SO aonorably,
or shall we wait until we are driven to it?
The House Caunot Retreat.
IN the light Of the letter of the President!
the House cannot honorably retreat. 1t
has no other alternative except to insist