Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-27
POPULAR DISTRUST
Senator Cullom on the Attitude of
the Democratic Party.
UNFIT TO REVISE THE TARIFF
The Income Tax Denounced as a
Sandbagging Proposition.
SOME PERMANENT SYSTEM

Senator Cullom today addressed the Sen
ate in opposition to the tariff bill. He said:
Il am intensely anxious that this bill
shall not pass. do not utter this sentence
| as mere partisan, but 1 speak in the in
terest Of the people of this great country.
Were to look at this measure simply as
partisan. think might properly welcome
its passage, because it must unquestionably
result In benefiting the republican party by
reason Of the deluge Of popular antagonism
1t must create against the democratic party,
which now fathers the Wilson bill and
presses 1t to passage. But, sir, 1 should
feel myself unfit to be here as a representa-
tive Of a great constituency were to turn
| aside from the duty of seeking only to pro-
| mote the best interests Of the people whom
have the honor to represent. as well as
the whole country. The initial policy of the
enlightened universe Is protection. The
civilized world has grown out and away
from barbaric free trade. and has developed
| very universal recognition Of the protec-
| tive idea
Tariff ConstitutionaIity.
Differing widely. as l do. from this posi-
tion of the party now in power / wish to
say here that fully believe in the power
and the constitutionality of q tariff Of
duties which carries protection to American
industries, as / believe in the power to
legislate for the protection of the people
against disease, against imported labor
against improper naturalization laws and
against every form of crime or wrong
by which they may be threatened. The
democratic assumption that tariff for
protection Is unconstitutional is, in effect,
an assumption that the constitution of a
country may forbid the enactment of laws
necessary to the very existence of the
government itself. Such a position is an
hGlr rpltf
that this same distinguished authority at
the same time that 1t declared protection
is fraud" also denounced the federal
election laws, recommended the repeal of
the tax upon state bank issues, eulogized
the foreign policy of the democratic party
and completed its work by nominating the
present democratic administration, my ad-
miration for the good sense of that demo-
cratic convention Is sadly impaired.
The People Rebel.
upon the tariff question the democratic
party has undertaken a task for which it
is wholly untitled. With general incapacity
in the saddle and with an army of followers
of whom Falstafr himself might have been
ashamed. 1t has tried to overturn prosper
GUS conditions and give US instead an in
dustrial revolution. From the inevitable
consequences of this crusade against busi-
ness and good times even Coxey and his
followers have mutinied and rebel1ed. The
outraged people may find expression for
their woes in an unusual and unwise man.
ner, but whatever Indignant people may
have done. or may yet do. they can never,
either by accident or design, involve the
country In even a small part of the trouble
and mischief caused by the present demo-
cratic administration.
Shall the republicans in this Congress
sit content and allow this elimination with
out protest? think not. While have a
voice and a vote in this body shall exert
them in the interest Of the country and
of
hope there is still enough good sense and
patriotism to be found in a few of those
elected to the Senate as democrats to join
with US Of the minority in its Opposition
and bury 1t in oblivion. True, it is being
driven forward with whip and spur; 1t is
to be rushed to final action and no rest Is
to be allowed. Every other measure is to
be sidetracked and the Wilson bill is to
have the right of way. But somebody may
throw switch out of line and ditch the
train. Let US hope so.
No Confidence I'm the Democrats.
Il have referred to the incompetency of
the party In power to inaugurate any new
measure OF value to the country, Does not
everybody know that the people at large.
democrats and republicans alike, have no
confidence in the pretensions and promises
OF the managers of that party? For
eighteen years the democratic platforms
nave been burdened with platitudes Of re-
form, and ever since that time the party
has quadriennially resolved--first that this
country needs reform, and second, that we
are the reformers. Continuing, Senator
Cullom turned his attention to the income
tax. which he denounced as a sand-bag-
ging proposition. the device of highway
men. etc. Following this discussion, he
BILL critioizing where changes had been
made from the Mckinley law, and showing
the result that the passage of the Wilson
bill would have on the industries Of his
own state.
Resuming the thread of his argument
Senator Cullom then said: HAS 1t ever
occurred to us, that in the consideration
Of perhaps the greatest economic question
which can confront any nation, namely,
the question of national self-support and
rational maintenance. we have never ar
rived at any distinct formula or demon
strated rule Of practice by which the proper
and just amount of revenue could be OBJ
tanned, and the wisest ratio of protection
be at the same time extended to those pur-
suits which alone can build and perpetu-
ate a great people?
The Tariff Free From Politics.
HAS it never entered our minds that the
pressing political questions of low tariff
or high tariff, or free trade or protection.
no matter in which way they may be set
tied presently, can never be made lasting or
permanent? Is 1t not true that with every
recurring national election there comes to
the people either the hope or the fear of
change and disturbance or business! And
may ask further, in view of all this,
ought we not as patriots and Senators, to
find some system, to devise some plan which
shall logically work out true and just
result and make the preparation of tariff
bill simply a matter of mathematical deter
mination and demonstration?
Something must be done to take the tariff
question out of partisan politics. 1t is
busir ess question, but, of course, necessarily
a political one, as in 1t Is involved the great
question OF raising revenue for the support
of the government. / do not desire that my
position shall be mistaken on this subject.
/ propose to commit to a commission of
experts the laborious task of working out
the basis upon which an equitable tariff act
can be constructed, leaving to Congress
finally the work of enacting such a tariff
law, with all the facts before it, as may be
required in order to secure the proper
amount of revenue and just wages to labor,
without disturbing the equity of the gener-
al scheme of protection. The tariff commits
sion. IL properly constructed, would be able
to avoid the interminable incongruities
which give so much annoyance to the ad-
minstrative branch of the government.
Let us then, in this year of grace build
monument for all time monument which
will do honor alike to both political parties
Let US create and vivify a system one
something like system, a plan, under
which, by simple methods, just duties may
be computed and decent wages be assured
to the people of our country"