New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-24
SENATOR GORMANS SPEECH.

Tho German Tariff bill has been defended by
its author in n speech which 1t Is hardly prac
ticable TO consider seriously. The Senator has
a talent for compromise, a genius for politics
and a passion for party management; but when
his intellectual resources are employed in the
defence of so mOnstrOus measure rs his Bil
Of Sale TO the trusts, the motives which have
inspired the population of every tarin pledge
made by the Democratic party cannot be con-
cealed by articles of audacity and dcxtcrity
Senator Germans speech will he more widely
read than any other speech that has been de-
livcrcd on the Democratic side during the pres
ent session with possibly single exception,
that Of Senator Hill; but it will be found lack
ing in the element which dlgnfed the New-lork
Senator's powerful, plea against the income tax.
Senator Hill was thoroughly In earnest and
spoke without discrimination. Senator German
in advocating n compromise which involved
the reputation of the Chicago platform and
the surrender Of Democracy to Populism, could
not make a straightforward speech.
Nothing could be moro SpeciouS than Senator
Germans explanation Of the theory upon which
his anomalous compromise bill has been con-
structcl lie has stated that it Is the Demo
cratic theory Of a tariff for revenue with such
entity TO the Industries of the country; and
that II does not involve protection for the sake
of protection, but that ii does discriminate be-
tween raw materials and manufactured articles
10 the full extent Of the difference between
European and American wages. II that Is tie
theory OF the measure. II cmbOdics the prin-
cplcs of the tariff plank which was voted down
at the Chicago Convention by large majority.
rxl
as robbery and rs unconstitutional, and tariff
for revenue only was uncompromiSngly de-
manded On Senator Germans own confession
his bill involves reputation Of Democratic prin-
ciplcs and betrayal Of party pledges made 10
the American people. lie falls back upon tie
rejected tariff plank and President Cleveland :
letter Of acceptance IN support OF his daring
assertion that his compromise Is n consistent,
homogeneous Democratic measure; but when
be supplies bill Of particulars the dislngcnu-
BUSINESS of the argument Is laid bare with
cynical Indifference.
For example. he defends tho surrender TO the
Sugar Trust on the ground OF protection pure
and simple. He describes Louisiana as stand
ing on the same plane with PENNSYLVANIA ana
Ncw-York and entitled to have It's industries
treated with equal consideration; and he adds
that II there were no cane sugar there the won
dorful development Of bcct-sugar production
In Nebraska and California fully warrants ih'
al valorcm duty Of 40 per cent upon all i'm
/ ported sugars This * nothing more nor less
than the protective system which the Demo
cratic party has pronounced robbery OF the con
! sumcr; and here is Senator German appealing
| TO "thc generous minded people Of the East. wh'
themselves have profted from such measures
so long and so greatly" 10 approve Legislation
designed 10 protect the Louisiana planters in
terests and TO foster the young and promising
beet industry Of the West. This too when 'th'
Democratic party and the American people ar
in sight OF the promised land and when eman
clpation IS at hand Emancipation from what
Certainly not from hypocrisy.
We have no space here FOR following Senate
| Germans circuitous explanations OF his Owl
and Senator Brce's Work IN rigging up thi
Illogical and incongruous compromise or 70
more than reference 10 his assertion that
deficit was created by Republican prolibitiy
duties-an extraordinary pcrycrsion Of the trtl'l
that the Mckinley act yielded abundant rove
nues until the Democratic menace Of tariff
revolution paralyZcd the business interests O
the country. For the moment we can only al
lude TO his declaration that the trusts have no
dictated any schedules, and that they have bee
spared only because they were so slrongi
hedged about and favored by Republican lcgis
laton that they could not be struck dowr
Possibly Senator Hill may take occasion here
after 10 characterize as It deserves his 60
leagues apology for voting for the income tn
as an emergency tax Senator German
speech, however was not intended as n scrOu
argument The Democratic leaders, purpOs
was 20 proclaim the fact that he had secure
the votes Of n majority Of the Senate. and tina
the bargain was to be carried out. Everythin
else was incidental and Of so little consequence
that the Senator was inclined to beg every col
troversial question which he discussed.