Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-06-08

framed for the express purpose of al
lowing the Sugar Trust to import vast
quantities of raw sugar free of duty and
add scores of millions to its already
enormous profits by forcing the people
to pay an increased price for this nee
essity of life. They knew-for it has
been matter of common report and
conversation at the capital for weeks
that this barter of the taxing power,
this wholesale tribute to monopoly,
this shameless surrender of the princi-
pies of equity and good government,
was the price demanded by the Sugar
Trust in return for its pecuniary contri-
button to the election of Grover Cleve-
land. And, knowing these things, they
voted to pay that price, to disgrace their
country, repudiate their platform
pledges and dishonor themselves.
The scandals involving the Cleveland
Carlisle sugar schedule were so notori-
Gus, the charges effecting the honor of
Senators by duplicating them in system
attic stock speculation on secret informa-
ton furnished by-agents of the Sugar
Trust were so grave, that the Senate has
been compelled to order formal inyes-
tigation. The testimony given before
the Investigating Committee has direct
lH W bu0 ttCCubdblOuo
brought against the schedule and it's ad-
vocates. That committee is now at
work The task which it was instructed
to perform is hardly more than begun,
Every consideration, not merely of JUS
tice, but of ordinary decency, required
that no action should be taken on the
sugar schedule until the truth in regard
to the influences which framed it was
made manifest, and the charges against
prominent members of the Senate either
proved or disproved. Public opinion
has insisted upon searching investiga-
tion into these vitality important mat
ters. Reputable Democratic newspa-
pers in every portion of the country
have condemned the sugar schedule as
the product of corruption and an inde-
fensible surrender of popular rights to
monopoly. The enlightened citizenship
of the Nation has been unanimous in
the demand that no vote should be
taken until the committee had definite
ly ascertained the facts at the bottom of
this great National scandal. By ap-
pointing committee of inquiry, the
Democratic majority in the Senate had
bound themselves to await the verdict
of that committee before taking action.
But the Democratic Senators have seen
fit to disregard precedent and fairness.
They have ignored and insulted their
own committee. They have acknowl-
edged that they did not dare, to take the
vote upon the sugar schedule after the
facts in regard to this schedule had been
formally established. They have af-
fronted the decent public sentiment of
the whole country and have virtually ad-
mitted the accuracy of the crushing
charges brought against their party and
their administration.
These men have won transient and
shameful advantage. How shameful it
is will be demonstrated by the sweeping
condemnation of their course that will
be expressed by the respectable newspa'
pers of the United States to-day. How
transient it is, is proved by the magnifi
cent Republican victory in Oregon, which
echoes the Reputation of Democracy by
every Eastern commonwealth, and sig
nalizes the welding of the Pacific Coast
with the invincible array of National Re-
publicanism. The battle for protection
to American industry will not slaeken
the fire against the corrupt and infamous
lnongrel bill will not lessen because OF
Tuesdays vote. The action taken by
the Senate in Committee of the Whole is
not decisive. 1t must be reviewed and
may be reversed when the bill reaches its
final stages. Republican Senators will
continue to oppose the Democratic tariff
scheme with unabated vigor and courage
The Republican party welcomes the is
sue which the Democrats have presented
by their unqualified alliance with huge
and oppressive Trust. In behalf of the
millions of citizens who earn their bread
by honest toll, in behalf of the millions
of wives and mothers, who will be the
first to note the heightened cost of ont
of the common necessaries of life, in be
half of the homes which the mongre
bill threatens with poverty, of the ma
tional honor which it furnishes and the
prosperity at which it strikes, the Repub
lican party pledges itself to carry on thu
fight against the monopoly ridden Dem
ocracy with aggressive energy anC
unyieldlng determination. The Demo
cratic leaders have espoused the side o
the foreigner and the trusts. The Re
publican party takes the side of th'
people, and confidently appeals to the
supreme tribunal of the ballot for victo
ry in its battle against the party of ex
tortion, oppression and industrial ruin