The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-21

again. In my judgment the House can
not now bonorably retreat from lis posi-
ton in favor of free sugar. The Presl-
dents suggestions came TOO late. The
Senate must recede from its amendments.
Vest took the floor when Hill was
seated. After the speech from the sena-
tor from New York. he began, 1t was a
subject of congratulation that Mr.. I'LL
and the President had at last found
platform ON which both could stand Inc
lion and the lamb had at last lain GOWN
together, and were led as little chllo by
the Ways and Means Committee. lie eft
to the other side which was the lion ana
which was the lamb. The Senator from
New York had said that free raw material
was cardinal principle of Democracy.
The President went further and declared
that failure to place raw material on the
free list was Democratic perfidy and dis
honor. Why did not the Senator from
New York vote for free wool? he would
ask
II did not vote on several motions when
the bill was in committee" replied Hill,
"but distinctly voted for free wool 10 the
Senate"
pulsatlDg for free raw materials" retorteo
Vest sarcastically. sat the peril Of my lie
| should have been on hand to vote on
every rollcall for the cardinal principle Oh
Democracy"
Vest said the letter of acceptance OF
President Cleveland in 1892 pronounced ID
favor OF freer raw materials, but now lie
denounced freer raw materials as pernuv
aud dishonest. In scathing lines ne ar
raisned the President. He had been his
secnnd-he had defended him on the noor
of the Senate when his friends could nave
been counted on the fingers of one hand.
Where did the President get the right TO
dictate to Congress-to denounce one
branch of Congress 10 the other? Did he
EN- body in his singls being all the Democ-
racy, all the tariff-reform sentiment 10
this country? Mr. Cleveland was big
man, but the Democratic party was greater
than any man. 1t had survived Jefferson.
Madison, Jackson; it would survive
Grover Cleveland. Under what clause of
the constitution did Mr.. Cleveland get the
tight, after bill had been sent to full and
free conference between the two houses. to
make an appeal to his party friends to
STAND Dy MS lnulVlQual VlsWSF
Mrs. Ma olsen had said in her memoirs
that the Capitol had been placed at one
end of The avenue and the White House at
the other to prevent the President exsrcis-
ing an undue influence on the legislative
branch of the Government. If the Presi-
dent could send here to his friends to stand
firm be had the right 10 send his Cabinet
Ministers here to coerce members In Con-
gress; be had a right to do as he had done
during the fight over the repeal of the
Sherman law-punish recalcitrant men,
bers of his own party. 1t was a mockery
to talk of full and free conference when
one of the conferrees came to the commit
tee-room with the orders of the President
in his pocket.
Vest spoke with bitterness of the Presi-
dents denunclatlon of the bill, which had
been passed after four months OF such toll
and responsibility as he could never
assume again. Yet. he said, those who
were instrumental in harmenizing the diff
ferences and bringing about its passage,
tariff reformers before MI. Cleveland be-
gan his phenomenal career. had been
arraigned as traitors, who sought to dis
honor thair party. Personally the bill did
not suit him. He was a radical reformer
But If be could not get all be would take
what he could get.
81 give it as my opinion" he declared
in conclusion, that we will pass this bill
or nothing"
do you mean to say" asked AldrIch, as
Vest was about to take his seat, THAT you
did not know of the existence of the Presi-
dents letter for the fifteen days during
which it remained in Mr.. Wilson's
pocket?"
II do" replied Vest. "and further de-
sire to say l know personally that both
the President and Secretary Carlisle uu-
derstood the difficulties under which we
were laboring Mr.. Carlisle saw the origi-
nal 600 amendments and urged US To secure
the passage of some sort OF bill at any
sacrifice. declaring the failure of all tariff
legislation to be the greatest calamity that
could happen to the Dem ocratic party"
when l first saw the Presidents letter
placing on us the odium of framing bill
that means dlshonor TO the Democratic
party, 10 use but mild expression l was
struck with infinite anaZsment. l am not
here 10 defend or attack the administra-
ton, but TO proclaim the rectitude of our
motives"
The defense which the Senator from
New York has made of the President"
added Vest, reminds me of desperate
murder case which l once tried. The only
defdnse l was able to make was that the
accused WAS suffering from such moral
depravity that he was absolutely incapable
of crime. He was acquitted. Afterward
he came to me to thank me for the verdict
In doing SO he said, however, that he
would rather 60 to the penitentiary for
life than again listen to the defense l
made for him. Laughter
"And so, sir. say in conclusion, in all
friendliness toward thGse who have
aspersed our motives, that so far as l am
concerned they need expect no further
concessions. l have labored earnestly
and honestly 10 bring about a satisfactory
settlement of this question. But, sir, l
have reached the limit. 1t would be un-
becoming in me. Mr.. President, to suggest
to our conferrees what they should sdo.
They are older and wiser and know
what is best, but it is certainly fitting that
they should understand the wishes of their
colleagues. and 80 l say. for myself l
know and for many others believe that
if were a member of that committee |
should say to the conferrees from the
House, 10 answer to the defiance which
has been flung in our faces, Gentlemen,
there is our bill. 1t is the result Of great
labor and infinite pains. 1t has met the
approval both of the free-trade and pro-
lection elements of our party. It is
adapted to conditions and mt theories Jt