The sun., 1894-06-22
Giorgione Vest.

The Hon. GEORGE GRAHAM VEsT made q
sweet. rose-lngcrod. and lavender-scented
| speech In opposition TO the ALLEN amend
ment putting a duty OF 10 per cent. ad va
loren upon imported paintings and statu-
airy. It should be explained that 10 per
cent. was the MCKINLEY rate. Mr.. VEST
who has supported with considerable pa
tieuce amid many Republican taunts the
MCKINLEY pool bill. known as the Senate
Tariff bill. and has learned to vote away his
principles and the honor Of his party In si-
lence. broke into dulcet oratory at the pro-
posal to take paintings and statuary OF
the free list. Here was on opportunity to
show that however scared his economic
conscience had become. however crooked
his intellectuals had gone. his aesthetic
sense was still tender as spring lamb and
fresh as the unknown hay. There is some
thing else In this world" he cried. wrap
ping his alpaca toga around his buxom form
with all the dignity Of drapery Of tho
SoPHoCLEs Of the Lateran. "there Is some
thing else In this world besides meat and
bread and clothing" Sugar. for instance.
and coal and iron. But hear the Missouri
Apostle Of Free Art:
"Tns people who have nothing else on the verge
Of barbarism. rhs people ho eannot admire ART
which esehsws it bseauss t 10 unnecessary viii
degenerate Into At subjects Of dsspossm SO long
have place In this body shall vote TO encourage
everything which nfts and slsvatss the people. when
great painting comes to people It speaks to them.
ofisntimss with . voice which poetry cannot rival
Il teaches thsm . great moral lesson. IL Encourage
them heroic sndsavor Il softsns places OF
the everyday life Of all Of and leads to that
higher and better life to which human soul
aspire hope am not to be accused OF sentimental.
ism. for am not ssniimsutaiisI But as Legislator
representing great common wealth. winch hope 10
advance not only in material wealth. but IN the
love Of the good and the great and the beautiful
shalt By every wod and vote Of mine encourage the
culture Of painting musisI ntsratnra and all that
makes esr human life bsttsE"
OF course Mr. yEsr's sentiments do him
honor as lover OF the beautiful. Coming
from Q man pledged. and still pledged. no
matter how many times he has broken the
pledge. to Q tariff for revenue only. they
are bacilliferous gollyswash. And surely
there are native painters and native sculp-
tors who can adorn the Capitol with por-
trayals In oil and marble aud bronze Of the
great deeds which this Senate has been
doing TO elevate the people and encourage
them to heroic endeavor. Native art can
furnish q colossal group OF Democratic
Senators Defying the Sugar Trust" and
paint The Two hoPHKRsoSs' Betrayal by
the Second Girl" Mr.. CLEVELAND can be
shown as knowledge. statemanship. and
Truth" and Mr.. VOORHEES, as Consist
ency" or Courage" and Mr. VEST him
self as "ASDRoMKDA ChAiEed to the Rocks
OF Protection" Greatness could be cele-
bratsd by native hands. and Democrats
waiting to order their statues or paintings
from abroad would have the satisfaction OF
feeling that they were not violating the
Constitution and beating the Government
out Of revenue which II would not have Loaf
II the leaders Of Democracy had not been
faithless 70 their word.
Yet We love to think that Senator VEST.
who has had Q hard row TO hoe lately. Is
now engaged In advancing the good and
the great and the beautiful. and everything
else that makes human life better. 1t will
be balm and consolation to the hard-tack
Democrats Of Missouri. when they have to
pay q duty Of Is per cent. ad valorem on
their Autographs and chromos. to think
that not only can statuary and paintings
come In free. but that In 30 coming they
speak to Mr.. VEST with voice that poetry
cannot rival. q voice for which sugar Is no
appropriate comparison.