Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-23
FIFTY THIRD CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, May %.


pose of restoring to the throne the de-
posed Queen of the Sandwich Islands
or for the purpose Of destroying the
existing government; that the provl-
sional government having been duly
recognized, the highest national inter
ests are that it shall pursue its own
line of polity and that intervention in
the political affairs of those islands by
other governments will be regarded as
an act unfriendly to the government OF
the United States.
The motion made yesterday by Mr..
Villas, to reconsider the vote by which
a bill was passed to pay the heirs of
claimant (Wightman, of Pennsylvania
against the government over $4,000 for
interest on the sum allowed and paid,
was taken up, and Mr.. Villas stated the
facts in the case, leaving the Senate to
Judge whether such a bill should be
passed.
The bill was defended by Senators
Hunton and Mitchell.
Mr.. Harris, asked Mr.. Hunton what
there was exceptional in this case,
which took it out Of the rule that
government did not pay interest on
claims against it.
Mr., Hunton undertook to show that
the bill was proper one and said that
the claimant had expended large sum
of money to carry out his contract with
the postoilice department and that UNI
less interest was allowed he would be
loser on his contract.
The discussion was still going on
when at 1920 a. M, the tariff bill was
laid before the Senate.
When Senator German took the floor
for his promised tariff speech there
were unmistakeable manifestations of
interest both on the Senate floor and i'll
the galleries. Contrary to his usual
custom the Maryland Senator had pre-
pared his remarks and read them from
printed slips.
He opened in prophetic strain, say
ing:
Mr.. President eve are nearing the
end. After twenty years of political
progress. of positive growth, of constant
development, and of universal enlight-
enment, the democratic party and the
American people are within sight of the
promised land. Emancipation is at
hand-emancipation from partisan OPP
preston, from the greed of classes, from
extortion, from wilful extravaganza,
from financial fantasy, from spoils, FROM
restrictions upon individual liberty,
from jipgoism, from all those evils, in
brief which the democratic party in
herited as hateful legacy from three
decades of republican maladministra-
tion. We are not only urged, he said,
but ordered peremptorily to reform the
tariff at once. Why wait? Vote first.
Talk afterwards! Our friends on the
other side seem very anxious to learn
upon what theory this bill was con-
structed. will tell them. 1t was con-
structed upon the democratic theory Of
a tariff for revenue, with such incident
al protection as can be given consistent
| " to the industries of the country. 1t
follows strictly the course marked out
by President Cleveland in his letter OF
acceptance. 1t is not a free trade
measure, but it is longer step for
freer trade than either the Mills
bill or the tariff of 1888. The
assertion that any trust or trusts
have dictated any part of any schedule
of this bill | pronounce unquallfiedly
false. They have received the same at
tention, although not as much consider
alton, as individuals engaged in the
business of manufacture-no more and
no less. But let me ask any fair-mind
ed man if it would be just to the people
of Louisiana to take from them every
shred of the advantage foisted upon
them against their will by the republi-
can party for a political purpose, to de-
prive them in fact Of their very means
of livelihood and give them nothing in
return. In the matter of internal reve-
nue., l may say that personally | am in
full accord with the sentiments so ably
and eloquently expressed by the Senat-
ors from New York and New Jersey re-
garding the incomeItax. But, much as l
deplore the fastening of an income in
any form upon our tariff bill, cannot
ignore the fact that large majority of
my democratic colleagues honestly diff
fer from myself in this matter, and are
so confident of the soundness of their
position that they are willing to subject
it to the test of few years, thus enab-
ling the people to see its actual work
ings and then pass upon it directly. In
these circumstances, and in view of the
necessity OF obtaining additional reve-
nue. from some source if we would re-
duce customs taxation, without dis
avowing the frightful financial obliga
tons heaped up by republican legisla
ton or further increasing the debt of
the government, cannot, as demo-
crat bound in honor to let no ordinary
prejudice or difference in opinion
prevent the passage of tariff
measure, refuse to vote for this
amendment. simply and solely,
however, as an emergency tax.
During my service in this chamber, Mr..
President, have seen many examples
ofinconsistency, some of demagogery,
few of hypocrisy, but have never seen
and hope never again to see so many of
all combined injected into single de-
bate as have been crowded into this by
republican Senators. The shadow is
not that of the horizon. Now, of all
times, the sun of democracy is at the
meridian. Before the second year of
responsibility shall have ended the
cloud before it will have rolled away
and its radiance will rest upon land
blessed with peace and plenty, and upon
people prosperous and happy in the
knowledge that, after 80 years in the
wilderness, they have at last cone into
their own.
As he closed with the description Of q
land blessed with peace and plenty,