New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-21
SENATORS ATTACHING THE PRESIDENT

Il
Yesterdays debate in the Senate brought out
in strong light the one weakness IN the freSi-
dents position to which The Tribune calls AZ
tontion In virtuouS Indignation he denounced
a corrupt and infamous bargain, and yet was
willing ~ give 10 the Sugar Trust, the chl'i
pcrpotratOr Of the offence, the millions OF pun
der il had sought TO get With burning horror
for the crime. he proposed 10 leave the stolen
goods 10 the criminal Dcnouncing in strong
words the sale and surrender of the Senate 10
monopolics he suggested that the worst anu
most costly OF the monopolicS should nave what
il wanted. His language as 10 the Sugar trust
was not so explicit as this, il is true. bun II
pointed Enthusiastically 10 the adoption or hlsh
al valorem duty. which would inevitably carry
with il a large discrimination in favor OF the
sugar rcfiner. In telegram from Louisiana
member. which has been published 1t Is dis
tincily asserted that the President proposed anu
would approve duty Of ~ per cent al valorem'
which would be 4 grant OF some millions 10 the
TrAt.
This position the President excuses in his
letter on the ground that sugar is proper Cd
feet OF taxation. and that the adjustment oil
duties thereon should not be Influenced by IN"
sugar scandal The public il IS clear has
n different opinion. II j. not pleased Ia nave
LEGISLATION bough, outright The very legislation
upon which all the Nations industries depend.
No excuse that the President could Offer would
reconcile the public 10 the sugar bargain ana
his failure 70 condemn that shameless perform
ancc in the plaineSl and strongest words was
The fatal defect Of his otherwise powerful letter
Moreover. from partisan point of view II gave
his opponents an advantage They were able TO
ola had boon
through the Senate by the Sugar Trust. and for
lis especial benefit. and that in yielding on coal
and iron ore they bad simply submitted 70 a
necessity created by the corrupt combination
which ,hc President is willing 10 reward. They
show also tina, the President himself was not
in favor of the sugar duty "A short time ago Tor
he heartily approved The Wilson bill, In when
sugar was made free.
The President might easily have made him
self more popular Than he ever has been had he
denounced the Bill Of Sale without reserve, AMI
then plainly warned Congress That he would
not approve the fruit Of such corruption iiad
he told Congress the naked truth, that it had
thrown away its chance 10 do anything in har-
monv with Democratic principles and could 40
longer serve the country in any better way thhn
by pos,ponng all tariff legislation until another
session. millions Of American workingmcn
would have thanked the President, however
widely differing from hin. in opinion regarding
the tariff But his letter had no such sialwart
and uninching diStncincSs Of purpose II
rouscs SO sharp fight between the President
and his party III The Senate that the passage
OF the Bill OF Sale or no change Of tariff what
ever is now The apparent alternative
The personalities which enriched the debate
I'm the Senate are not OF great public conSc-
0uence but Mr.. Hill had such an overwhelming
advantage In defending the President against
the entire body Of Democratic Senators that 1t
is no wonder the forensic hOnors rested with
him 70 win votes is quite another matter. ana
il is an open question whether sheer desperation
may not now drive some Senators 10 stick To
the bill and the dictates Of caucus who would
otherwise have yielded 10 the Presidents APP
peal In The end. according 20 present lndica- |
tons the Democratic party will have TO aban
don the attempt to change the tariff this year, |
or else 1t will have 10 send 10 the President |
bill which he cannot sign without personal hui |
initiation and disgrace, and which will cover |
the party with dshonor if ii becomes law.