The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-06-02

| attention although not as much consideration a.
ture-no more and no less We felt the necessity o.
dealing all such combinations deathbiow, but
We found them 50 hedEed about Dy sne pNaniy ane
possible only curtail their privileges 10 the far
thest limit consistent with the rights OF Others init
mately concerned but not responsible.
This we have done. We have reduced the duty
on lead so per cent steel rails sc per cent and
on refined sugar % per cent more than on the prod
We have gone quite as far as we can go. in a word
without seriously impairng the government
sources OF necessary revenue. Much has been said
| in criticism OF our action in imposing any duty
whatever on sugar Now. what are the facts2 Here:
in the first place, is great State whose success and
prosperity are wholly dependent upon this one in
dustry. The Republican party gave II aid In the
form Of bountes for the express purpose of putting
a block in the way of tariff reform. The Demo
cratic party and the American people are unalera-
bly, opposed 70 this form Of paternalism' and It's
But let me ask any fair-minded man il it would
be just to the people OF Louisiana TO take from them
against their will by the Republican party for a
political purpose. to deprive them in fact OF their
very means of livelihood and give them nothing in
return? could hardly credit the evidence OF my
| senses when the distinguished Senator from Iowa,
from whom the country has reason TO expect better
things said that he should vote TO make this wanton
attack upon one of our greatest industries. l can
scarcely believe now that when the time comes he
Will consider such action consistent with MS sense
| of justice and right
! Louisiana stands today on the same plane with
| PENNSYLVANIA, New York, and New Jersey, one of
the same union of States and entitled to the same
consideration. But If there were TO such industry
or even State in existence, the wonderful develop
ment of beet-sugar production in Nebraska and
California fully warrants the incidental protection
which will be afforded by this revenue duty That,
sir is the reason why we have placed an ad vaorem
duty of 40 per cent upon all sugars. and can not
and will not believe that the generous minded peo-
pie of the East, who themselves have prohted from
such measures so long and so greatly, Will disap-
prove action.
The reiiners whether in or out of a trust, derive
no benefit whatever from this 40 per cent duty upon
the raw material The total of all they receive
| is one-eighth of cent per pound equivalent TO
only per cent ad valorem and reduction, as !
have already stated of 10 cent in the protection
afforded by the present law. Ithas been urged that.
even though portion of their present advantage be
of the refiners should be wholly eliminated. The
given is that there should be no increase
in duties manufactured products over the duties
on the raw materials for that has become estab-
| ished policy of the United States Government IT.
respective of party, but that those engaged in the
refining industry have effected combination which
makes exorbitant profits. That it has proited I'M
| duly under the present Republican law there can
under the greatly reduced rates of this bill is ques-
| ton. In any event. those who have given the SUD
iect most careful attention are CONVINCED that TINS
is as far as we can go at this time without endan-
gering the industry itself in direct defiance of the
general policy enuneiated by Mr.. Cleveland.
Believing that to be case L. for one-and am con-
| fdent that Il majority of my colleagues take the
same position-do not propose 10 be turned from
my line of duty by criticism based partially, with
hope upon ignorance. Nor, if can prevent it,
shall Republican Senators succeed in their obvious
endeavor TO defeat tariff reform by singing out TINS
one industry for attack and taking advantage OF
that which they falsely assume TO be the credulity
of the public mind
The same rule applies and has guided us in plac-
ing duty upon such agricultural implements, pc
troleum, etc, as are imported from countries which
tax those products of our own. This is neither a
Democratic Republican policy. 1t is national
The Democratic party has always recognized the
general wisdom, even necessity, of discriminating
against those who discriminate against us, and the
Republicans even went so far as TO make this prn-
ciple the basis of their reciprocity experiments.
The articles referred to admitted free OF duty
from all countries except those which refuse to our
producers and manufacturers equal privileges. 10
ignore the manifest discrimination against US oil
the few remaining would serve only 70 confer Il
benefit upon other nations because of dissensions
among and at the expense of ourselves. The hTst
of action in dealing with other powers and we can
not maintain this principle II we permit internal
differences to foster external imposition.
So much for the general policy when mas beeh
observed in the placing of customs duties. In the
matter of internal revenue, may say that person
ally am in full accord with the sentiments SO ABLY
and eloquently expressed by the Senators from New
York and New Jersey regarding the income TAX.
Like them consider that it served its purpose as
war and has fitting place in our fiscal system
in time of peace. could not, say frankly, vote
conscientiously or consistently with my Judgment
and convictions TO make this method OF taxauon
part of our settled policy But much as deplore
the fastening of an income tax IN any form upon
majority of NV Democratic honestly differ
from myself in this matter and are so confident OF
the soundness of their position that they are willing
TO subject il to the test OF few years. thus enabling
the people to its actual workings and then pass
upon il directly.
In these circumstances and in view of the neces-
sity OF obtaining additional revenue from some
source if we would reduce customs taxation, with
out disavowing the frightful financial obligations
heaped up by Republican legislation or further in
creasing the debt of the Government cannot as a
Democrat bound in honor to let no ordinary preju-
dice difference in opinion prevent the passage OF
tariff measure refuse to vote for this amendment,
simply and solely, however. as an emergency TAX.
1t is true that this measure is satisfactory TO
our friends on the other side. We dld not expect
that it would be. may, indeed, confess that it was
not drawn with that object in view. lnasmuch,
however, as we do not profess to have monopoly
of economic wisdom, we have listened attenuvely
to the objections they have raised and the criti-
cisms they have made hoping TO profit by any I'M
selfish suggestions which might by chance escape
from their stores of knowledge l can only express
regret that we have listened in vain. II is unne-
cessary to their assersons for the sim
pie reason that they contradict, re1pte, ana con-
found each other TO degree which have never
seen before in serious debate upon great ques-
ton We told in one breath that this IS free
trade measure that it means ruin TO our industries
starvation to our workingmen. and disaster TO the
country. But before our minds are able 10 grasp
the full force of this dreful prediction, we are IN
formed with a smirk of apparent satisfaction that
we have sold out our party and indorsed Mckinley-
ism, protection for projections sake and all the
attendant evils which the people pronounced
against at the last national election.
We are rebuked in one moment for not fulfilling
what they are pleased to consider Democratic
pledges and we warned in the next that the peo-
pie have reconsidered their determination and now
through local elections order halt We hear a bill
imposing duty of one-eighth of cent per pound
OH refined sugar designated as sugar trust lar
if " by the very Senator who voted to impose
duty four times great upon the same article only
four years ago. We called traitors 10 the Con-
stitution and pronounced guilty of perjury by Sen
ator whose vote placed rutherford Is. Hayes IN tne
Presidential chair.
Ii is plain that our Republican friends do notlike
this bill But why? One, because it will ruin our
industries. Another. because it protects them a
third, because 1t is not what the people demanded
two years ago fourth because the people have
During nv service in this Chamber, Mr.. Presi-
dent have seen many examples of Inconsistency,
some of demagogy a few of hypocrisy, but nave
never seen and hope never again TO see so many oil
all combined injected into single debate as nave
been crowded into this
Our friends seem to take particular dellgnt IN
dwelling at length upon the declarations OF the
latest Democratic National Convention. They seem
Unable to comprehend that their discourses upon
the subject. while interesting, doubtless to them
selves and possibly to their more partisan consutu-
ents. are without the slightest Importance, Inc
question of what constitutes fulflment oil pledges
lies wholly between the Democratic party and the
American people, and If the Senators on the otner
side think for a moment they can mislead the one
have succeeded only in undertaking the intelligence
of both.
necessary delay is of so little consequence that It
hardly merits attention. But II comparisons are
sought they may be had Where do uley stand?
What do they want? What do they advise?
They insist, first. that we are pledged to enact
free-trade measure.
They declare, second, that such measure wonld
bring disaster upon the country.
They demand, third, that this be DONE
Why? Because disaster TO the country would
mean defeat of the Democratic party at the next
election, and they, who have been tried, found
guilty, and sentenced TO oblivion would have an
other chance. On their own statements they are
ready and willing. even eager, to sacrifice their
country to save their party These are the unselsh
patriots who arraign us for not accomplishing in
April what they failed TO do till September. These
are the men who talk to of breach of trust. be-
trayal and perjury Condemnation, sir, from such
a source is the highest praise. We can accept 1t as
such without the slightest apprehension that the
people will err in their Judgment.
/ think, Mr. President have spoken with sufi-
cient candor to satisfy the most exacting. have
acknowledged without hesitation our responsibility
for the delay occasioned by circumstances beyond
our control in the construction of satisfactory
revenue measure. | have frankly admitted, If not
the justice Of least excuse for the criticism of
our friends in the unsettled condition OF affairs
But all that is of the past Here responsibility
ends. The blame for any further delay in the set
Element OF this question must rest upon the other
side of this chamber We are ready for final vote
today-now, at once. Every hour occupied by use
less debate from this moment must be charged up
to the Republican party, If the Representatives OF
that party are sincere in their expressions of belief
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