The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-25
VEST DENouNcEs THE PRESIDENT.
The MisSourinn Puts on His War
Paint and SnIIics Forth.

Paint and snIIics Forth.
Mr.. Vest took the floor when Mr. Hin
sat down. After the speech Of the sena-
tor from New York. ne began. It was a
subject of cougratulation that he and the
president had at last found a platform on
which both could stand. The lion and
lamb had All last lain down together and
were led as a little child by the ways
and means committee. lie left to others
10 decide which was the lion and which
was the lamb. The senator from New
York had said that free raw materials
was cardinal principle of democracy.
The president went further and declared
that failure To place raw materials on the
free list was democratic perfidy and dis
honor Why did not the senator from
New York vote for free wool, he asked.
Il did not vote on several motions when
the bill was in committee replied Mr..
Hill but / distinctly voted for free wool
In the senate"
eff my very soul was thrilling and pull
sating for free raw materials" retorted
Mr.. Vest, sarcastically. at the peril OF
my life l should have been on hand TO
vote on every roll-call for the cardinal
principle Of democracy"
Mr.. Vest then proceeded to read the
letter of acceptance Of President CleVe-
land In 1892. pronouncing in favor Of freer
raw material. Yet now he denounced freer
raw materials as periidy and dishonor.
In scathing tones he arraigned the presi-
dent. He had been his friend. he said.
In thunderous tones; he had defended
him on the floor OF the senate when his
friends could have been counted on the
fingers of one hand, Where did the
president get the right 10 dictate TO con-
gress to denOunce one branch OF con-
f-ress to the other2 Did ne embody in his
single being all the democracy, all the
tariff reform sentiment I'm this country
Mr.. Cleveland was a big man. But the
democratic party was greater than any
one man. IL had survived jefferson,
Madison, Jackson and IL would survive
Grover Cleveland. Under what clause
of the constitution did Mr.. Cleveland get
the right after a bill had been sent 10
full and free" conference between the
two houses TO make an appeal TO rs
party friends to stand by his individual
views2
Mrs. Madison had said. I'm 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 from
exercising an undue influence on the leg
islative branch Of the government. II the
president could send letters here to tell
his friends 20 stand firm. he had the
right To send his cabinet ministers here
to cOerce members of congress. He had
a right 10, as he had done during the
nRnt over the repeal OF the Sherman
law, punish recalcitrant members Of his
own party. Ii was a mOckery 10 talk
Of a full and free conference when one
Of the conferees came to the committee 8
room with the orders Of the president
In his pocket
Mr. Vest spoke with bitterness Of the
presidents denunciation of the senate bill.
which had been passed after four months
Of such toll and responsibility as he
should never assume again. Yes, he said,
those who were instrumental, in harmonic
ing the differences and bringing about
It's passage-tariff reformers before Mr.
Cleveland began his phenomenal career
had been arraigned as traitors who
sought TO dishonor their party. Personal
ly the bill did not suit him. He was a
radical tariff reformer. but If he could
not get all he would take what he could
get
II give 1t as my opinion" he declared
In conclusion. that we viii pass this
bill or no bill"
"Do you mean to say" asked Mr. AL
seat. that you did not know of the ex-
istence Of the presidents letter for the
seventeen days during which IL remained
in Mr.. Wilson's pocket?"
II do" replied Mr.. Vest.
And further / desire to say that I
knew personally that both the president
and Secretary Carlisle understood the diff
ficulties under which we were laborlng.
Mr.. Carlisle saw the original 400 amend
ments and urged us TO secure the passage
OF some bill at any sacrifice, declaring
the failure Of all tariff legislation 10 be
the greatest calamity that could happen
to the democratic party. Therefore, when
l first saw the presidents letter placing
on US tine Odium OF framing a bill that
means "A dlshonor TO the democratic party,
TO use but mild expression, was struck
with infinite amazement. / am not here
10 defend or attack the administration,
but TO proclaim the rectitude OF our mo-
tives.
THE defense which the senator from
New York has made of the president"
added Mr. Vest, reminds me OF desper-
ate murder case which / tried once. The
only defense was abe to make was that
TIE ace.eec yas suffering from such utter