Evening journal., 1894-07-21

plished that purpose to tlcir e.1.las.,iss
credit, be- it said
He had been one of those who had stood
out for concessions in the interests of his
constituents. He made no concealment of
his position them he made none now. He
then proceeded 60 deliver a glowing eulo-
gy Of the tariff bill as it passed the senate,
which, unlike the house bill, he declared,
contained no menace to the industries Of
the country and had not been framed by
men from sparsely settled districts who
knew nothing Of the great commercial in
terests of the United States
They Were Free Traders.
He asserted that the trainers Of the
house bill and large proportion of the
Democratic party were not tariff reform
ers. they were free traders. Personally,
ne said he believed in the theory Of free
raw materials. but at time when min
ers were hardly able to keep the wolf from
the door, on the heels Of the greatest min
ing strike I'm our history, he did not be-
lieve that the Democratic party could af-
ford to run the risk of striking down this
vast industry. A broad smile ran round
the senate as the New Jersey senator gave
utterance TO this sentiment.
The president in his letter accepting
the nomination, had favored not free but
freer raw materials He proceeded TO point
out the reductions that the senate bill
made on coal, iron and lead ore and de-
tailed at length the reduction on other
schedules. Then the speaker touched on
sugar. majority of 80 in the house
had enabled that body, he said, to ride
roughshOd over the wishes of the repre-
sentatives of the sugar producing states,
and in the face Of the presidents protest
the chairman pf the ways and means COM
mittee proposed TO place sugar, raw and
refined, on the free list in separate hill.
He declared that he should vote for the
resolution TO further insist on the senate
amendments. So far as he was concerned,
he should neger make another concession.
He had reached the limit; he was done. If
he were member of the conference COM
mittee nc should say to the house: "This
Is our bill prepared with infinite labor
and pains 1t is our ultimatum. We will
not recede a hairsbreadth. There is the bill.
You can take It or leave it. 1t must be
this bill or nothing"
This, said the New Jersey senator in
conclusion, lis all 1 have to say, and 1
trust it will be considered enough"
senator Hin's Reply.
When Mr.. Smith concluded, Mr. Hill
(Dem., y. W jumped to his feet, and,
being recognized, spoke in part as follows;
A theory as well as a condition now
confronts us. The theory of the Demo
cratic party is that in the enactment of
tariff legislation free raw materials should
always DO an essential and conspicuous ell
ement.
1t is our creed that the materials which
| inf tfur cho hn
freed from the burden of tariff taxation
The best interests of the manufacturers as
well as the consumers of the land demand
the recognition Of this wise discrimina-
tion
We are committed to this side Of the
question, and we cannot retreat, and we
cannot retraot. We are honorably bound
TO redeem our professions and our prom
ises. Justice, good faith and decent re
gard for public sentiment all require this
course.
Until recently 1 had supposed that there
was no dispute upon this question of prin-
ciple, but that every Democrat worthy Of
the name was willing to concede that II
there was one thing more than another to
which the Democratic party was commit
ted It was in favor of the doctrine Of alb
solutely free raw materials.
| Inc true ana honest construction OF
every Democratic natioaal platform for ~
years past irrevocably commits us to this
just and reasonable principle
Mr.. Hill read the Democratic national
platform of 1892 and continued:
To repeal the Mckinley law in form
| simply, 30 re-enact 1t in effect, is keeping
this promise to the letter, but breaking it
in spirit. The platform pointed with
pride and deliberately approved the meas
ures for free iron ore, free lead ore, free
4 coal and FREQ wool, which were pending in
congress at the time Of the convention.
Must Fulnm Promises.
The Democratic position was so plain
and is so clear that he who runs may read.
If any Democratic orator in any part Of
the country, forgetting the interests of the
whole land and subscribing the supposed
interests of a locality, promised the people
of any state or section that there would
be any exception made to the enforcement
Of the general principle Of free raw ma
terials when the Democrats should obtain
power, he exceeded his authority and mis-
interpreted our position.
1t is said by some in justification Of OF
excuse for their present action that the
presidents letter Of acceptance in 1899