The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-07-23


letter that part which says:
zone topic will be submitted to the con-
ference which embodies democratic prnc-
pie so directly that it cannot be compro-
missed We have in our platform, and in
every way possible, declared in favor Of
the free importation of raw materials. We
have again and again promised that this
should be accorded to people and our
manufacturers as soon as the democratic
party was invested with the power to de-
termine the tariff policy of the country.
The party now has the power. We are as
certain today we have ever been or the
great benefit that would accrue to the
country from the inauguration of this pol
ICY and nothing has occurred to E4ease us
from our obligation to secure this adVan-
tage to our people. 1t must be admitted
that no tariff measure can accord with
democratic principles and promises, or bear
a genuine democratic badge that does not
provide for free raw material. In the cir
cumstances it may well excite our wonder
| that democrats are willing to depart from
this, the most democratic of all tarH prin-
ciples and that the inconsistent absurd1ty
| of such a proposed departure should De
emphasized by the suggestion that the Wool
| of The farmer be put on the free list and
| the protection of taxation be placed around
| the iron ore and coal of corporations ana
| after indulgng in such outrageous dis
| examinations and violations Of principle!
at is quite apparent that this question
| Of raw material does not admit OF ADJUST
ment on any middle ground since their SUD
| lection to any rate Of taxation, great or
small, is like violation o OF aehoefa''c
Hiil Defends Cleveland.
| Mr. Hill then proceeded:
"Mr. President, I approve every word
have quoted. 1t is an honest and manly
| statement of the true attitude whlch the
party should assume in this CRISIS
Il am not required to defend the pro
| nriety or wisdom of the PRONUNCIATION OF
| this letter at this particular time 1t may
! have been indiscreet, it may operate as a
| frebrand to spread flames OF olscord al
| ready kindled among party frlends, honest
| w differing as l disposed to concede,
nnon ouestions of public and party policy.
| # NAV widen the breach already existing
| in this senate. and in that view, IL may
! be regarded as unfortunate and i'll advised
| II was a time for diplomacy, statesman
shin and cancellation, rather than recrlm-
| nation denunciatiOn ana arrangement
But aside from the questlon o. us us VIII
dents letter in 50 Tar as 1t oe1nanus lnde
the party shall not be led astray INTO the
violation of democratic pledges and prlhcl-
I1pon the question Of free raw materials
the president is right, and you know you
cannot answer his arguments. You cannot
successfully dispute his propositions ! GU
cannot doubt his sincerity ana PATRIOTISM.
You must yield in the end to hIs views.
You cannot stand up against the sentlment
of the great democratic masses Ct tne
dent in his contest with you in this par
ticujar branch of the subject. The time to
yield is now before there IS further humii-
iatiOn. embarrassment and dlScord 1890
Having disposed of the theory. Mr. Hlil
proceeded to discuss the condition when
now confronts the party, which he charac-
terized as one of extreme embarrassment
to the party. He held that the president
letter clearly foreshadowed veto or the
senate bill. and he added that the preSldent
is right-there is no middle ground. lie
then proceeded:
The Presidents Position.
eff the president. in his wisdom, had
seen fit, while the debate was progressing
in the senate, to have aided my efforts TO
secure adhesion to this principle by eX-
pressing his views in favor thereof, III some
proper and legitimate way, | should have
been gratified, and it unquestionably would
have been of practical benefit to the cause
| rejoice that he has expressed them, even
now, although | am not required to detend
the manner and form of their presenta-
ton, even if they required defense, which
[ do not assume. ! respectfully differ with
the president in his assumption that a tax
upon sugar is necessary at this time con-
ceding for the purposes of the argument
that an income tax is to be retained. Clear
ly both not needed for any legitimate
purposes of the treasury. That tact mas
been demonstrated over and over again dur
ing this debate. The president speaks or
the democratic principle and policy when
lead to the taxation of sugar. lie asserts
that in the taxation of sugar we are IN no
danger OF running counter 10 uSIilJcl dtlC
principles | am not now controVelllns
that ldea but desire only to suggest that
if it was desirable that sugar should pc
taxed as a legitimate ana loSlcal drtlc!e
OF revenue taxation, as he now says, II
seems strange that the president dld not
in his last annual message make some IN
timation suggestion recommendation
to that effect. Not a word OF that hilio
appears - I'm .,,;o;+,1
in his message, although it provided sub
stantialy for free raw sugar. He permit
ted the house to pass that measure without 1
a word of protest, suggestion or aoVlce
that there should be a tax on sugar whlcn
has come to be largely regarded as one I1;s, or
the trusted financial officer of his CABINET
speaking unquestionably eX cathedra, out
lined with great care the esaenra HI PIoT hnt
! made no Recommendation whatever for
tax upon sugar. While free sugar was
being carried through the house the admin
stra ton remained quiet ana p2sSlIeii p tha
now after the house has acted and the
country has been led to expect free s4g ar
| the administration shows its mana anu oe-
! clares for duty upon it. 4,o,,
Il am not antagonizing Its SUGGESTION:
! I am simply stating the facts OF recent
! history. Under the existing circumstances.
| with an income fax retained in TINS NIL
! voted for free sugar before. ana shall 20
| so agar III nv judgment. the house can
! not now h1norably retreat from IT'S posltlooln
! in favor of free sugar The presldent
| suggestion came too late. me senate hlus'
| recede from its amendments.
! A Caseof Lion and Lamh. says vest
Mr. Vest a member of the conference
| committee followed Mr.. Hill. 1t was, ne
! said, a subject OF congratulation Tor every
! democrat that the senator from New 1ork
| and the president of the United States were
| at last able to stand together on any plat
! form, after all. CLaughterD They We're
| both now urgently pleading for the enact
! rlent of a law that would give absolutely
| free raw materials. These distinguished
| statesmen had arrived at that uniflcatlon
| of opinion after much intellectual struggle
| and were now subject to the charge OF much
| inconsistency. So far as harmony coulo
! be produced, even to limited extent,
! within the democratic party, he CMr. Fesp
| Joined in the congratula tons that must
| come from every portion of the country on
| this union at last, of those two distinguish
| ed gentlemen.
1.-The political millennium. MI vest con-
! tinued, seems to have come upon us, dI
least in a modified degree. The non ana
lamb of New York nave lain down together:
ana the committee on ways ana means o.
the house now leads them. Which is the
lion and which is the lamb. leave TO ~,
ture ascertainment. for L am not Dold
enough now to enter on that
question. The senator from New
York tells us, as does the presl-
dent of the United States. that the cardinal
principle of democratic faith IN regard TO
tariff reform is free raw material Inc
president even goes farther than the dis
finguished senator and says that 1t is per