Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-07-30
BRIDGES BURNED.

The situation in the Senate is dra-
matte. If the President burned all
bridges behind him by his letter, Sen
ator German by his speech did the
same for himself and his associates,
and placed the President in a. most
unenviable position. If Mr.. Gorman's
statements, and those of other Sena-
tors who have unblemished reputation
for truthfulness, are even in the main
correct, they convict the President of
bad faith toward the chosen leaders
of his party in the Senate. Mr.. Cleve-
lands letter to Chairman Wilson ac-
cused Democratic Senators of perhdy
and 0ishonor, and declared that their
bill was q corrupt abandonment OF
Democratic pledges and principles.
Mr.. German answers that the Pres1-
dent was consulted about it at every
stage, that his Secretary of the Treas
ury knew and advised every step and
publicly commended the compromise
when completed, that Mr.. Carlisie's
published interview of April 80, given
the Presidents views, "softened the
hard places" and made it possible to
unite votes enough for the bill, and
that the President himself was person
aIIy consulted after the details had
been arranged, and even after the
date of his letter to Chairman Wilson,
and fully approved what had been
done.
Senator Gorman's statement was
fully sustained, particularly as TO Mr..
Carlisle's constant knowledge and the
effect OF the Presidents final approv-
al, by Senator Vest. Then Senators
Jones and Harris stated their person
al interviews with the President, their
discussion with him of the proposed
coal and iron duties and his positive
assent to these amendments and ur-
gency for the passage Of the bill thus
amended. With this evidence before
the Senate, there was clearly founda-
ton for the bitter attack upon the
President which rendered Mr.. Cor
mans speech ore Of the most excit-
ing ever heard in the Senate. He
mercilessly exposed the strong inter-
est of close friends of the President in
the Nova Scotia coal syndicate, de-
claring that for one he would fight
against subjecting the people to this
foreign Trust, and asserting that he
owed the President nothing, but had
manfully and faithfully fought to ell
ect him Through all slime and filth of
the contest" of 1894.
The President must perceive that
the situation demands from him a
difficult explanation. His position
before the country, and in his party
as well, is involved. If he deliberate
ly entrapped his party friends into
position where he could brand them
with ''perfdy and dishonor," and
with the passage of a corrupt meas
ure, pretending to accept and approve
it even after such a denunciation Of
it was written, he will hardly be able
in future to command the confidence
he has constantly claimed for conse
Grated integrity of character and pur-
ity of motives.
The fight between Democratic lead
ers seems now to be for the purpose
of fastening upon each other respon-
sibiIity for the defeat of Democratic
tariff bill. 1t is hard to see how
agreement can be longer expected or
desired. After being included among
the 'scowards in higher places who
did not dare show thier heads" when
other men saved the liberties of the
country, President Cleveland is not
supposed to be the man to
be driven by such scathing words into
signing bill branded by him as cor
rupt and dishonorable. Neither can J