The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-06-07
Plllilg T0getIel NOW.
CONTINUED from first page

yestigatiOn it always stops before the
discovery. The sugar scandal has
not proved, therefor, an exception
to the rule. The central fact in the
investigation is the specific charge,
made by reputable newspaper cor
respondent, that the sugar schedule in
the pending tariff bill was prepared
in the interest Of the sugar trust and
urgently advocated its adoption b.
the democratic members of the Sen
ate Finance Committee. 1t was
urged upon the ground that sugar
trust contributed d large sum Of
money to the democratic campaign
fund in 1892. He is quoted by
Edwards, the New York correspond
ent Of the Philadelphia Press, as say
ing:
Gentlemen, there is one thing that / am
bound 10 say TO you as earnestly and impress
sIyely as | can do it, and speak to you rs a
Democrat to Democrats No party or the
representatives Of no party can afford 70 IL
more honorable obligations | want to say
to you that there seems to be danger that
tins Is going to be done. Gentlemen assOCi-
atcd with the sugar refining interests Il may
tell you what, perhaps, you do not know
subscribed TO the campaign fund Of the De
mOCratlC party in 1892 "A very large sum of
money. They contributed several hundred
thousand dollars and at time when money
was urgently needed. | tell you that it
would be wrong. il would be infamous after
having accepted that important cOrtribu-
ton, given at time when it was impcra-
lively needed, for the Democratic party now
to turn around and strike down the men
who gave it. 1t must not be done. | trust
that you will prepare an amendment To III"
bill which Will be reasonable and in some
measure satisfactory to these interests
The ostenslble purpose of the in
Vestlgati0n is to ascertain what truth
there is in the statement. Edwards
appeared before the committee, told
all he knew about it, all he heard
about it, but declined to disclose the
source of his information. 1t was
given to him in confidence, and, if
false, its refutation could easily be
established. What better witness
than Carlisle himself? What better
testimony than Carlisle's to refute
the disgraceful charge? The commit
tee submits report recommending
the criminal prosecution of Edwards
upon the ground that he refuses to
answer an impairment and wholly
useless question. The object is re-
venge. What the Democrats want
is to know where the leak is. Who
unmasked the conspirators The
object, they know, was to defeat the
tariff bill, but who is the Democratic
lscariot. They think they know.
They suspect Hill, and since his OPP
position to the tariff bill they hate
and damn him. If the informant is
Hill the democratic leaders would
willingly accept the defeat of the
tariff, if by doing so, the fact could
be established. That is now the
dominating idea of the Investigation.
All the material witnesses-Whit-
ney, HoWmeyer, and Brice's New
York broke1s-have fled the coun-
try. Carlisle is the only witness
available, and he doesn't seem to be
in swearing humor. Possibly, III
time, Edwards may be sent to jail
for his coEtumacy, but it will not
satisfy the Indignation of the peo-
pie. Every pound of eight cents
sugar the farmer buys under the
sugar trust tariff bill will remind
him of his obligations to the Demo
cratic party. They will painfully
realize that forty-seven million dol
lars is big price to pay for demo-
cratic protective tariff legislation.
They will be fighting mad when
they realize that the sugar trust has
made fifty million dollars on its half
million investment in Cleyeland's
election. The remedy is at the bal
lot box. Smash the machine and
fight for an honest ballot.
JONATHAN EDWARDS.