The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-15
BOURKE COCHRAN's ELOQUENCE,

In the tariff discussion in the house
on Saturday the Dsmocracy's most elo-
quent orator, Bourke Cochran of New
York was the leading speaker in defence
Of the Wilson bill. Recognized as one
of the most gifted orators in the
national legislature, and man
above the average in point Of intelli-
gence one had a right TO expect
that he would advance some good
reason why the nation should
exchange the system under which
business has been conducted during
the past thirty years for an untried
theory, but TO such reason was forth
coming. TO deny that his speech was
bright, entertaining and at times elo-
quent, would be to deny the truth, but
to regard 1T as a logical presentation of
the reasons why the Wilson bill
should be adopted would be equally
as untru,hful. AS the lawyers
would say he entered general
denial against the Indictment
brought against the bill by the Repub-
lican leader and by the thousands of
wage.earneis who have sent their signed
protests to congress agsin't its passage.
Taking up the objections against the
bill he said tina. If he believed that
this bill wonld reduce the revenue he
would not support it, That was among
his earliest statements and should be
considered.
Secretary Carlisle, who as the head of
the treasury department, declares that
the government receipts will show de-
felt Of $40, 600, 900 during the present
fiscal year. A revenue bill has been
prepared to raise the amount of this
deficit by direct taxation.
Does Congressman Cochran pretend
that he doesn't know these things or
was he merely talking to gain the ap-
plause OF the galleries?
Taking upa statement made by Ex-
Governor Dingley the other day that the
increase of imports of $3.50, 900, 900 of such
goods as we ought to produce ourselves
would decreae the production of this
country TO the extent of $3.50, 600, ,O0),
he sarcastically replied that 1.-The objec-
tions on the other side were two-fcld-
one was that it would increase business
and the other was that it would decrease
business, and strange to say, both argu-
ments had been made by the same gen.
tlemau."
If Mr. Cochran is really unable, as he
pretends to be, TO see the force of the
argument, the working men of this
country, who see the danger which
threatens them by the displacement of
the product OF tneir labor by the pro-
duct of the labor of Europe, have no
difficulty in app.eciating it.
Continuing on this same line of argu-
ment he sarcastically remarked that
"the gentleman from Maine thinks that
if we have tribute of $3.50, 900, 900 in
money we are better off than il we have
trlDute OF sSou,VVO,OVO In goods, and
Democratic laughter and applause fol-
lowed this sally.
Mr.. Cochran failed TO perceive the
weakness Of his own argument. but IL
is very apparent A tribute OF $3.50
100000 year in money means that
American labor has been given EN-
ployment enough to produce that
amount in manufactured products a
tribute of $3.50, 1000, 900 in goods means
that foreign labor has received that EN-
ployment, which under the other
proposition was given TO American
labor. Is Mr.. Cochran legislating to
provide employment for the working
people OF Europe. or is he working in
behalf OF American labor?