Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-17
FIRST VOTE ON The TARIFF
A Republican Amendment
Rejected in the Senate.
ALDRICH IN A HAUNTING MOOD
Mills Protests Against Vio-
lating Pledges.


DaltltlOre sun special.
WASHINGTON, May 0.-For the first
time since the tariff debate began in the
Senate Republicans this morning made
a pretense, at least, of discussing the bill
by sections. Dlessrs. Allen and Sher-
man together had consumed two hours
OF the Senate's time in discussing the
Commonweal army and its invasion of
the Capitol grounds last week, so that it
was l o'clock before the Tariff bill was
taken up. Then the Republican Sena-
tors began crticising the first section of
the Tariff bill in manner so direct and
business-like that for time it looked as
ii some conclusion would be reached.
This indication, however, was delusive.
II was only u few moments before the
discussion had become general once
more and Messrs. Chandler, Aldrich and
Hale resumed their accustomed diver
sion of beratlng the Democrats for maxi
ing a botch of the Tariff bill. Mr.
Hale referred to the Democratic mem
beers Of the finance committee over
and over again as the supplemented
and open-hearted Senators until the
term became one of bitter sarcasm, and
Senators WINGED each time he uttered it.
He made no direct charges, but insinu-
ated that the trusts had obtained all
they wanted before the conservative
Democrats would agree upon bill of
any kind.
SENATOR ALDRIcH's TAUNTs.
Mr.. Aldrich took up the attack where
MIR. Hale left off, and with constantly
increasing feeling he demanded to know
how the Democrats could reconcile the
present high protective bill with the
promises of the party platform. He
read from the speeches of Senators
Mills and Voorhees, their denunciatton
of specific duties, and appealing to the
Senator from Texas he asked how he
could countenancc such measure as
the Senate has now before It, AS Sena-
tor Aldrich continued his speech the
interest of his auditors, both on the
floor aud in the galleries, increased.
Senator Mills sat grasping the arms of
his chair, evidently affected by the
thrusts of the Republican leader. Once
he rose to interrupt, but changed his
mind and allowed Senator Aldrich to
proceed.
Mr.. Aldrich, with much impress ment,
remarked there was no telling whether
still another bill might not be presented.
And no one can tell whether the indi-
vidual Senators on the Democratic side
who have the majority of their col
leagues by the throat, and who boast
they do not read newspapers which
speak for the interests of the people,
may not find it conducive to their selfish
purposes to demand still further conces-
sions for the benefit of the vested
monopolies with which they are afilli-
ated. They have separated from the
party which has honored them, and,
like all apostates, they hate 1t more and
love McKinleyism better than the origi-
nal devotees of that fraud and heresy.
Why should they read the independent
newspapers which are striving to hold
them to their solemn obligations2 Such
reading cannot be comforting to them.
But that will not help them, except, per-
haps, for brief season. The punish
ment for their folly and dishonor Is in
evitable, and whether or not they read
newspapers which reflect popular will
and advocate popular interests, that
punishment will overtake them.
A VIOLATION OF DEMOCRATIC PLEDGES.
Senator Mills, in au impassioned
strain, toed the Democratic mark. He
expressed his total dissent from the last
compromise bill, whether the father of
it was German or Brice. II was, he un-
equivocally declared, a violation of
Democratic pledge and promise. No
help,should come from him for its ad-
vancement. But as he had said before,
If it was the best he could get, he would
swallow 1t as even so little an improve.
ment on McKinleyism. The plain,
honest, frank works of the Texas Sena-
tor produced a profound sensation ON
the floor and ELECTED hearty and spon-
taneous applause in the galleries. SOON
sentative" Senators who only read
newspaper organs of the monopolies
and trusts showed their unwilling ap-
probation of his singing rebuke by
bowed heads and flushed faces. The
day will come when in sackcloth and
ashes, with moaning and lamentation,
they will pour forth unavailing regret
that they did not read the newspapers
which pointed out to them the path of
duty.
THE FIRST TEST OF STRENGTH.
Mr.. Lodge submitted his amendment
imposing double taxes upon all products
of Great Britain and colonies until that
agreement for the coinage of silver. His
remarks on this were altogether of a
specious ard insincere character. Sena-
tors Stewart and PETER, the Populists,
could not resist the temptation to bitch
in on so fruitful theme. The latter
was sagacious enough to discern the
hollowness of the Lodge argument and
capable enough to pick it to pieces.
Mn11 e
he was really serious in offering his
absurd proposition and received an
affirmative reply.
Senator Teller, who is par excellence
the apostle and defender of silver, held
that the United States could enunciate
and maintain its own silver policy with
out regard to what Great Britain or any
other country might or might not do.
But he went straightforward to say he
would by law prohibit anything what
ever from Great Britain coming into this
country until she relaxed her opposition
TO silver. Indications on the Republican
side showed practically united front
in favor of the amendment. Under
cover of silver it afforded the oppor-
tunity to levy upon Great Britain duties
in many instances heavier than the ex-
listing rates prescribed by the Mckinley
act. No greater protection triumph
could possibly be achieved. While, as
characterized, the amendment was alb
surd in the abstract, it was most Gun
ningly devised to cater to the silver
sentiment on the Democratic side and
place that element in an embarrassing
position.
The hope and the design was to
widen still more the breach in the
Democratic ranks. Mr.. Vest, who is a