Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-07-26


We print to-day the most important
part of Senator Gray's speech of Friday,
defining his attitude on the tariff ouos-
ton in relation TO the deliyerance Of the
President insisting upon more faith
full compliance with the pledges and the
platform of the Democratic party. The
text of this speech goes far to clear up
some of the apparent inconsistencies Of
the brief summary sent out to the press
OF Saturday. 1t is true that Senator
Gray said in the opening of his remarks:
Although cannot speak with absolute
certainty, do not believe there will be
found precedent in the recent history of
the Senate where it has, on the first report
of disagreement between the two houses
and surrounded by conditions anything
approximating those which now exist, de
termined to recede from the position ii
. had taken after due deliberation or to ill.,
continently retreat i'll the face Of the de.
termined stand of the other house, or of
threats from any quarter, be they what
they may.
So far Senator Gray goes in criticism,
perhaps we may say, in resentment, Of
President Cleyeland's arraignment of
the Senate bill as an abandonment of
Democratic pledges which 'means party
perfdy and party dishouor," aud there
are other illusions to what he evidently
regards as an untimely reproof from the
President, as in the concluding portion
of the extract from the speech we print,
where Mr.. Gray says:
l could no doubt receive the applause of
many valued friends at home by telling
them how heroically ! was standing for
the things that they stood for and that
was so heroic and so firm that would
not abate one jOt or little of my opinion,
even though ali adherence to it inflicted
the Mckinley law on the country for All
indefinite number of years in the future.
Tam not that kind of Democrat.
But, while we could easily point out,
from the Presidents letter, that he does
not stand out for every "jot or tittle' Of
his opinion, but, on the contrary is will
ing to yield a great deal in matters
which do not violate fixed and recog-
4 nized Democratic doctrine" yet we find
in Mr.. Gray's speech, taken as whole,
an admission that the President is
entirely right as matter of principle
anu tnat the Senate bill is defensible
only upon the ground that it was the
best measure that, in Mr.. Gray's iudg-
ment, 1t was possible, at the time, to
pass in that body, where, as he says
/, any political gambler could take US by
the throat and say, by not voting for
this bill put the bill in jeopardy, or
defeat It, That we have had to con
front, and we did confront it, and we
overcame it, and by Gods blessing we
4 shall overcome the remaining obstacles
that lie in the path Of the achievement
to which the Democratic party is
pledged" And he said in another place :
u a., does not marx the achievements in
wonid reia; cs w y, aafdi. ieh.sla5l9n mat
the Senator from Missouri said. il aid
record the best efforts OF those who in the
Lst in ddina thai tbimo s"eceeueu at
) OF course. there was NO mood IN NJ
Gray's mart n reassnro his ;r,r,odia,a
constituents or thc noonle of t,,o ,rneIa
country. that he il nerson.rn ,r,,a ~
ever to the cansn ~ al ,o.;r -,
I or that he did all that Ne could - hrin -
L about the passage of The last obioc,ion7'
! able bill that could get tho nocoSsarn 10
i votes in the Senate ~ tbo linz p,,,,;.
was before the President had snoI,aa IL i,
tones that make it reasonable cIoar 49, =,
there must be more tori,f rof,rn, j. 49,, 49,
bill before il will receive m onnroraf
and in 81 doirr Ia. t,,ra,ra NJ, ,p'o,"''
Gray speaks the Responsibility a.