The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-21
AN AMENDMENT THAT Is LOADED.

AN AMENDMENT THAT Is LOADED.
A cablegram says that the London Times
contains "a sarcastic leading article on
Senator Lodges amendment to the tariff
bill proposing to lay difrerential duties on
certain imports from Great Britain or her
colonies until Great Britain shall agree
with the United States on basis for the
coinage and use Of silver. The alleged sar-
casm Of the Times article probably lies in
the reminder to Senator Lodge Of the ex-
istence of a treaty forbiddng the United
States TO impose on British goods any
higher duties than those levied on goods
Of the same kind imported from countries
other than Great Britain. This would in
deed be well directed sarcasm and a good
Like on Senator Lodge If he had laid him
self open to be called down by the Times
in that manner. but he did not. His pro-
posed amendment expressly saves all treaty
I! obligations. AS II is likely TO furnish an
interesting episode in the tariff debate it
| is given in full:
When not in contravention of any exist
4
preceding sections shall, II the product
manufacture of Great Britain of any
OF the colonies Of Great Britain, pay a
duty double that herein imposed; and, when
not in contravention of any existing treaty
any article upon the free list in the pre-
ceding section shall, If the product or man.
ufacture of Great Britain, or of any OF the
colonies of Great Britain, pay a duty Of
| 30 per cent ad valorem. except wool. which
| the tariff act OF Oct. l. 1890 and such adj
ditional and discriminating duties upon the
| products or manufactures of Great Britain,
/ or these colonies shall remain In force until
Great Britain shall assent to and take part
| In an international agreement together
| with the United States for the coinage and
use of silver: and whenever Great Britain
| shall assent to and take part in such inter-
national agreement for the coinage OF
| silver then the additional and discriminat-
/ ing duties herein imposed upon the prod
| ucts OF Great Britain and her colonies
| shall cease.
| 1t will be observed that the amendment is
only proposed TO apply In cases where ex-
| listing treaties will permit Senator Lodge
is much too bright a man to overlook the
man TO propose to violate one. AS to the
| merits OF his amendment it may be re-
| marked that il is loaded. 1t links the
| tariff and silver questions together in a
L
free trade and free silver Democrats. In
| the first place. 1t is distinctly in the inter
| est of silver, since 1t proposes to bring
coercion to bear on Great Britain to COM
| pei her to come to an international agree
ment in the coinage of silver. No honest
| friend of s.:ver object to this. How
ever opinions may differ as to the policy
of fres silver coinage by the United States
without an international agreement. no rea-
/ sonable person can doubt for a moment
that If such an agreement could be reached
1t would furnish a solution of the whole
question. AT present England is the great
obstacle in the way of an international con-
ference on the subject. She will not yield
to persuasion or argument, and nothing but
self-interest will bring her TO terms The
Lodge amendment strikes at a tender point
by imposing practically prohibitive duties
on British importations which she can at
any moment terminate by conserving to BIZ
metallism.
| Republican Senators will have no diff
cause they favor international bimetallism
and they also favor protection to Ameri-
can industries and products. But it will
be interesting to watch the course of the
Southern silver Democrats. who will be
forced TO choose between protection and
silver. VIII they vote TO impose prohibit
tive duties on British imports and thereby
bring England to terms on the silver ques-
ton, or will they throw silver overheard
and vote for free trade? The amendment
opens a new and interesting field OF dis
cussion in which the tariff and silver ques-
tons will figure with equal prominence.
Senator Lodge. always friendly to silver.
has recently become an outspoken advo-
cate of international bimetallism. He is
also an ardent supporter of protection to
American industries. His proposed amend
both policies in one speech, and the Journal
predicts that when the amendment Is
reached he will make a great speech In
favor of ii. The amendment is one or
great Importance, and the debate upon 1t
is likely TO be the most interesting passage
| in the entire discussion of the tariff bill.
1
VOORHEES, AND THE SENTINEL.
That Senator Voorhees, should be enraged
| at the Sentinel is very natural That IA per