Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-14

was an experimental application of a
theory. The exact result of its operations
could not safely be predicted, because no
one could understand with absolute pre-
cfsion the exact measure of protection
which it would extend to each article cata-
logued in its hundreds of paragraphs
The Mckinley bill was designed as an
exempllfcation of the republican idea of
what fostering encouragement was due TO
American capital and labor. 1t was not
perfect. nor considered by its authors TO be
perfect. Nothing can be more certain than
that. Even had not the democratic party
succeeded In 1892 a revision of the Nc
kinley law at the hands of the party which
enacted 1t, would nevertheless, in time be
necessary. am prepared 10 make this ad-
mission freely, and even to carry il SO far
as 10 state, speaking for myself, that If the
present Congress could devise a reasona ble
measure which would permit the continued
employment of American labor and capital
at living wages and fair profits even
though involving reductions, in some in
stances perhaps large reductions from
present rates of duties. with the under
our dispute for term of years, / would not
oppose 1t.
Program Of Destruction.
But no such bill is before u.s. Instead of
| being stripped of the absurdities with
which 1t came from the branch OF Congress
In which 1t necessarily originated, it has
peen made more grotesque than ever. The
majority offer a program of destruction
instead of policy of preservation: Under
the guise of tariff for revenue they give
us a tariff of revenge
In this measure of mingled ,nalice cor,
promise and sectionalism now presented TO
the Senate, the misrepresentation and per-
version of public opinion as expressed al
the polls, to which i referred as an Incl
SprlOllS Ilar to
ring elections, found fullest play
Inc leaders of the party whose candi-
dates have been successful at the polls NAV
point TO the platform and say, Upon these
principles We were intrusted by the people
with power; those who elected our candi-
dates expect US to write our platform on
the statute books" 1t is true that the ma
Jority of this Congress have signally re-
pudiated nearly every plank of the Chicago
platform, with the single exception Of re-
moving every safeguard against fraud AT
the polls; and II is in the case of the pend
ing bill notable that the leaders of This a.
tack upon American industries have openly
abandoned the doctrine of the confederate
constitution, that protective duties are un-
constitutional
But / say again the result of any presi-
Dental campaign may be determined by
causes entirely foreign to party platforms
An administration controlled by an over
mastering consciousness of its own destiny
may determine to prolong its lease of power
from the party which conferred its tenure
With pledges of place and honor for the
ambitious; with weap apons less worthy of
its noble aspirations for the venal; with i'm
perlal authority over federal office holders
such an administration might accomplish
nominations not in accord with the feeling
and Judgment Of the mass of the party
II IS the men whose votes were cast in
error or judgment whose welfare is most
threatened by the pending bill.
The Gravest Question Involved.
posed reckless reduction of customs duties
is the effect upon the reward of labor. The
problem which the majority OF this body
have failed to meet is so to legislste that
thousands of unemployed workmen shall
not tramp our highways, that their wives
may not come to beggary and their sons
ana daughters to crime and shame
Such a result / reluctantly but solar,n,y
peneVe VIII follow the passage of this bill
ana II is impossible that it shall be ac,
uei.,s; 0epJsu IN doclle submission. The American
hsman Will not relinquish even the
comforts to which he has been accustomed
unQer the protective system nor will he
strn snaeEss privatiOn without a protest and
NO one In this chamber can be deceived nv,
thls mongrel measure. In its original form
Ihe Dill came from the inner shrine Of the
aemocratic party. 1t was the emanation OF
lts deity and too sacred to be defiled nv
earnest opposition. In the other branch Of
congress, therefore, IL received the votes OF
many who. during its discussion. had nro
tested most vociferously against its destruc-
i've effect upon their constituencies
The same superstitious devotion NAV Milf
mately be witnessed in this body. The fetich
comes before us from the committee on
nnance In strange form, bearing amend
ments the insertion of which deiss raason-
apie explanation and which cannot he
twisted into symmetry with the original
Ihey Will probably disappear in the com
mlttee OF conference, IL conference IS
reacheo' as mysteriously as they appeared
in the committee on finance
should the Measure Become a Law.
Should the pending measure become a law
a grave monetary problem will Immediately
confront the American people
We may, with occasional distress. accent
the foreign money standard. But a foreign
commercial policy cannot be appended to a
foreign financial policy without practical
sacrifice of our autonomy and a return to a
colonial dependence upon Great Britain.
The contemplation of such a policy leads
to the suggestion of bimetallism. But hi
metallism would not meet the monetary
eAlgency winch would confront the country
upon an abolition of the customs tar1r
Bimetallism can he sustained by no one
nation. Ii is only possible by an agreement
between the leading governments of the
world in armed convention.
III protection by customs r1ust fou m
prehehd mat silver monometa llisn. in the
new world is necessarily precedent 70 hi
metallism in the old world
Mr Quay continued at length, reviewing
me ene history OF tariff legislation in this
country ana showing the effects of high tar
iffs and low tariffs on the Industries Of tho
country He tpoke with emphasis and tn
parent earnestness OF the ruin which the
tss passage OF the Wilson bill would bring to