Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-07-20
Defies His Party.

The Tariff bill passed the Senate on
Tuesday evening July 10TH having a ma
jority of five votes. Before casting his
vote against the bill Senator Hill. who
was the only Democrat who opposed il
made this defiant speech:
"'rhe majority of the Democratic Sena-
tors of this body (of which thirty-one are
from the South. allied with the three
Populists and with six Republicans. have
insisted upon the retention of an income
tax in the pending measure. l have
earnestly appealed to my party friends to
eliminate this Objectionable feature. But
my appeals have been in vain. have
warned them of the danger to which, in
my judgment they were unnecessarily sub
jecting the Democratic party, but they
have chosen to disregard them, as was
their privilege. They have preferred the
retention of an odious income tax in a
Tariff bill. regardless of what the con-
sequence may be. Mr.. President the
course which has thus been marked out is
unwise, inexcusable and unnecessary. 1t
resembles the greater folly of thirty three
years ago, when the Democratic party was
rent in twain and Republicanism triumph
ed for twenty.four years thereafter. In
my opinion it imperis the possibility of
permanent Democratic success in any
Northern State for many years to come
You array against us in almost solid front
the entire business men of the country.
You foist upon the party a principle of
taxation never sanctioned by any Demo.
cratic National Convention.
"You do not seem to realize that you
have no jurisdiction to add to or change
the principles of our party, but you ois
regard precedent in your mad haste to
ADOPT Populistc principle. You have
purposely and obstinately insisted upon
retaining an income tax in this bill. so as
TO compel Democratic Senators either to
vote for the income tax or TO vote against
the whole bill. You have left them no
other alternative.
"This was unfair, unjust, unpolitic.
This course was adopted, not thought
lessly. but designedly; not that you loved
tariff reform less, but you loved an in
come tax more. Mr.. President. as be-
tween Popolistic income tax on the one
hand and Republican Tariff law on the
other choose the latter as the least of
two evils, As between perncious class
legislation, fraught with dangerous con
sequence to the country. on the one hand.
and simply high tariff taxation on the
other, prefer to endure the latter, at
least for brief period, if am compelled
to choose between them. do this with.
out some reluctance. because always re-
gret to differ with party friends. but the
consciousness of right and my own self,
respect forbid any other course. Besides
you have made my path of duty an easy
e one The Senate bill, the German Com
promise bill, as it is now generally known
In the press throughout the country-I
mean the bill In its present shape--ls
neither satisfactory to the Democratic
n ha l.
mistaking public sentiment upon this point.
The true principles of tariff reform have
been sacrificed In the effort to insure the
retention OF an income tax. This the
country believes; this the country under
stands. We promised the people bread,
and we are giving them a stone. We
promised them free raw materials. and We
are giving them taxed coal, taxed iron ore,
taxed coke. taxed lead ore and other taxed
raw materials. They expected free raw
sugar, but We are taxing not only that
article. but other necessaries of life. We
do not need both sugar tax and an in
come tax: but il seems that considerations
other than those OF revenues to the Treas
ury have dictated and retained both.
''The provisions of the bill are not CON
ststent; the violate well established Demo.
cratic principles; they are unfair in their
determinations, and their enactment will
place the Democratic party in false and
untenable position. Ii is clear the bill in
Its present form should be changed. mOdi
fed and improved. This could easily be
done. and IL is our duty to do ii now, be
fore II Is too late. AS il now stands. IL
puts our party on the defensive; il re
pudates our pledges it exposes us to Just
criticism and ridicule, which ought to be
avoided. Eliminate the income tax. and
there Is no difficulty In framing an honest,
consistent aud genuine Tariff bill upon
strict revenue lines. with all raw materials
free. which can be passed by the vote of
every Democratic Senator without the aid
OF single Populist vote. and which the
country would welcome and approve
This IL not even pretended to be such
measure. Numerous Senators around the
Democratic side OF this chamber must feel
as though Democratic principles have
been surrounded or bartered away TO
secure the triumph Of this botched com
promise measure. which is really accept.
able TO no one. | am sure that II they ex-
pressed their honest sentiments they do
not approve this bill any more than | do.
The ISSUE Of tariff reform had better be-
postponed aud preserved intact rather than |
emssculaied. dishgured aud drspolled In |
The manner now proposed Let there De /
genuine, sincere anu essential triumph /
for the cause Of reveaue revision or none
- all II Republican protection was a
ffaui aud robbery, as ue declared in the 1
Chicago platform. II Democratic plotec
tion any the less sof
III We are 60 have an iaeome tax aud /
sugar laN both, then unless the other pro /
visions OF the bill prove impolenl, we 1
shall be met with an enormous surplus /
against shlch We protested ~ Vigorously /
Few yeats ago. and il Il now to b. said /
that = Democratic surplus Is hes obi cl /
lonshle Than nepuhllean surplusf this /
u not = Democratic bill am sue. Il l. /
net distinctly hepublieaa blll it i not 1
fopultsl bill entlEe. bul it Is a mixture of i
aii~h IL ATagtiaK pfudncil0n Il il q crazy /
Guilt eanblnalloa-ll l. . splendid moth /
lhE.
hslleEs the lncolne Ia feaiufe aa a
shels and la many ~ f. Diet 4ils 10 Ia an /
I.sa L.. ~