Saint Mary's beacon., 1894-05-31
Danp<r efDslau.

Taught with danger 20 the industries Of the
country, more certain 10 affect, In one way
or another, the well being OF o vast majority
Of its citizens than all other kinds of legis-
iation combined. The need and the duty
or extreme caution would seem 10 be ap-
parent. Certainly, ifit BE- true that muck
Of the recent depression Of business was
due To the probability Of changes, some
care ought 20 be taken TO avoid the necessity
Of further disturbance In the immediate
future. Tho importance ofthese fAcss has
never failed Of recognition In the past.
Time. and plenty Of 1t, has always been
considered absolutely essential In re form.
ing tariffs. The Mills bill did not pass the
House till midsummer. The Mckinley
bin did not receive the signature of Presi-
dent Harrison till The last day of September.
This is May, and there Is now bill be-
fore the Senate which has received the en-.
dorsement and will receive the votes of
Democratic majority of this body. am
surprised that no Republican Senator asks,
with the usual attempt at satire, (which
bill?" We have become 50 accustomed to
the craftsmanship characteristic Of the par
rot during this debate that its omission Is
more noticeable than Its utterance. But,
Mr.. President, l would not deprive our
friends on the other side of their innocent
pastime. Nobody Can dispute their right
to betray either their shallowness, their in.
consistency, or their hypocrisy.
IL unceasing exhibition of these qualities
affords them pleasure, we surely have no
cause for complaint Knowing, sir, as we
do, that we have o majority pledged 10
this measure, we can well afford, not mere
ly to contemplate with the utmost equani-
nifty their abortive attempts to disrupt our
organization, but even 10 throw the mantle
of charity over the willful misrepresenta-
iions of rabid partisanship To whatever
satisfaction they are able 10 obtain from
their present course they are more than
welcome. We have not yet become con-
WINGED that the people have lost their power
of discrimination between the acts OF men
who are earnestly striving to do their duty
and the tricks and subterfuges OF those who
are willing 10 sacrifice the interests of the
country to the demands Of party prejudice.
"a THE PEOPLE ARE THE JUDGES.
y The people are the judges in this matter,
Inn11nth1ix< lgninian n hmRpnd6uns ~
upon the constructive, but upon the COM
pleted work. We make no attempt and
have no desire 70 evade responsibility
rightfilly ours.
We accept to the full, and I believe that
I speak for Democratic majority of this
body when I say that not one will hesitate
to abide by the result Ali that we ask IL
such consideration as eyer has been and
trust ever will be accorded by fair-minded
American citizens 10 those of their renre-
sentatives whose incentive Is patriotism and
whose purpose Is sincere.
We could not rightfnlly expect to obtain
this consideration upon the assertions OF
our political enemies. The people are en-
titled 70 all the facts. For this reason, and
for no other, shall review briefly the his
tory Of the bill upon which q Democratic
majority 10 now united. In doing so
shall speak with the utmost candor and
without reserve of any kind or fear of con-
tradiction.
In obedience TO the obvious wish of the
country, the House Of Representatives
passed tariff bill early in the session.
Comparatively little time was given to CON.
sideration Of the various schedules and
many changes in the bill as reported were
made in committee of the whole without
due regard for their ultimate effect or for
existing Industrial conditions. The result
was necessarily an imperfect measure,
which not only failed to meet the require
ments of the Treasury but actually In
creased the deficit created by Republican
prohibitive duties.
There was no expectation tina. this bill
would become q law without change
From time immeuiorial Il has been the
custom in tariff revision for the House ol
Representatives TO enunciate the general
policy of the party in power and for the
Senate TO perfect the bill This was done
notably In 1890. when the Senate amend
ments exceeded 300 without exciting .h,
derision Of our friends on the other side
and the authors Of the Wilson bill fully
expected and desired that this course shouie
be pursued in this instance
THE SENATE prrI
But no sooner did the finance commitie
begin It's work than the cry for "action'
was renewed with extraordinary vigol
This imperfect bill was upheld, not as
suitable basis for tariff revision, but az
Democratic principle i'm itself We wer
informed that any change whatsoeve
would be set down ss betrayal OF th
party's promises" We were told subs,an
) tally that there was no room in the Demo
c attic party for honest differences or Opinion
regarding even sueh purely business maj
ters as tariff schedules: that the unforesee
change in industrial conditions did nc
naerit the slightest consideration; that ever
Senator who showed the least concern Il
the interests Of his own state was traffic
TO the union and his party; that the Senai
itself had ceased TO be coordinate branc
Of the government, and that its sole dui
was 10 ratify blindly the DEGREES Of d
/ House.
4 Il would be idle, Mr.. President, % dive
upon tie manifest absurdities Of this on
growth Of pesulance. Bat II cannot I
! denied that the demand for pronpt af.tio