The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-07-20
American people IApDlau,s On lhs dsmo.

out. greatly TO our dlaApf ointment, that
whatever might be the personal Opinions,
the portonal judgment, the st'oue personal
wishes OF the democratic oOnfefeas OF tbs
senate, thoy came 10 "a Somewhat fettefed
aud somewhat limited az 10 any action they
might agree 10 upOn this bill, either By the
supposed moral obligations ~ party caucus
or The apprehension that thsro we're forces
In the senate. however small yst powerful
enough 10 reaint successfully the paahags Of
any bill which did not make oonoosaiona 20
great corporations and trust interests. that
We az representing the house. did not feel
free on oar part 10 agree 10.
II do not beliavs. Mr. spoake', there
would be any difference IN coming 10 a
compromise or an agreement npon tbs vast
majority Of tho Ga smsndmenN proposed
10 tbis bill by tho senate; but thoTs Hrs
important amendments proposed by the
senate which give 10 this bill In the main
u different character from what 10 had
when II went 90 the senate. Ia IL because
OF these Amendmenta. aud because Of the
statement made Ia us In all kindness and
courtesy, and l might almost aay
IN sadnfas thnt suoh was the
condition Of sffAirn at tho other
end OF this capitol that unless this hougs
was willing 10 accept the senate bill prao-
tieallY and substantially a. 10 passed the
AT this session. We did not feel, repro.
sentlnR The house OF representatives., that
wo could. without sacrifice Of ita dignity
aud equa.ity as q legislative chamber. re-
epond TO any suoh proposition as that
"lhe differences between tho bill as Il
passed tho house ana aa ID comes back from
the senate. are 40 marked and Objectionable
TO tsrif reformers in the country generally
that We could not. without the Ruidsnoe
and instructions OF this house. agree to se-
cert those differences and thus adopt dif-
ferent and modined scheme OF tariff 70.
form. Whatever perfectohs may have at
taehed 10 the house bill IL did seem 10 bs
scoeptsi by ths people OF this country % a
fair and substantial performance OF the
pledges by which the democratic party
came into power 10 wns framed upon
demoo attic lines. II sought In levina taxes
TO consider chiefly and primarily the wants
OF tho public treasury. and not ths profits
and schemes OF great private interests.
Applause on the democratic sidel.
"lhe bill which comes back 10 us from
the senate has not met the approval OF the
great tariff reform sentiment Of the ooun-
try. The senate voted down the proposal
OF the committee on ways and meane for
the gradual repeal OF the bounty. and the
reduction by one-half OF the duty on re-
fined sugar. The senate has reintro-
duced into the proposed tariff bill a sugar
schedule which. whether truly or not, has
been accepted BY the country, by the ptess,
by the people, as unduiy favorable TO tho
great sugar trust. IL proposes q daty OF AZ
per cent Ad valorsm on all grades Of sugar.
diferential OF one-eiqhth OF one cent
upon fehnsd sugar. in addition 70 differ
ential of one and one-tsnth cents on sugar
imported from countries that par m export
| bounty upon their sugar.
There 10 reasonable ground for difei-
enee Of opinion among democrats as to
whether any duty upon sugar should b,
placed In the tariff bill or not. IL has
always been eontended By thosa who have
been lenders In the great tariff reform move
ment OF thie country that of all articles
yielding large revenue. sugar was the ons
article upon which an ideal democratic
revenue tariff could be plsosd. This would
be in substantial agreement, think, will
that position to-day In the democratic
party, except for the fact that tho trainers
OF the Mckinley bill. in their zeal 10 cut OF
taxation the larger part OF which went int
the public treasury. In order that thsy
might increase taxss. the larger Part o.
which went into the pockets of their bene.
foisries. Loud applause on the demo-
cratic side.
III the house conferees were prepared tC
recede from the house position for free
sugar, and attempt to agree upon some row
enus taxation for BuRa', they could not,
without the mandate Of this house, accept
such provision as shat which 10 offered in
the senate bill.
"If II be true. as stated by the gentleman
from Ohio (Nr. Johnson) that the great
Ameiiosn sugar trust has grown 80 strong
and powerful that 10 says no tarih bill can
Ls. IN I'M tr
which it's interests ars not adequately
guarded. hope this house will never con-
eat TO adjournment. Great cheering on
d, motratie eids.
~ hope, whatever the fate OF the general
bill is, THAT this house will not consent &c
any adjournment a until IL has passed 9
single bill putting refined sugar on The free
list.
in closing. will call attention TO th,
position ia which we find ourselves to-day
In efeTence 10 tariff taxation. This Rres,
question has beon the burning diyidial
question Of American politics for the last
three campaigns. The American people
have th ee times voted for the pr, ,s6nt oc'
cuuant Of the White house on the great
issue OF tariff reform. When, TO 1883, We
were defeatsd by narrow gin. there II
n OF a democrat In Gli this land who dtl not
feel on the morning after election as en-
thusisstio and as determined 10 press for
ward In that fight az he did when the
hope OF victory wss with him the day before
at was because OF that detei minAtion
and growing enthusiasm, IL was becnus,
we felt the spiIit and thrill OF AmericAI
liberty melting us. 10 was because We fell
the inoitement OF the great moral purIos'
which multiplies men by ten, that We tool
up the cause IN 1888 and fought for II IL
1890 mad prevailed Ia 1892. Tho American
people have given us n responsibility. II
remains to be seen whether wo also have
power 20 fulfill their mandate. The bil
which passed tho house wa not only Ab-
d owed. prepared aud voted for by thosl
who are tho Immediately chosen servants ol
the taxpayers OF this country, but ~ has
been officially endorsed by tho president
who was chosen by them 10 carry out thil
great reform Of the tariff.
Thus, every part Of the machinery o
the United bates government to-day de-
rIving authority from The direcs vote o
the American people has endorsed th'
scheme of tariff reform proposed here nne
carried through this house. No man hh'
been more interested In the progress OF thS
successful termination Of this great move
ment than the man whom the peopl,
elected to lead them IN this q eat osmpaign
SO faF az II was within hia povo', beliey,
ho has never spoken au UNCERTAIN WORD ~
to his position on this question. While
tho necessity of his position has compelled
him, AR matter OF courtesy 10 the Nv,
branches OF congress 10 remain perfectly
quiet during tho tendency OF this bill. h
hhG folt II 90 be his duty 10 let tho people
OF this country know exactly what bis post.
tion is to-day, and iust Aa we were entoTinl
upon the great work OF conferrinR hetwesr
the two houses had the honor 10 receive
fiom him personal letter. which, with hi
consent. obtained this morning. will nov
send 10 tho clerks desk 10 be given 10 the
people OF this oountrJ." lApplauso on the
dsmooTatic aldol.
Intense intertst was created by Wilson'l
announcement that he had a lsttor from
President Cleveland. which the latter hac
permitted 10 DO made public. The lettel
was read amid profound silence. IL was IN
the proSidenfa vigorous style, and Was
autFtnu trihulo tu tha Mllaou hill and A