The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-24
SKINNED By GORMAN
Pitiless Flaying of Cleveland by
the Democratic Leader.
The President Charged with Hypocrisy,
Vanity and Malicious Desire to
Gibbet the Senate.
STATE SECRETS REVEALED
And Accusations Hurled Straight
at the Head of the Party.
Sensation on the Floor When Senator's
Vest, Jones and Harris Arose and
Verified Mr.. German.
SENATE BILL OR NOTHING
COwards May Vote to COmprO-
mise, but German Will Not.
Such Is the Stand He Has Taken and
He Calls on His Colleagues to Fight
1t Out on that Line.

WASHINGTON, July 23.-Perhaps no
more remarkable scene was ever witnessed
in the United States Senate than that which
occurred to-day for two and one-half
hours, when Senator German, the Demo-
cratic political leader on the floor, delivered
his speech against the President and in
defense of the Senate tariff bill. The gal
leries were packed to the doors, and so
great was the interest in Mr.. Germans
speech that the members of the House
flocked to the Senate end of the Capitol,
and the House. being unable to hold a
quorum, after waiting until 1:30 o'clock,
adjourned.
Mr.. German, with a franknesS that
amazed those present, discussed party Sc
crets. opened the door to party caucuses,
and flashed his searchlight into the dark
corners of party history. The President
was assailed with keenness and vigor. He
defended the Senate tariff bill and it's prep
aration. and then in justification charged
that both Mr. Carlisle and Mr.. Cleveland
were not only aware of the concessions
made in that bill to procure it's passage
through the Senate, but that Mr. Carlisle
had been consulted at every step, and that
Mr.. Cleveland had sanctioned all that was
done. Mr.. German is a cool, easy tallxer,
but he gives tone and gesture and a dra-
matte effect that thrill the auditors. To-
day he was at his best. One by one he
called Senators Vest, Jones and Harris as
witnesses to the truth of his statements
Then having freed himself from all re-
straint, he told the inside history of the
conference over the tariff bill. He even
went back and told the secrets of the
Mills bill and the st. Louis and Chicago
platforms, and the demands made the
national Democratic committee by the
sugar Senators in 1892. His personal attack
on the President was full OF the most SEN
sational characterizations. He told how he
had dared, when other men faltered, to
walk with Cleveland through the "filth
and slime of the campaign of 1884, how
he and his colleagues had fought for tariff
reform when towards in high places
would not show their heads;'' how Mr.
Cleveland had tried to "gibbet the Senate
before the eyes of the country" and said
that his action must he attributed to 'con-
Stunning vanity'-an action that was echoed
by those who "chirped when he (Cleveland)
talked" His reference to the President
created so much commotion in the CALLER
les, sometimes of approval and sometimes
of disapproval, that the presiding officer
was obliged to call on them to preserve
better order. He was listened to with rapt
attention throughout his speech. deep
feeling of excitement being printed on ev-
cry face
PAUNCEFOTE IN THE GALLERY.
Among those who listened most earnestly
was Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British min
lister, who was in the diplomatic gallery.
In conclusion, Mr.. German practically
warned his colleagues that on the material
points it must be the Senate bill or no
bill. Mr.. White, of California, was the
only other speaker of the day. While per-
sonally in favor of free iron and free iron
ore, he, too, declared ii to be the part of
patriotism for the Democrats to stand to-
gether for the Senate bill. After he con-
cuded the Senate adjourned with the sit
uation seemingly in chaotic a state as
ever.
Senator German was visitor at the
White House this morning, and had
short conference with the President before
Congress met. After the expiration of the
preliminary routine business at 1920. Sen
ator Voorhees, called up the conference re-
port on the tariff bill, then the storm
broke Mr.. German Immediately arose. lie
hoped he appreciated the gravity of the
situation, he began. ordinarily, the situa-
tion would be easy of solution. There
would ordinarily be no difference ot opin-
where the differences between the two
houses could be adjusted. He drew a graph
1c picture or the anxiety with which the
country awaited the fate of the bill, the
idle factories, the closed workshops and
the unemployed. Further suspense was
neither to the interests of the country nor
of the Democratic party. He hoped the
Senators would meet the situation as be
was idle for him, he said. to add anything
to what had been said on Friday last by
the Senator from New Jersey Mr- SMITH.
In the House there was an overwhelming
Democratic majority.
Here in the Senate the Democrats were
at the outset confronted with the fact that
there were only forty-four Democrats. y
bill must be framed which would secure
the support of all these Senators, all of
whose votes save one, were necessary to
pass il. That one vote was lost. The SEN
ator from New York (AIr HID had from
the beginning opposed the bill openly and
manfuilv The democrats faced bv snch
a condition had gone manfully 20 work to
harmonize the differences. and had ac-
at the sacrifice OF principle. No legislative
body in this country, he declared. had ever
reports of the states OF New York, New
Jersey. Ohio, West Virginia and MARYLAND
at the outset announced that the House
bill was so radical, so destructive TO the
interests of the people that they would
not support ii. He paid a high tribute TO
Senators Vest. Jones. Voorhees, and Harris
-ssthOse brave men whose Ia aborior,S x.orl-
had at last accomplished the feat Of ad-
justing these differences, and had made the
passage of any bill possible"
GORMAN HURLS DEFIANCE
Then, in dramatic tones. he delivered his
defiance. The infamous calumnies heaped
upon the Democrats of the Senate forced
from his lips, he said. plain, unvarnished
statement of the facts. He would make il
he said. with malice toward none. but he
would look his colleagues and the Amer
lean people in the eye and tell the truth
In patriotism the Democrats of the SEN
ate had gone to work TO save the country
and keep their party i'm power when sud
denly in the midst of the struggle, there
came the Presidents letter. 1T was the
most uncalled-for, the most extraordinary,