Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-10
A RETALIATION PLAN
M Lodge Proposes to Force England to
Bimstallism.
HI. Vest Calls It . Yank0o T1l0ln-T0
Double Duties On Ems.
liah oooAs. .t.G..

In the Senate yesterday afternoon, after
Mr.. Mills had made his sensational speech.
Senator Lodge offered his amendment to
impose double duties in the bill against
Great Britain until that country should
agree to an international ratio for the coin
age Of silver. This amendment, he said.
was offered as something practicable in the
line of bimetallism. The amendment dis
eliminated against the colonies Of Great
Britain. as well as England. Whenever we
had got anything from England we had
not got 1t by humbly asking for ii, but
after war. commercial or otherwise. Quot
ing from what he called British express
sion. he cited the New York Evening Post.
together with Canadian and English At
t. cks on the plan proposed by the amend
ment. showed their fear Of It, England
was waging financial war on the rest of
the world. as she had a right to do. She
realized on the increase in value Of gold.
She put duty on manufactured silver.
We had tried all peaceful means. We
should now give favorable tariff rates to
nations willing to cooperate with US to
secure bimetallism. and increase rates
against the only nation that holds out
against II. Politically. he should be glad
to see the democratic party vote down this
amendment. after protesting SO much
friendship for silver.
This discussion brought Senator Stewart
to his feet. with long free silver speech.
Senator PETER followed him. Senator Nc
Pherson started to say that he had no idea
the Senator from Massachusetts seriously
expected vote at this time. Senator Vest
interposed to say that he understood that
II was customary to consider committee
amendments first, but on an appeal from
senator Hale to Harris the latter bore out
the construction of a previous agreement
that 1t left each paragraph open to amend
ment by any Senator.
Senator Mcpherson held that the pro-
vision OF the amendment would be in con-
travention of international courtesy and
was system of coercion. England, he
SAID, mad Lo use for silver coinage.
To Force England.
Mr.. Teller said he did not believe that this
was the way to deal with the silver ques-
ton. Every one knew that as long as Mr.
Cleveland remained In the White House
there was no hope Of independent silver
legislation. England had stood in the way
of an international ratio for the coinage of
silver, ana he was ready to do anything to
force England to her knees. He did not be-
neve in standing hat In hand awaiting
pleasure. England would never
go into conference with US until she was
compelled TO do so. If he had the power he
would absolutely prohibit the importation of
English goods until that country should
submit to an interna tional agreement He
did not think England could complain IL we
said to her: You shall not have the benefit
OF our markets unless you take your hand
on the throat Of the monetary prosperity Of
the world.
Mr.. Plat said he should support the
He was a bfmetaiIist himself,
and sincerely. The passage of this amend
ment would, he thought be an admonition
to Great Britain which she would not fail
to hear or dare TO disregard. He thought it
would be impossible to hold gold in the
United States treasury three years after the
would fortify the gold reserve Of Great
Britain until II became so strong that she
could defy us for all time to come.
What Ii Would Do.
Mr.. Vest opposed the amendment, The
now resting upon this country
was due to the fact that the glories of the
home market promised by the Mckinley
bill had not been realized. And now, in the
face Of q widespread agricultural depres-
sion, 1t was deliberately proposed to declare
commercial war against the country which
absorbs our agricultural products. Suppose
this amendment should carry and the bill
should go to the White House with 1t incor-
porated. II it was vetoed, then the McKin-
ley bill, with all its iniQuities, would be fast
eEed upon the country for an indefinite
period. II Ii were signed and Great Britain
should refuse to yield-what then? Her
manufactured products would be excluded
and New England would have an absolute
monopoly. Mr.. Lodge concluded the de-
bate in reply to Mr.. Vest. The Senator
from Missouri, he said, gave him credit for
too much ingenuity.
He called attention to the fact that so
far as England was concerned the amend
ment could have no effect on the trade be-
tween the British isles and this country.
Under the favored-nation clause in the
treaties of 1915 and 1927 England was en-
most favored nation Of Europe. That clause
could not be abrogated save by years no.
tice. This amendment could only affect the
colonies of Great Britain. 1t would exclude
wool from Australia, lumber from Canada,
all products from India and diamonds Chose
necessaries of the poor from the Cape OF
Good Hope. Mr.. Vest denounced the amend
ment as 1.-The most exquisite Yankee trick
he had ever known. He did not presume
for a moment that Mr.. Lodge appeared
as a friend of silver. for he remembered
his speech in favor of repeal last autumn.
Amendment Tabled.
Mr.. Harris said that he was as good a
friend Of silver as any man in the Senate,
but, recognizing that the tariff bill is no
place for silver legislation, he would move
to lay the amendment on the table. Mr..
Lodge. by unanimous consent. responded to
Mr.. Vest and soon after the vote was
taken. by which the amendment was ia
bled. 81 to 20. The vote was as follows:
Yess-Allen. Bate, Berry, Blanchard
Brice. Caffery. Call. Cockrell. Coke, George
Gibson, German, Gordon. Gray, Harris
Hunton, Jarvis, Jones, McLaurin, McPher.
son. Martin. Mills, Palmer, Pasco, Pugh
Ransom, Roach, Turpie, Vest, Walsh
White. Total, 81.
Nays-Allison, Dolph, Dubois. Gallinger
Hale. Hansbrough, Hawley. Higgins, Hoar
Lodge. Mcmillan, Henderson, Perkins, Plat
Proctor. Shoup. Squire, Stewart, Teller
Washburn. Total, 20.