The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-06-07

Every now and then. says the Lancas'
s,t Examiner, coincidences turn up III
human affairs which has led to the max
IN that "histcry repeats ITSELF lhe
present attempt to establish u low tar
M or one for revenue. and the alleged
and seeming bribery Incident TO the
augar schedule has led to an overhaul
ing OF ancient history, and the fact
has been brought to light that cor
tain amount Of corruption was the
order OF the day wnsnever low tariff
was being discussed. This was tht
case whom the famous Walker Tarit
bill OF 1916 was passed and tho amend
al one OF 1857.
The exposures which wers made
nearly forty years ago in reference u
tho use of money in Influencing tariff
legislation lod then. as now, to Con
gressional investigation. A proni
aeut witness was |. d. Williamson, 81
New York. who had formerly Leon th'
commercial ngent for a number o
British manufacturers. and who ha,
bean intrusted by President Buchanan
with confidential bus Hess" on oertalI
occasions. Mr. Williamson was al
unwilling witness. but he stated thai
large GUMS OF money had been raised
by British manufacturers to secure
the passage of the Walker Tariff. APP
purently his Investigators were moi
dcslrous to press him for his kuowl
edge on that point. as tho matter con
eerned former Gongress
Another witness a lobbyist ron
Boston wac then called 10 mo stand
but declined to answer the questions
of the COMMITTEES. and was order u
Into custody. AS the evidence tenuet
TO show that ths lobbyist had III hu
charge nearly S92 900 which had beer
raised for the purpose of passing th'
Tariff bill of 1866, the committees wa'
anxious to discover what the lobbyis
had done with the money; but as Ii
did not see lit to GRITTY their curl
oeity, tho manner In which tue none,
wus puid out retnalned IN strTy.
The report OF the commltton, there
fore. merely declared that certain per
cons had raised sum of about 3lOO
0U0 tS7.ll7 being contributed by
the remainder by other business firm
who were DESTROYS of securing Iii
free admission OF wool. OF tho whui
amount IS III was spent In New ior
In payment for free ltade editorials
"populnr reBolutiOnE,' aud othH
phenomena OF tho cause. The remain
ing S13. 600 was then paid to tho Wash
ngton manager OF the free wool cam
pa.gn,to be used by him In porsuad IN
Gougrpss to adopt the free Wuol
policy.
History repeats Itself IN surprising
way very often; but IL Is sigEilicar
coincidence that direct and spcclii
charges OF tho use Of money to inllu
anco tho action OF Congress In tur!
legislation have been n4aie III but thrc
notable Instances, aud IN every IN
stance the bill thus promoted was
revenue tariff bill. Exactly why !ot
hylsts should feed sale In ullrrlui
money to tariff reform CuGgrcssme
nobody has attempted TO eXpiAiu.
Perhaps the logic that Influences Il
lobbyists Is that q man WHO viii lcgI
late against tho interests and in4uS
tries oil lis country Tor political re,
sons will not bo above tho cons der
hon OF brlhe; Vet there arc many Ia
HI refOruers WAC are Thoroughly lOt
eBL in their mlstaiten COW ,clions.
all events, tlln fact that tbs assntL
bling Of a "rDvenuD tlrlfF' Congress
always followed Dg the use, nr HE u
tempted use OF money ln seetIrin
tarili CONCESSIONS, r show ! by the ii
tory Of every such CuuIf" = 50 far
Ibis country, ami there Is en- tnal a
count, irB5 reason for surBri7e oy
tho circumstance That tho Ciorma
billhas been dictated IN part b. Il
wealthy trusts Of Ills country.