Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-08-15
Tariff Bun Passed.

gar. free iron ore aud free barbed wire
Speaker Crisp presented the Resolutions,
and Chairman Wilson and others addressed
the caucus.
In the House, Mr.. Wilson moved the
adoption of the Tariff Bill. He spoke calm
ly. but eloquently. the Democrats crowding
about him and listening intently to his
every word.
Again and again the applause broke forth.
sNir. Speaker" Chairman Wilson said, Il
have made the motion which l have sent TO
the clerks desk, not on my own responsible
ty or from my own vOlition, but as the oiieiai
orran Of the caucus of my associates on this
side of the House and by their direction.
shall say very little myselfon this occasion IN
advocacy Of the motion aud shall be sincere
and frank in what ! shall submit to tins
House. 1 DO not pretend that l am gratited
at the outcome Of this prolonged controversy
I do not pretend that up to the very last mo-
ment had not cherished the hope and faith
that We should reach another and q better and
a more satisfactory conclusion Of this conflict
between the two houses Of the American Con-
gress. had hoped and believed, until there
seemed no ground scarcely for hope or belief,
that in such a contest this House, backed by
the American people and enthusiastically sus-
tanned by the Democratic party, would be
able to achieve some honorable compromise
between the two houses which we could have
accepted, not from a sense Of duty, but with
sense of satisfaction and a feeling that we had
responded to the mandates Of the American
people.
But Mr.. Speaker, We have simply realized
in this great fight the fact so well stated by the
great leader Of the tariff reform fight in Great
Britain-that when the people have gained
victory at the polls they must have further
stand-up and knock down fight with their own
representatives. And We have realized If
nothing else, the salutary lesson Of intrench-
ment Of the potectiYe system in this country
under thirty years Of class legislation, until the
mere matter of tariff schedules is matter OF
insignihcance, and the great question presents
itself is this to be a government by self-tax-
ing people OF a government Of taxation by
trusts and monopolists? Applause on the
Democratic sidel If we had taken out Of this
fight no other lesson than that, it has been to
MS a great, an inspiring and valuable lesson
If we have not been able to get all that the
mandates of the people told US to get, all that
the high enthusiasm of the people expected us
to get, we have brought this dangerous TACT
face to face with American freemen, and
We have made some breach in the protective
system. through which the hosts of American
freemen will continue to march," Democrat
ic applause
II shall not say to the people of this coun-
try. 1 shall not say to my colleagues here
from whom even at the expense Of what may
seem I'M taste on this occasion l cannot with
hold the expression of my unspeakable graft
tude for their personal friendship and their
loyal and enthusiastic support shall not say
to them that white is black or that false is true,
or that protection is a Just and honest system
oftaxation. Democratic applause Nothing
winch is not done right ever lasts. No work
that is not thorough ever remains undisturbed
You can settle no question like the great ques-
ton Of taxation permanently and safely eX-
cept upon the eternal basis Of right and OF lib
erty." Applause
81 shall not attempt, as ! said in the outset
to explain the merits OF to dwell upon the de-
merits of the 600 amendments to this bill
which this House is about, Of necessity to
concur in. Perhaps, l could not do justice as
/ vet TO the merits Of the amendments. My at
tention has necessarily been so constantly and
so steadily directed TO their dement's that II
would require some experience to learn what
the merits are. Laughter and applause
But whatever the measure Of shortcoming o.
this bill i'm iI its present form whatever b'
its dement's in mere schedUles-this l know
that it is better than the Mckinley BILL
/ Loud Democratic applause This do know
that in part of il it does afford some relief tc
the taxpayers Of this country and does clip Tho
wings Of the gigantic monopoles that are now
depressing them and blocking legislation
| lAppluse on the Democratic side and deHSlN'
cries on the Republican sidel
Take even those portions Of the bill oveI
which this contest between the two houses
has been waged take iron ore and coal, upon
which we have confronted, and to a certain
extent unsuccessiully confronted, the grea
railroad syndicates of the country, yet VIC have
reduced them both nearly 80 per cent. below
the Mckinley bill Applause Take TIT
sugar schedule, ever which the greatest OF al
contests between the two houses have been
waged. Vicious as it may be- burdensome tC
the people as it may be, favorable to the trusts
as it NAV be- it is less vicious less favorable t
the trust and less burdensome to the peopl
than is the Mckinley law 1nder which TIN
trust has grown so great as 70 oyershadow Will
! its power the American people. Applause
If for no other reason, then, those who behey'
| that when they cannot take the full step whlcl
( they desire, when they cannot do that which
the people commissioned them TO do, they
! must take the best they can and step as far a
they can may find some Justification for al
unhesitating choice between the two bills.
Mr. Wilson was interrupted by many IN
terrogatories and met them with his accus
toned straightforwardness and ability ant
concluded:
Mr.. Speaker, in answer TO all Of these ques
tions have simply to say that under the rul
lust adopted by the House Immediately follow
ing the passage of this bill we propose to pre-
sent and pass a bill putting sugar on the FREE
list Democratic applause The question
now made as to whether this is a government
by the American people for the American PEG
PIE, OF a government Of the Sugar Trust for tn