Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-05-17
WILMINGTON. THURSDAY MAJ II.


The champions OF protection will be
little cautious about stirring up Senator
Gray. The Delaware Senator is pretty
biz man anyway you take him-Dela.
ware has q proud record for sending
men Of mastery cnlibre to the Senate
and when he is fully aroused he weighs
ton or more. When Senator Hoar ven.
tured 10 apply to the real Democrats
around him language which should have
been addressed only TO such apostates as
German, Hill, Murphy or Brice-when
he presumed to accuse the whole body
of Democratic Senators Of infidelity 10
their oaths and to their party for their
acceptance Of the half loaf in preference
to no tariff reform bread-he naturally
aroused the indignation of the honest
Democrats for whom Senator Gray
spoke, and called forth from our Senator
such terse and scathing arraignment
Of the cupidity and selfishncss Of the
protective system as has probably never
before been couched in so few we'll
chosen words. EVERY EvESISe's spec.
ial Wednesday covered admirably what
was said. but our readers will peruse
with interest the full text of this
memorable passage as reported in the
Congressional Record:
Mr.. President said Senator Gray, we are
now upon the fourth week Of this so-cailed
debate on the Tariff bill. and if anything
oil kaaV, ,,a1dad IN -, 10
American people how gigantic was the
task which was presented TO them Of
taking down the artificial editice Of pro-
lection, this debate and the experience of
these weeks has supplied it.
Every attempt 10 approach the mon
strOus aggregation OF folly and greed
known as the Mckinley act, has been met
by denunciations Of those who have raised
clamOr against the attempt Of the people
to come to their own again. Corporate
greed, private avarice, which have been
fed by years Of high protection. the worst
feelings of human nature, are arrayed in
solid phalanx against even the most mod
crate attempt to ameliorate the conditions
produced By high protection, and which
have at length eliminated in widespread
ruin and want.
We are living to-day under the pro-
visions Of the Mckinley law; we have
come at length to its climax, aud organized
idleness is marching upon our high ways
and summoning the legislative power OF
this country to do its behests. What the
advocates of protection have claimed for
themselves, these ministers of idleness and
rapine are claiming for themselves. They
are claiming that national legislation shall
be the cure-aii for their evils and that they
shall have the assistance of Congressional
action in order to supplement the def
ciencies of their own capacity.
Thus we have as a elimination of these
weeks of debate the wild and rayIng state.
ments and reservations of prominent
advocates Of the retention of this system
that has wrought so much Of distress, the
very gospel OF despair, as was said the
other day, that has thrown aside all tbs
restraints of decent speech, that has sum
nloned to its aid the rhetoric Of the slum,
in order, if might be, to asperse those vino
with honest motives, are attempting to dc
their duty 70 their country and to fulfi
the pledges made to the people, and who
propose to advance SO slowly that they
cannot even injure the interests that have
50 long fattened on legislative assistance
Thus we lind the remarkable spectacle to
day that the decorum of debate has beer
violated and those who are 50 bold as /,
differ from the Senator from Massachusett
are charged with violating their oaths aut
with committing perjury. Mr.. President
nothing, as l said at the outset, could hav
been wanting to demonstrate the despera
ton and wickedness of the cause that re
quired such advocacy. and am willing y
leave It TO the people, who are TO be tn
ultimate judges.