The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-24
DEMOCRATIC TARIFF ACCEPTABLE
TO REPUBLICANS.

The speech which Senator Teller Of
Colorado. made in the Senate on Tuesday
on the tariff bill compels the conclusion
that he is a man Of sense In spite OF
the volumes Of nonsense he has written
and spoken regarding silver. 1t was both
manly and sensible for him to deprecate
the taunts of the Democrats by his party
associates on their Inconsistencies con-
nected with the pending bill He talked
as a statesman, when he said:
ut was not profitable to taunt Demo-
cratic senators with their inconsistencies
He was ready 20 join them whenever
they made a proposition looking TO an
Improvement OF the bill. 1t was not
question whether the Democratic party
was consistent or inconsistent. They had
told the Senate why they were incon-
sstent: and il was an absolute and per
feet defence from their standpoint. They
had a right to say that the bill was
the best one they could get. No tariff
bill could be made without inconsistent
cies. People who represented a section
of the country having an interest which
they wanted to protect would insist on
its being protected. The Democratic
party was doomed to put the bill through
in some shape. and he was wiling 10
Join them in putting ii through In the
best shape possible.
But whilst It was sensible and patriotic
in Mr.. Teller to declare that, instead of
standing by us a carping and obstructive
idler he was going 10 make the best
possible outcome Of the situation, what
is to be said Of the few Democratic
senators who "insist on protecting an
interest in their own section Of the
country" at the expense Of the Demo-
cratic party, and in defiance of that eX-
preston of Democratic will which
brought the party into full and nndis-
puted control of the Government? Mr..
Teller said further on that while he
did not think the bill as wisely drawn as
il might have been, "yet.' said he, 81
am bound to say it is a better bill than
| was prepared 10 expect from the
Democratic party. 1t is a better bill
than we on this side of the chamber
hoped to get, and | am glad to get it,
How does such a state of affairs as
this come about? How is it that a lead
ing Republican senator is glad to get
tariff reform bill presented by the Demo
cratic party? The whole world knows
how is comes about-a few Democratic
senators have played highwaymen on
their brother senator's. They have done
the stand and deliver act" They have
demanded of them that special interest
in their States shall be protected as
monopoles to plumber the people, or
that they will defeat all tariff legisla-
ton. This is how this astounding and
monstrous thing has come to pass.
And why have these senator's done this?
They have not set all Democratic doc
trine at naught and dehed the Will of
the millions of voters who declared for
tariff reform in 1892 for nothing. They
are, of course, to get something for this
extraordinary and astonishing course.
WHAT will that be? Everyone knows.
1t will be large contributions from the
monopoies to their campaign funds, with
which they vii debauch the election Of
their Legislatures that re-elect them.
This is the consideration and this is
to-day the curse of the American people
The Constitution must be changed so that
senator's may be elected by the people
or the United States Senate will corrupt
and degrade every manly element in
American character