Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-07-28
HILL ENDORSES CLEVELAND
Advises the Senate TO Fall 10
Line With the President.
Tells His Colleagues Not to Delay
CapituIation.
Free Raw Material % Fundamental Prin'
cipie of the Democratic Party which
1t Would Be Political Suicide
To Repudiate - The Presf-
dent IL Right and tho
Senators Must Fol-
low His Lead.

larger numbers than mt any time since the
passage of the tariff bill. In the absence
of the vice president the chair was occupied
by Mr.. Harris, dem, Tennessee,
At 1890 the message from the boust
asking "A further conference OF the tariff
bill was laid before the senate, on motion
of Mr.. Voorhees,. He contented himself
with these few words: "Mr. president the
conferees on the part of the senate now
await further action on this BILL
Then Mr.. Smith, dem, New Jersey, rose
and said that he would vote for q further
conference He expressed IA hope that q
tariff bill might yet be evolved which
would be enacted INTO law by a democratic
vote. II he were u member of the confer.
ence committee he would say to
che house conferecs: Gentlemen,
this is our bill. IL tx the ne.
suit Of great labor and infinite pains. IL
has met the approval of this body-the
free trade and the protection elements of
our party. IL IL adapted to conditions, not
theories. 1t h not perfect, but il is AS
nearly perfect IA we can hope 10 make ID
In this session. IN any event, such az " ",
there il lies. You are at liberty to take il
or TO leave it,"
Mr.. Hill, dem, New York, followed with
"A motion that the nate recede from its
amendments TO the house bill imposing a
duty on bituminous coal and iron ore.
Then he began his speech In these words,
delivered with dramatic effect: mir. Pres.
ident, "A theory as well rs "a condi.
tion now eo%nfronts us He paused 10
allow time for this point to take effect,
and then went on with his speech. II WAS
read from manuscript, but was delivered
with great force and energy, aud was
listened to with the closest attention by
republican and democratic senator's
alike, Referring to the presidents
letter TO Mr.. Wilson on the
he was interrupted by Mr.. Pugb, dem, Al
ALBANIA. and asked who owned the coal and
iron ore beds which were TO be benefited
by having coal and iron ore placed on the
free list rs "A condition precedent to the
modification or repeal OF the Nc.
Kin kihn1ley law Il ~a do not know
difference. know to what the senator
refers undoubtedly and It may be brought
out in debate. II IL be, ! will refer to IL.
IL makes no sort Of difference on this ques-
ton" Then Mr.. Hill went on with his
speech. His declaration that the demo-
Gratis of the senate would have to
rally around the president or else they
would 20 to the wall, while the president
would come to the front, evoked some APP
pIause and laughter. He followed this
with the exclamation; The time TO yield
Is now, before further humiliation. further
embarrassment and further discord.''
Then Mr.. Hill read some resolutions
adopted at a democratic convention in
Evansville, Ind, in favor Of free sugar.
He was met with a denial by Mr.. Voorhees,
of the truth of the newspaper dispatch
from which Mr.. Hill quoted and said, on
the authority of Representative Taylor of
Indiana. that there was 40 such declara-
ton In the resolutions.
Mr.. Hill said in part: "A theory as well
rs a condition now ccnfronts us. The
theory OF the democratic party is that in
the enactment of tariff legislation free raw
material should always be an essential and
conspicuous element. Until re-
Gently l had supposed that there
was no dispute upon this question
of principle, but that every democrat
worthy OF the name was willing to concede
hat II there was one thing more thar ALI
other To which the democratic party was
committed, it was in favor of the doctrine
OF free raw materials; not simply
free raw materials as some now
free raw materials. | repeat that
we cannot escape our record upon
this subject even II we are disposed TO do
80. The true and honest construction of
every democratic national platform for
twelve years past i~rrevocably commits us
to this just and reasonable principle"
He quoted the plank OF the national
platform in reference TO modifying the Nc
kinley law and free raw materials and
continued: ITO repeal the Mckinley law
In form simply TO re-enact it in effect is
i keeping in, this ,r. promise to the let
What were the efforts made by the
democrats OF the present congress Qs90
to which this platform points with pride
and deliberately approves. They were
measures for free from ore and lead ore.
free coal and free wool, which
were then pending in congress, ad-
republicans, and some of which had then
already passed or were subsequently
passed. Everybody knows to what
the platform referred and there
was no necessity Of any bill
OF particulars TO inform the
people. The democratic position WAS ga
plafn and Is so clear that he who runs nav
read. The deslocratic speeches In congress
were substantially all upon one side,
IL any democratic orator in any part of
the country, forgetting the interests of the
whole land subscribing the supposed inter
ests Of a locality, promised the people OF
any state or section that there would be any
exception made to the enforcement of the
general principle Of free raw materials |
when the democrats should obtain power
he exceeded his authority and misinter,
preted our position.
1T is said by some In Justification Of or
oASuSo ehcir present action, That the
presidents letter Of acceptance in
1892 modified the extreme demands |
OF our platform. 1t IL true that
some portions Of his letter may
tend to bear that construction. II
was not that bold, ringing and explicit
declaration in favor Of the platform which
his party had n right to expect, but was
regarded by many as timid, cautious
and conservative, but whether this
criticism Is or is not we'll
founded the fact remains that he
had no power or authority to change ON
alter one line or sentence or provision Of
the national platform which had been de-
liberately adopted by the national conyert
ton duly assembled. No president can
be above his party; no president can die |
tate TO his party; no president can change |
his party's platform"
As expressing better than he could hope
70 90, the true, sound and logical position
Mr.. Hill read from the presidents
letter the paragraph which EN-
bodied the views of the ex-
ecutiye on the question OF free |
raw materials and continued: MIR. Presi- |
quoted. Il Is an honest and manly st aase
ment OF the true attitude which the party |
should assume in this criGs. am
not required to defend the pro-
priety or wisdom of the PRONUNCIATION
OF TINS letter at this peculiar time. Ii may
have been indiscreet and 1t may have been
already kindled among party friends hon.
estiy differing. as / am disposed to con
cede, upon the question OF public ana !
patty policy. II may widen
the breach alreedy existing I'm
this senate, and in that view IL may be re
garded as unfortunate n i'll advised. II
was a time for diplomacy, statesmanship. |
and conciiiation, rather than recrimina.
ton, denunciation and arraignment.
But aside from the question OF its !
mere expediency, I am here TO de-
fend the presidents letter insofar as Il de |
mands That the party shall not be led |
cratic pledges and principles. Upon the |
question OF free raw materials the prrs- |
ident Is right n you know It. The time
to yield Is now before there Ii further hu-
initiation, embarrassment and discord."