The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-13
The Republican Speeches.

very eloquent addresses already delivered
by Mr.. ALLISON OF Iowa. Mr.. LODGE Of
Massachusetts,. and Mr.. HALE cf Maine.
proceed upon the assumption that the old
question MS between protection AMI free
trade ls up again for discussion and settle
ment. This is n great mistake.
Mr.. ALLISON started tho discussion In
the wrong direction in his speech Of last
week. the first OF the Republican series.
ave say" he remarked almost at the begin
ming Of his speech. that In levying the
duties there should be q discrimination
made for the encouragement and protection
Of those who labor and toll In our own coun-
try. and In doing this we are following again
in the footsteps OF the fathers" A consid-
cradle part OF his speech was devoted
to an attempt to show that the
prosperity OF the country has been greatest
during those periods when the principle OF
protection to American industry has been
most distinctly recognized In the tariff
schedules. The whole speech was such a
eulogy OF protection as might be expected
from Senator ALLISON. with a protest
against q revolutionary attempt to over
throw protection and to establish free trade
In its place. Tho Democracy was attacked
as the party Of free trade.
Toa still greater extent. the very learned
and powerful address Of the Hon. HENRY
CABOT LODGE was devoted to the annihila-
ton of man OF straw. Mr.. LoDGE's
speech was a historical. humorous. senti-
mental. statistical. and poetic defence Of
protection. The two great conflicting
theories Of customs taxation were fairly
stated. OF course. there can be no doubt as
TO where the Massachusetts, statesman
stands. CoRBErr never pounded his sand
bag more Justify than LODGE pummelled
free trade and the let-alone doctrine. In
this speech. which would occupy about
fifteen columns Of THE SUN. The admirers
OF our brilliant friend will read Mr. LODGES
speech, when they have leisure. with in
creased respect for his power OF clear state
ment, and for the literary qualities which
lend charm to all the sentences that flow
from his industrious pen. But they will
read LODGE all the way through to the very
last paragraphs. without finding line or
word that bears on the question now be-
fore the Senate. There Is something almost
comic In the suddenness with which the
Senator awakes to the fact that he has
been talking for hours against nothing. II
dO hot' ho batbs NJ bho Gnu vi hib bpotCus
propose to spend my time In discussing
the bill before us. It embodies no policy
and has no system. turn from this printed
deformity to the broad principle which the
party to whom we owe this bill pretended
to advocate. and which have already dis
cussed." 1t Is just as II the Senator had
written his speech Immediately after the
adjournment Of tho Democratic National
Convention Of 1892. and was now disin-
clined 10 waste SO much Industrious re-
search and good writing.
Mr.. HALE OF Maine pursued the same
general line Of thought. The doctrine OF
protection to American labor and American
Industries was ably stated. The beneficial
results Of protection were alleged and sup
ported by an imposing display Of statistical
detail. The main difference between Mr..
HALE's method OF presentation and Mr..
LODGES Is that while the Massachusetts,
Senator did not recognize until the end OF
his remarks the fact that he had no free
trade bill. no ariff-for-rsvenue-only. not
even revenue bill. TO attack. the
gentleman from Maine acknowledged
a. the very outset the superfiuous
character OF the Grafton he was about to de-
liver. He began with a challenge to Demo
Gratis of the Finance Committee to state the
doctrine or principle upon which their bill
was framed. He pointed out somewhat
summarily tho lack OF agreement between
the WILSON bill as modified under Mr..
Voorhees, superintendent and the meas
ure demanded by tine Democratic national
platform. And then he went on to attack
most energetically the Democratic prin-
ciples which have been abandoned and be-
trayed by the Administration and the DEM
ocrats In the Senate and the House who are
acting In concert with the Administration
In the reasonable attempt TO enact
another purely. but terribly unequal and
inequitable. protective tarin.
Such is the whole drift OF the debate on
the Republican side. up to the present
time. II We may be allowed TO make an
entirely disinterested suggestion. the Re-
publican champions OF protection are vast
ing their wind. They are advocating the
very sort OF bill which Mr.. CLEVELAND.
Mr. WILSON. and Senator VOORHEES, want
Congress to pass: namely. bill drawn In
the interests OF special industries. and
planned to rob the many for the benefit OF
the few. Moreover. Mr.. ALLISON. Mr..
LODGE. and Mr.. HALE are not In position
70 champion the protection theory SO efFec-
lively as Mr.. CLEVELAND. Mr.. WILSON. and
Mr.. VOORHEES,. for the simple reason that
tho Republican prGtectionists are out of
power In the Executive branch OF Govern
ment. and In a minority In Congress.
No wonder the country is taking little
Interest In the literature of this one
sided debate. AS the matter stands. 1t is |
much like what a Joint discussion OF the
question OF American liberty would have
been In 1850. with Sir HENRY CLINTON in the
negative and BENEDICT ARNOLD In the
Affirmative, presuming TO represent the |
American side.
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