Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-09-12

Protection, as a method of preserv-
ing the American market TO the Ameri-
can people, is something which is de-
fensible. The protection in spots, pro-
lection here and there, is protection
which is justly open to the charges
which are falsely made against the
true protection.
When Mr.. Wilson's bill, which was
framed more with reference to the
wishes of New England and those
manufacturers of certain description
who have been dallying with Democ-
racy, reached the Senate, it there met
with the varied interests Of the country
in more full and complete fashion,
and meeting those interests it received
great notifications. Thereupon it was
brought to the House, amended by 900
and more amendments, and changed
in its character and in its design so
that its original author has absolutely
declined to recognize it, Then ensued
a struggle the like of which has never
before been part of the history of the
country, and the like of which ought
never to be part of the hiltory of any
country. f. @I''.e .f i 2 20 .'
For the first time in the history of
the country, theConference Committee
never met for the transaction of its
Legitimate business. The Republican
members OF the Committee of Confer
ence were excluded from all discussion
and consideration of the question.
What discussions took place among the
people representing the Democratic
party l have no means of knowing.
Every body knows that the bill, which,
according to the Democrats view,
contained party perfidy and party dis
honor, was passed by the House, and
thatitheg violated every rule of parlia-
mentary law in order to enable them
to pass it. sf.,,5t it.f ~ ;.
Now, what is that bill2s ! am sorry
to say that, although Il was ON the
Committee of Conferece, was deprived
of an opportunity to. examine the items
and discuss the reasons for them That
bill must be tested, like every other
bill, By the'test of time aud of expert
ence. Those who know best about it
believe that the results to this country
will be disastrous, but fortunately not
as disastrous as the original bill to
which Mr.. Wilson name was only at
tached.
But there is one thing from which
we must free our minds, and that is
the idea that the bill, however bad it
may be, is the basis upon which the
business of the country may adjust
itself upon lower plane of wages with
safety and proceed with whatever is
left to us of the industries of the coun-
try. That idea we must dismiss abso-
lutely from our minds. The fact re-
mains that this bill is not finality.
That you may understand that do
not soy this upon my own authority,
desire to quote to you the opinion of
the Democratic leaders themselves
upon that subject. ''
Mr.. Reed then quoted from the re.
marks of Mr.. Wilson in the House and
Mr.. Mills in the Senate, to show that
the tariff bill passed was only the first
step in the march toward free trade.
THE SUGAR SCANDAL.
Mr.. Reed continued: "How many
errors, mistakes and blunders there
may be in the tariff bill as it has finally
reached the President, not yet discov.
cred, can only be conjectured have
not permitted myself to comment upon
the scandalous stories, or even the
visible scandal connected with the
passage of the tax upon sugar. But it
is due to the country that the aspects
of it which are commented upon should
be carefully and fairly dealt with.
1.-The House of Representatives saw
fit not only to abolish the sugar bounty,
but also to take off every duty con-
nected with sugar. When the bill ar
rived in the Senate it was discovered
that this country was engaged in the
task of passing bill which would d.
minish the revenues S75,00O,000. 1t
then became necessary, in the opinion
of all intelligent people, to put tax
upon sugar il this bill was to be per-
sisted in. Thereppon a tax was pro-
posed upon sugar OF 4Oper'cent with
a differential OF &c for the sugar re.
finers. and still another differential to
protect them against the export sugar
of countries which paid an export pre-
MUM. This was the bill which passed
the House. Anticipating, in fact, know
ing, that such action would be unpopu-
lar in every possible way, they en-
deavored to relieve themselves from
the burden of the vote which they had
just given, and therefore availed them
selves--ef the extraordinary powers
which resided in the House, and by a
course of action entirely unprecedented
they provided that bill might be
introduced into the House giving free
sugar, which bill could not be am md
ed, should not be debated over half an
hour and might then be passed, and
accordingly this was done. OF course,
this was q pure farce. Everybody
knew it, no matter how they voted
| upon the subject The Senate voted To