The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-07-20
DEMOCRACY AWAKE
Cleveland's Tariff Letter
Restores Confidence
Throughout the
Country.
FULFILL PLATFORM PROMISES.
Conference Report Received In
the Senate this After
noon.
SPEECH OF SENATOR HILL
He Quotes From the Presidents
Letter, and Says 1t Is Manly
and Honest.
SPEECH OF SENATOR HILL

WASHINGTON, July 20, 1s94.-Attracted
by the expectation of stormy scenes over the
disagreeing conference report on the Tariff
bill, spectators began to flock into the Senate
galleries as early az eleven o'clock this morn
ing; and when the Chaplain's opening PRAYER
was begun, at noon, the galleries
were well filed though not crowd
ed. Ladies, in light summer costumes,
with fans in perpetual motion, gave light
and color to the scene Senators were
in attendance in larger numbers than at
any time since the passage of the tariff
bill. General Sickles and half dozen
members of the Ho use occupied seats in the
chamber.
The reading of yesterdays journal was
dispensed with Many memorials were pre-
sented and referred, among them one from
the business men OF Chicago, asking for inn
mediate action, of some character, on the
Tariff bill. In the absence OF the Vice
1Tesident the chair was occupied by Mr..
Harris dem, Tenn.l, PRESIDENT pro ten OF
the Senate.
At y 20 the message from the House, ask
ing a further conference.on the Tariff bill,
was laid before the Senate on motion of Mr.
Voorhees,. He contented himself with these
few words:
1ICStuS1l GO4llSilSTo OiA od5 teti y
of the Senate now await further action on
this bill"
SENATOR HILLS SPEECH.
In the debate that followed, Senator Hill,
as he announced yesterday, spoke on the
subject. He said
"a theory as well as a.eondition now con-
fronts us The theory of the Democratic
party is that in the enactment of tariff
legislation rec raw materials should always
be an essential and conspicuous element.
1T is our creed rha6 these things on
which the industrial prosperity and progress
of our country so much depends-the ma
tei1als which enter into our manufactures
should be freed from the burden OF tariff
taxation. The best interests OF the manu-
facturers, as well as the consumers of the
land, demand the recognition OF this wise
discrimination
1--WE are committed to this side OF the
question and we cannot retreat. We are
bonoralsiy bound to redeem our professions
and our promises. Justice, good faith and
a decent regard for public sentiment all re-
euire this course.
Until recently had supposed that there
was no dispute upon this question of prin-
ciple but that every Democrat worthy of
the name was willing to concede that II there
was one thing more Than another to which
the Democratic party was committed, 1t was
in faver of the doctrine of free raw materi-
ais: not simply freef raw materials as some
now ingeniously contend, but absolutely
free raw materials repeat that we cannot
escape our record upon this subject, even II
we are disposed to do so.
.sThe true and honest construction of every
Democratic national platform for twelve
years past irrsyocably commits US to this
Just and reasonable principle.
QUOTES THE PLATFORM.
ssWhat did our last National platform
in 1892 say upon this pointz Let us quote
tive endorse the efforts made by the
democrats of the present Congress TO
modify its (tiie Mckinley laws most
oppressive features IN the direction of
free raw materials and cheaper manufac-
tured goods that enter into general consump-
tiolh and we promise its repeal as one of
the benefcient results that will follow the
action of the people in intrusting power to
Democratic party.
.sTo repeal the Mckinley law in form sim
ply, to re-enact it in effect, is keeping this
promise to the letter, but breaking it in
spirit.
.'What were the efforts made by the
Democrats OF the present Congress ,1S92 to
which this platform points with pride and
deliberately approvess
.'They were measures for free iron ore,
free lead ore, free coal and free WOOL which
were then pending in Congress- advocated
by Democrats and opposed by Republicans
and some of which had then already passed
or were subsequently passed.
ss.Eveiy body knows to what the platform
referred. and there was no necessity of any
bill of particulars to inform the people The
Democratic position was SO plain and is so
clear that he who runs may read. The
Democratic speeches in Congress were SUBJ
stantially all upon one sidess
If any Democratic orator in any part Of
thecountry, forgetting the interests OF the
whole land and subserving the supposed in
terests of a locality, promised the
people Of any State OF section. that
there would be any exception made to
the enforcement OF the principle of free
raw materials when the. Democrats obtain
power, he exceeded his authority and mis-
interpreted our position.
LITTLE SARCASM.
at is said by some in justification of or
excuse for their present action, that the
Presidents letter of acceptance in 1892
modified the extreme demands of
onr platfarnl 1t is true that some
portions of his letter may tend to bear
that construction. 1t was not that bold,
ringing and explicit declaration in favor of
the platform which his party had right
TO expect but was regarded by many
as tinlid, cautious and conserva-
tive; but whether this criticism is
or is not well founded the fact remains that
he had no power or authority to change or
alter one line or sentence or provision OF the
national platform which had been deliberate
Iy adopted in the national convention duly
assembled. No President can be above his
party and no President can dictate to his
party; no President can change his party's
platform.
But no matter what idea it may be
claimed was intended to be conveyed in his
modification of the platform, there
ran be no doubt as to the Presidents
position at this time upon this
essential principle of free raw materials.
Let me read from that remarkable letter of