The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-25
HILL ENDORSES CLEVELAND.
He Occupied the Attention of
the Senate Yesterday.
The New York Senator Thinks the Prssi-
don't Committed No Violation OF the
Constitution In Writing to Chairman
Wilson-He is Severe on German and
Other Members of the Finance Com
mitteo.

" AONNI Wy ao LOSG gu
PERTAINING and remarkable feature in
the great national performance on the
floor OF the Senate was the part played
in it to day by Senator Hill, as the de-
fendant Of President Cleveland, against
the assaults Of Democratic Senators in
connection with the Presidents famous
letter to Wilson, chairman OF the House
com mittee conferees on the tariff bill
Hill took the ground that the letter
being unofficial was no violation of the
constitution; that it was no attack upon
the Senate or upon any Senator, but that
1t was an honest effort to carry out the
policy and theories OF the Democratic
party, and to advance the interests Of
the people. AS to its being an unwar-
ranted attempt to interfere with pend
ing legislation Hill asserted that the
blame lay with those Senators who, in.
stead OF acting on their own judgement
and responsibility, "badgered with the
President to give them his views upon
the compromise bill which they ad
prepared"
"Do as do" he said to them. ''Keep
away from the White House." He
wound up two hours speech (bristiing
all over with the spikes and spears OF
his wit and sarcasm) by comparing the
Senatorial conspiracy with President
Cleveland to that which comprised the
assassination of Julius Cmsar In this
historical parallel German stood for the
lean ana hungry Cassius," OF whom
Caesar said: HE thinks too much
Such men are dangerous;" Jones, of
Arkansas, for honest Brutus;" Vost,
for the 'envious Casca;" Voorhees,, for
Trebonius, "the distinguished Senator
from Tennessee" (Harris) for Cindia
He carried out the parallel by declar-
ing that these Senators made the same
plea which tho conspirators of old m ade
mot that they loved CAESAR less, but
that they loved Rome more"--not that
they loved Cleveland less, but that they
loved their party and country more.
Coming to tho question OF tho Presi-
would not discuss tho wisdom or pro-
priety OF III or of making it public. The
President was the judge Of what it was
his duty to do; and he (Hll) did not
! propose to criticise him. In the dis
charge of his high public duty to his
party and to his country, the President
had deemed it wise to send that letter
to the chairman Of the House committee
on ways and means; and with tho Presi-
dents judgment on that point he Child
was content.
He was here to defend the sentiments
expressed in that letter. He argued that
the President had the constitutional,
legal and moral right to send that letter.
1t was not an official communication in
the proper sense Of the torn. 1t was
intended at first IS private communi-
cation to long time personal friend
and adherent.
Coming to the proposed duties on coal
and iron ore, Hill said that German now
defended these duties.
GAS revenue Duties" German put in.
GAS revenue Duties Hill assented. 81
accept that suggestion"
Referring to the Presidents tariff re-
form message Of 1887 Hill approved it
warmly, and said that since then tariff
reform had increased from day to day.
Democrats who had then been unwilling
to take steps forward had advanced
greatly from that day to this. That
message had placed the President in the
advance line, where he demanded radi.
cal reductions Of duties or free importa.
ton of raw materials. That was the
platform on which President Cleveland
stood in 1887, and he had taken no back
track since then on that particular point.
The Senator from Maryland had at
tempted yesterday to hold the President
responsible for the unofficial utterances
of the Secretary of the Treasury. That
was going great way. The President
might be held responsible for the Off.
cial utterance of his Secretary of tho
Treasury, but 1t was new doctrine in
deed that he should be held responsible
for every lpse dixit OF every one OF his
cabinet officers.
Reverting once more to the Presidents
letter to Wilson, Hill remarked that
tho President had written it "perhaps
not wisely but too candidly, too hon.
estly, too earnestly" That was all the
criticism which could DO properly made
Of it.
AS to the interviews with tho Presi
dent as rehearsed yesterday by Senators,
Hill remarked that these Senators had
"badgefed" the President with their
Concessions" and had striven to get
him to support them. They had known
how tame their bill would seem to tho
American people II it does not have the
sanction and approval OF the Democratic
President.
Then Hill alluded to 1.-The wonderful
and unusual spectacle which Senators
witnessed yesterday" when converse.
tions with the President were related
''for the avowed purpose OF placing the
President in false position before the
Senate and before the country"
He was no defender Of the President.
He had received no favor at the Presi-
dents hands. He had his grievances.
He differed with the President on party
politics and as to matters in his own
State, but he thought that in this particu-
lar case it was his duty to defend the
President when he was unjustly at
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