New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-24
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.i
swERING HIS CRITICS.

LEGISLATION POSSIBLE - AN
swERING HIS CRITICS.
fly TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBuSE'
Washington, May 23.-Mr. Germans speech III
the Senate was naturally the most striking Incl
dent Of to-days debate on the Tariff DILL inc
MARYLAND Senator's commanding influence VIII"
his party in the "deliberative Dranch Oh Co"-
sress makes anything he has to say on pehuihs
legislation OF more than ordinary Importance
Rut as the recognized author OF Inc maj re-
wise. Of the Wilson bill. and the unchaHeneeo
leader Of the conservative" movement by "hl'h
tho authority of the Senate Finance Committee
was overthrown and the projected House schenne
% ad valorem tariff rates and non-protectlVe
tariff duties was rejected for measure OF mod
crate incidental protection" his utterances to-day
were looked forward to with the intenses' IN
terest 1t was impossible. however, FOR states
man OF Mr. Germans retcence and modesV u
paw tribute. direct or indirect, to the immense
personal triumph he had won over the radlcai
free-trade element in the party at all COM
mensurate with the extent and signihcance OF
that victory. The personal element was accoru-
jngly almost entirely eliminated from To-Day
speech, and the character and Importance OF TIE
changes made in the legislative programme OF the
party were mnmized rather than magnlhed by
the cautious Maryland leader.
The keynote of the policy Of modification ana
amendment so patiently and successfully worked
out by Mr.. German was boldly struck In but
one passage and in that Mr.. Gorhah
declared almost bluntly and contemptuously
that the Chicago platform Of 1882 had
been discarded in the calculations of the
trainers of a practical Tariff bill for the once
buried but now resurrected and triumphant tenet
of Randallism-that OF a tariff for revenue with
incidental protection Neither the Wilson bill
nor the voorhees, bill. Mr.. German added sig
nihcantly could have passed the Senate. and the
bill now offered under his own name, he calmly
proclaimed, was the only piece Of tariff legisla-
ton possible in this Congress.
But Mr.. German had a defence to make, as
well as a political and personal triumph to eX-
plot in his remarks to-day. His defence was d.
rected TO those critics both In and out OF Mary
land who have denounced him. first, for artfulIy
obstructing the passage Of the House Dill. ana
then for effectually purging IT of all its radical
free-trade features The Maryland Senator in
sisted that the House bill was haphazard and
careless piece Of work not III 10 60 unchanged
on the statute books If there had been any ue-
Law therefore II had been wholly advantageous,
and its benefits to be seen in the more care
full and conservative" provisions OF the newest
"compromise." Mr.. German thus frankly stakes
his future in the party on the success OF the
revival Of Randallism the cardinal doctrine OF
which he and the other conservatives now
avow BY this avOwal. with Mr.. German at
their head. they part irrevocably from this time
on with the radical free-traders in the party
who only a year ago seemed all-powerful, but
who now follow meekly and submissively at the
wheels of Mr.. Germans chariot.
Mr. Teller made something Of a sensation soon
after Mr.. Germans speech had ended by moving
to lay the Tariff bill on the table The motion
was an unprecedented one and had no special
significance. 1t was defeated by 10 majority, all
the Democrats and Popusts voting against 1t.
A few more items in the metal schedule were
disnosed Of the DAVIS work ending with an un-
finished discussion on the cut in the duty on tin
plate.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
Washington. May BIN the Senate to-day Mr..
KYLE Hop s. d. introduced a resolution, which
went over till tomorrow declaring 1t TO be the
sense of the Senate that the United States should
not use force for the purpose Of restoring to the
throne the deposed Queen Of the Sandwich Islands
or Of destroying the existing Government that the
Provisional Government; having been duly recognizei
the highest National interests require that 1t sha.
pursue its own line Of policy. and that foreign III
PREVENTION in the political affairs OF those islands
would be regarded an act unfriendly to the
- Government of the United States
The Tariff bill taken up at 1879 a. m, the
pendng question being paragraph No H. relating tc
railway bars Of iron or steel. Mr. Jones Oem.
Ark) withdrew the Finance Committee amendment
and moved 10 make the duty seven-twentieths OF
cent per pound. Explaining the proposed amend
ment, Mr.. Jones said: The rate under the presen
law was sx-tenths Of cent per pound. or SlS I
per ton so that the rate proposed was a ltt
over one-ha!f of the existing rate"
In the course of a discussion on the emendmen
Mr.. Plat (Rep. Comm said that the duty pro
posed in 1t just much prohibitive duty Oh
steel rails the duty under the Mckinley &C
was. and he was glad Of It, He rejoced at 1t. AM
he commended the wisdom Of Senators on the othe
side In so fixing IT, The history Of steel rail price
was he contended. a complete refutaton Of the prin
cple Of tariff reformers that high duties Increases
prices the consumers, because. with tarii
on steel rails that had always been prchbltive tn
price had steadily declined until now. instead o
paying $50 ton for steel rails they could be bough
at so a ton.
MR. GERMAN TAKES THE FLOOR
1t was just II o'clock when Mr.. Plat took hi
seat. and Mr. German Dem. Md rose TO ad1res
the Senate. 1t had been made known through tn
newspapers that 1t his intention 10 speak
defence of the Democratic position. and the attend
OF Senators on both sides and OF spectator
in the galleries was large. AS in measured sownes
of delivery. and in solemn vibrating tones. he be
gan his speech. a profound hush spread over tn
chamber and Senators and spectators settled dow
TO give 10 the Maryland Senator the closest an
most respectful attention. Contrary TO the usui
custom he had prepared his remarks. and rea
his speech from printed slips. with perfect distnc
ness Of hntonatlon and with great earnestness
manner. He opened In prophetic strain saying:
Mr.. President: We nearing the end. Ate
twenty years Of political progress; OF positv
growth. OF constant development and OF universe
enlightenment. the Democratic party and IN
American people are within sight Of the promise
land. Emancipation Is at INTERCHANGEABLE
from partisan oppression from the greed OF casse
from extortion. from wilful extravaganza. froi
financial fantasy, from spells, from restriction
upon individual liberty; from jngoism. from a
inherited as hateful legacy from three decade
OF Republican INSTRUMENTATION
He then touched upon the difficulties which ha
confronted the Democratic party on It's return
power after thirty years Of opposition and II
vehemence Of the demands made upon them. Nv
not only urged he said. but ordered pereml
torily TO reform the tariff at once Why wait
Vote first. Talk afterward" He asserted tina
time, and plenty of It, had always been considere
absolutely essential In reforming tariffs. I'll