The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-08-01
YILAs,s SPEECH.
Defends the President and scores
German.


In the senate this afternoon Mr.. Jones
called up the conference report on the
tariff bill Mr.. Villas was Immediately
recognized. but yielded to Mr.. Quay,
who withdrew the sugar amendments
he offered just before adjournment last
night. The Wisconsin senator began his
speech by saying that an extraordinary
scene occurred on Monday last In the
senate. ~ democratic senator, said he,
saw fit to attack the president, without
precedent, he thought, or If there was a
precedent ii was one that ought to be
Stunned instead Of followed. 1t was a
personal assault upon the president and
his character He had hoped, he said
that the remarks of Mr.. German and
those who joined with him on that oc-
casion would have appeared in the record
before he CMr. Vilas) replied. But, he
went on sarcastically, he presumed the
engagements of the Maryland senator
We're SO pressing that he had had no
time to revise them. Mr.. Villas consid-
cred ii his duty to reply 10 that assault.
He would speak as the personal as
well as the political friend of the presi-
dent. He rejoiced in the honor Of Mr..
Cleveland's friendship. 1t was a pride
to him. OF the rewards few and stinted
that come to public men, one Of the
greatest that had come TO him was the
distinguished man. Tt was his honest
testimony to his character that never
at any moment in any temptation, politi-
cal or personal, had he failed to see in
Mr.. Cleveland the pure white light of an
upright purpose. For such a man he
saw fit to say some words not in de-
Tense Che needed none), but some cor
rection Of a discoloration Of facts by
which Mr.. Cleveland had been placed in
a false light before the country. He
would make his statement in behalf of
the truth OF history.
He regretted he said, that Mr.. German
was absent from the senate chamber. The
first accusation, he proceeded, was that
the president was open TO the charge or
duplcty. That was based upon a. letter
In which Mr.. Cleveland expressed the hope
that iron and coal should go on the free
list on the tariff bill. The second was
that the executive had by that encroached
on the prerogatiVes of congress and that
the president had traduced the senate.
Those charges wera true or false, not
as a matter Of argument, but as matter
of fact with regard to coal and iron
ore let US examine the facts" said Mr..
Villas. And I desire TO say here that
| am under deep obligation to the sena-
tor from New York, who never in his
public career made such an able expo
sition of any subject as he did on tues
day last"
The Presidents Record.
Mr.. Villas then reviewed at length the
presidents opinion in favor of free raw
materials, his letter of 1887 and other pub
lie utterances up to his message TO con-
gress at the opening of the present seS-
sion This principle was everywhere pro-
claimed by his supporters 10 be the first
step In the enfranchisement of labor from
the thraldom Of unjust taxation. Gould 1t
be possible, he asked that any one sup
posed he had abandoned the principle
that lay at the base of any scheme of
tariff reform?
What was the proof adduced in sup
port Of this alleged change of heart? Mr..
German himself had no personal tesu-
rnonv To offer. He called on Mr.. Vest,
who offered conversation-hearsay testi-
mony that would have been excluded In
any court of justice. He had no per-
sOnal testimony.
The distinguished senator from Arkan-
sas, whose labors In behalf of this bill
had earned so much respect from his coll
leagues. testified that he had personally
talked with the president about the SEN
ate bill Did Mr.. Jones claim that AL de-
tails Of the bill had been laid before Mr..
Cleveland? Necessarily not. only the
general principles on which the amend
ments were made. With regard 10 those
two amendments, upon which the speclh-
cations Of Mr.. Germans charge had been
founded the testimony Of Mr.. Jones was
clear that the president, whenever coal
and iron ore We're mentioned, expressed
the hope that they would go on the free
list. Was there any one DESTROYS OF do
ing open and free justice to the presl-
dent who after reading Mr.. Jones's own
statement would not say that Mr..
Cleveland had never faltered In his urg-
ent demand for free coal and free iron
ore? The president knew. too. that each
house would have a voice, and therefore
not with duphcity. but with opcnness and
boldness that always characterized him,
Mr.. Cleveland had expressed to the chair
man of the ways and means committee
the hope that the result he desired should
be accomplished In conference. He had
a right TO say IL after his conversation as
detailed by Senator Jones; he had right
10 discourage IL by any proper means.
But ii was said that the presidents let
ter constituted an encroachment upon
the prer0gatlves of congress. His right
to write and send It was right. Mr.. Vi
las quoted the text Of the letter. Was
that the language of a man who sought
70 reach beyond his power? he asked.
Was IL not rather the honest outpouring
Of a genuine democrat addressing his
acknowledgements in support OF principles
he had so nobly carried through two try
ing presidential contests?
Mr. Villas then quoted and ranged
alongside Of Mr., Cleveland's utterance
the statement Of Mr.. German that the
senate could not pass a bill If IL did not
have The hearty support of Mr.. Cleveland.
at the very time when the president
was writing his letter to Mr.. WILSON,
Mr.. Villas went on dramatically, the
senator from Maryland and his co-adju-
tors were appealing 10 Mr.. Cleveland TO
induce him TO support them in an effort
10 qualify the enactment Of democratic
principles instead OF crystallizing them
into law How utterly wanton is this
cry Of interference now. because he has
seen fit TO throw the weight of his in
fluenre with the house in favor of dem
ocratic principles; because he refused 10
stand with them they make his action
a ground of complaint here and in hor-
horror cry out against executive inter
ference"
Washington Set the Precedent.
Mr. Villas referred 10 the fact that
Pesident Washington came to the same
chamber. accompanied by his secretary,
to urge in person the ratification Of a
treaty he had negotiated. President
Jackson's course in making his views
felt by congress was also referred TO.
to fair-minded men whether the presi-
dent had wantonly encroached upon the
rights Of congress. The charge was
made that the senate had been traduced.
Extracts from the letter 10 Mr.. Wilson
purpose was not to traduce the senate,
but to plainly state his aspirations to-
ward tariff reform. The president had
stated that the abandonment OF that
great party principle would be perfidy
and dishonor