The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-11
BUREAU OF THE SENTINEL.


Anticipation that Hill would assail the
administration and declare himself
against the Wilson tariff drew an inn
mense crowd Of spectators in the CALLER
les, more out Of curiosity than OF ad-
miration. More than one hundred men,
bers came over from the house. Tom
Reed and all the big republicans were
there, expecting to hear something drop
that would settle the fate Of the Wilson
bill Democrats We're there also, expect
ing almost anything from the great
trickster
The speech of Senator Hill was chiefly
devoted TO an extensive and bitter at
tack on the income tax feature Of the
Wilson bill His opening remarks, how
ever. took wider range. He began:
The political revolution which COM
menced In 1880 and eliminated I'm 1892 was
a, an emphatie tic expression of the popular will
Measures and not men were largely the
issues involved in that movement. Rightly
interpreted. IL indicated the public senti-
ment in opposition to intrenchment upon
the reserved rights of the states. through
odious federal election laws. some proposed
and others then existing: IL voiced the
general demand for a discontinuance of
the unwise and indefensible financial sys-
TEN of silver bullion purchases by the
templated by the constitutions system
equally a hindrance 10 the return to bi-
metallism as well as menace TO a sound
and stable currency; IL manifested the de-
sire for a better administration OF public
affairs, greater economy i'm governmental
expenditures, and the eX9ctiOn of higher
official standards I'm the execution Of public
trusts; IL demanded a more safe, dignitied
and consistent foreign policy; and II con-
taxing power of the government which is
known as the policy Of protection for pro-
lection sake alone, and declared i'm favor
Of a tariff for revenue.
The Foreign Policy.
Mr.. Hill then took up the foreign
policy Of the administration, saying:
It is not denied that some mistakes have
occurred Our foreign policy, especially
that relating 20 Hawaii, It must be ad-
mitted, has not met the expectations Of
the people. y sense Of humiliation pre-
vailed when the project for the restora-
ton Of a deposed monarchy was unfolded
by the administration. and qualification
ensued when its abandonment or failure
was reluctantly announced, Influenced
largely by an aroused public sentiment.
That unfortunate contemplated policy
was a blunder and a bunder IL some
times worse than crime. IL was. how
ever, the natural consequence which might
well have been anticipated from that
other mistake I'm placing the department
man. distinguished and estlmable though
he may be. whose public services have al
ways been In opposition TO the democratic
party. who was without sympathy for its
traditions and purposes, and whose politi-
cal convictions upon the disputed public
questions Of the day IL changed at all.
GREETED that the president should not have
been able TO find In his own party some
safe and honored statesman In whom he
and his party could have placed confidence
one Of democratic instincts and training,
whose management of foreign anairs
would have reflected credit upon the coun-
try. and would have avoided the promulga-
tion of that un-American pollcy-a de-
parture from democratic precedents-which
was sought 10 be forced upon an unwilling
In this view OF the situation our op-
ponents must accept some share or the
responsibility for the blunders committed
In our foreign affairs. In other respects
the present administration OF our govern
ment affords scant grounds for just criti-
cism.
Senator Hill spoke OF the repeal OF the
federal election lag as fulhllment OF
the party's pledges. and triumph for
the just doctrine of states rights, and
indorsed the repeal OF the Sherman law.
Coming then to the main question
tariff reform-he said that revision
should be approached with circumspec-
tion and with realizing sense Of the
changed condition of the country since
1887 and 1890, adding:
An extreme reduction OF tariff duties at
a time when the treasury was swollen
with "A surplus Of a hundred million dol
lars when the country was reasonably
prosperous. when ali our industries were
In motion, and all our worl<ingmen were
employed, assumed a different aspect and
presented a different question when pro
posed now with a large and growing
treasury deficit instead of a surplus star
ing us I'm the face, with Our Industries
paralyzed our manufactures closed our
workingmen idle, and following upon the
heels Of one of the most disastrous finan-
cial panics I'm our history.
What was safe aud prudent and wise
then, II would be criminal folly 10 attempt
now. The present is no time for PARTISAN
ship, and democrats and republicans alike
should strive TO solve existing problems
in a spirit OF broad patriotim. In the face
and in the presence OF such a paralysis OF
general business, as the treasury deficits
attest and prolong. this bill, as framed
by S authors ~ aba and ,b as sed by 5he
customs revenue and TO fli the void with
an income tax.
Opposes the Income Tax.
The rest of his speech was given up
10 the income tax question. and his
opening words defined his position in
unequivocal and forceful language. He
said:
Against such a scheme-unnecessary
ill-tlmed and mischievous-suddenly sprung
upon the country in the hour OF its dis
tresa. undemocratic in it's nature and
s0cialistic in its tendencies, l enter the
protest Of the ps9ple, ,,o, Of the stat state OF New
posal 10 get revenue for the general gov
erpment by taxing incomes Their dissent
is practically unanimous and altogether
implacable.
He intimated that the tariff bill was
constructed on lines laid down by the
administration; that IL was an anom-
alous state Of affairs when the president
should be able TO give congress informa-
tion ss to what had occurred In COM