Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1895-02-23
REPUBLICAN CONsPlRAToRS.
Plotting TO Undo tho Work of the Demo-
cratic Congress-

49, SoGiOSN SONSFiHA Ouos
Plotting TO Undo tho Work of the Demo-
cratic Congress.
The republicans In both houses Of
congress are putting partyism before
patriotism us usual in these latter
days
When the president sent in his'special
message last Monday the sound-moncy
republicans seemed disposed to join the
sonnd-money democrats in affording
relief to the treasury In the manner
proposed. They seemed disposed to
admit the trata of the presidents
statement that the treasury was in It's
present predicanent not because Of
the insufiicicncy of the revenues, but
because the laws relating to the cur
rency were unwise and inadequate to
the protection of the gold reserve.
Now all is changed. Although less
than week has elapsed, and although
the business public has rallied to the
support of the president with remark
able promptness and unanimity, we
are told that "the party leaders in
both house and senate are firmly con-
vinced Of the fact that the only diff
Guilty at present lies In lack of rev.
enue."
And 1t is more than limited that these
leaders have come to an understanding
not only that they will do whatever
may be necessary to defeat the pro-
posed legislation by this congress, but
that in the next congress they will first
pass n bill increasing the tariff rates
and refuse to do anything to improve
the currency system unless the presi-
dent signs that bill
In short, the plan is to force the
president to accept a Mckinley tariff
or bankrupt the government and al
low the country to lapse to the silver
basis.
Of course, this ,liabolcal programme
has not been op,nly announced, nor
will it be. But that it has been agreed
upon is fair inference from Senator
AlliSon's recent remarks in the senate
After referring to the fact that the
treasury had been running behind for
some time he said: "rhe first duty of
congress is to raise revenues as well as
to appropriate for necessary expenses
The tariff bill has largely increased
the free list, and brought in foreign
articles with lowered duties. There is
therefore, ample means of increasing
our revenue by a small increase of
tariff rates. This should be done in
stead of drawing from the treasury
reserve to pay current expenses. If a
surplus had been maintained the gold
reserve would not have been trenched
on to meet the treasury notes"
Mr.. Allison calmly ignores the fact
that the treasury began to run behind
before the end of the Harrison admin
istration, and Mr. Foster, lIarrison's
secretary of the treasury, had made
the resumption. lie seeks to place
upon the democratic party the blame
for the deficit and the run on the treas
ury for gold, both of which were due
to republican legislation, and began
before the close Of the last republican
administration. But let that pass.
The first thing to be done, Mr.. ALI
son tells us, is to increase the tariff
rates. Bat he cannot expect this con-
eress to revise the tariff upward, espe-
cially us it will expire month from
now. lie cannot mean to postpone
remedial legislation until the new con-
gress meets next December. for it will
then be too late for such legislation,
and there will be no excuse for increas-
Ing the tariff, because the present law
will be producing revenue far in excess
of the expenditure.
1t is rs plain as possible, therefore,
that the republican programme limited
at by Mr.. Allen is to force an extra ses-
sion by preventing the passage of any
measure of relief this session. Then
the first thing, as he expressly states,
will be to revise the tariff. That, judg-
ing from the past, will take at least
six months. In the meantime nothing
whatever will be done for the protec.
ton of the treasury. Probably moth
Ing will be done afterward, for Mr. Al
lison voices the republican opinion that
if the income exceeded the outgo the
gold reserve would not be trenched
upon to meet the treasury notes,
And so the diabolical republican
scheme to force Mckinleyism upon the
country again or destroy the public
credit by sinking us to the silver basis
is completely exposed. But the scheme
will not work. The administration
will protect the treasury and the ma
tional honor by issuing bonds under
the resumption act. The president will
not call the new congress together to
resume the agitation of the tariff. The
new congress will not meet till Decem-
ber, and by that time there will be
surplus instead of deficit, and there
will be no excuse for reopening the
tariff question.
The conspiracy of the republicans to
force McKinleyism upon the country
again or destroy the public credit and
disgrace the nation will not be permit
ted to succeed. Chicago Herald.