Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-19

An article written by George Grant
ham Balm, giving Senator Gray's views
of national questions. was published
by the Washington ID. g., Star last
Saturday. After speaking of Mr. Gray's
advent in the United States Senate
and Of his fitnesB for occupying posi-
tion in the Presidents cabinet and re-
ferring to his law Office and home the
writer says;
Although Senator Gray has the ropu-
tation Of being the "mouthpiece Of the
administration" on the floor of the
Senate, singularly enough he is not an
intimate of Mr. Cleveland. And he
denies that he is a blind spokesman
for the administration, as some have
charged. Any one who has watched
the Senator's public career, or who has
come in personal contact with him.
does not need to be assured of his in
dependence
have never supported anything
unless | believed ii was right" said
the Senator. "A man's partisanship
may inflence his Judgment Mt times,
but in public life | have advocated
always what | believed in. am not
an intimate of the President. In fact,
| probably see less of him than any
Democratic Senator, except those who
are distinctly on bad terms with him. "
But you admire him. | suggested.
Very much, said Mr.. Gray. 81
think he is very remarkable mana
man of strong convictions and tho
courage to support them. / must ad-
mire man who has the conscience and
the courage to do what he thinks is
right provided he has the inteli-
gence TO distinguish the right from the
wrong. Mr.. Cleveland is man of re-
markable character, and one whose
public career has meant great deal
TO the people Of the United States. y
And to the Democratic party?" l
asked.
''It did in his tariff message of
1887" said the Senator. "That was
remarkable document. and one which
brought the divided elements Of the
Democratic party together az nothing
else probably could have DONE /
sympathized with that message, because
! myself am a free trader in the same
sense that Daniel Webster was in 1924.
But | admire il most for tho abundant
courage of the man who wrote it,
Probably up to that time Mr.. Cleveland
had given little consideration to the
question OF tariff taxation. When,
however, he did take it up, and the
truth in regard to it dawned on him, it
was like the light that broke on ST
Paul on his way to Damascus. He
could not SEQ anything else until he
had brought the matter to the attention
of Congress and of the American peo.
pie. Some, perhaps many. Democrats
had an idea then that the President
had ruined tho party. They were like
lot Of frightened doves in dove cote
Yet that message really soidiiied the
party as nothing else could have done. .
THE TARIFF AND THE SILVER QUESTION,
The Senator laughed at the sugres-
tion that the Amer an people would
ever go hack to high protective tariff,
and scotfed ut tho proposition that
Asia would ruin the American peoplc
by doing the manufacturing for the
world.
Suppose they do send a lot Of chean
manufactured goods here he said.
Our people must do something ia
earn those goods or they cannot buy
taem. And they will find sonc ii.
dustry in which to do it. Never believe
that the people of our blood and race
are going 10 be at loss for occupation.
am not afraid Of tho competition of
cheap labor. What difference did If
make to the people of Delaware when
Massachusetts began TO manufacture
shoes? II meant simply that tho peo
pie of Delaware were more cheaply
shod Besides, il is not the business
of the government TO furnish labor 10
inan
The greatest mind in the history of
tho republic said the Senator, was
Daniel WebBter's; and he exposed the
fallacies Of protection completely and
Hnanswerably in 1924. He rctracted
that speech ia later years, but it stands
to-day an unanswered and unswerahle
argument The conditions which roy-
ern International trade are growing
simpler and more uniform every wear
The commercial world is becoming A
solidarity. Trade between Belgium
and the United States is now carried
on in much the same way and is aov.
ernod by the samr principles as trade
between Massachusetts and New York.
Every year the trade rotations of The
world arc being simpitied. We will
never return to the Old tariff condi-
tOns. ~
Mr.. Gray spoke with some enthusiasm
Of Mr.. Clevelaad'a work for sound
money
"The free silver hereFv. y he anil
and then he paused ''You are sound
money man, are you not?' he asked
with rare consideration for oven tia
political feelings Of another "Well, /
VIII call IT the free silver hCresy then.
This hcresy had obtained strong hold
on the Democratic party. 1t wap neees.
sary for the country's welfare that the
tide OF free silver sentiment should he
stemmed. IL MIR, Harrison had been
President of course he could not have
done it, because he could have had
no influence with the Democratic marty.
Fortunately for the country Mr.. Cleye.
lana was in the White House. lie Il
little slow Of thought, but when ho
gets an IDEA he gets a complete hold
Of it'-or perhaps should say il rcts Il
complete hold Of him. He comnre.
Lended the silver situation, saw its
necessities and acted promptly and
effectively. Wlih the aid nf Mr.. Car
Isle he held back tie Democratic rart,
from the road il was threatening t.
taFe He gave IL a chance TO think.
In this Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Carlisl,
dld fine thing for the country and ;
hue tnlHg luF lhe l'rmnrfftir party.
| asked the senator if he belisvaf
the good accomplished was prrmancnt
"fes, " he said, "hccauFc tfr 'y' reviva
Of trade and the rise in nriucs ha,
cheap silver does not mean nene.saril,
cheap agricultural products. ro nss1.
clate these two in the public mind ba,
always heen the ctiert Of tbe Filve,
propagandist "
PRESIDENTIAL roastBULrfEs