Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-14

dwelling at the northern end of Market
street-a brisk ten minutes walk from his
office. 1t is in the old part of Wilmington
just stones throw from picturesque odd
Brandywne' An old-fashioncd saloon par
Tor, the full depth of the house. IS the
left of the broad hallway as You PASS the
latticed doors. The Senator's library is
across the hall. 1t was in the reception
room that l spent a very pleasant two
hours with Mr.. Gray not long lgo, dis
cussing politics and politicians.
Senator Gray's Opinion of the Presi-
dent.
Although Senator Gray has the repatat ton
of being the "mouthpiece of the admins
tration" on the floor of the Senate sirgu-
larry enough he is not an intimate of Mr.
Cleveland. And he denies that he IS u blind
spokesman for the administration rs some
have charged. Any one who has watched
the senator's public career, who has come
In personal contact with him. does not need
to be assured of his independence.
Il have never supported ANYTHING unless
believed 1t was right" said the Senator.
"A mans partisa nship may influence his
Judgment at times, but in public life [ have
advocated always what believed in ] am
not an intimate of the President. II fact
probably see less of him .han any demo
cratic Senator, except those who ire dis
tinetiy on bad terms with him"
But you admire him." l suggested
Very much" said Mr. Gray Il think he
Is very remarkable mana man of strong
convictions and the courage n spnnorf
them. l must admire man who has the
conscience and the courage to do what he
thinks is right-provided he has the ;ntal1i
eehce 10 distinguish the right from the
wrong. Mr.. Cleveland is man of remark
able character. and one whose public career
raS meant a great deal to the people Of tho
United States" ~ ''''
And to the democratic party'" asked.
" d:d in his tariff message of 1887" said
the Senator. That was a remarkable docu-
meht and one which brought the dividad
elements of the democratic party together
as nothing else probably could have done.
sympathized with that message becausa
myself am free trader in the same senss
that Daniel Webster was in 1924 But T ad.
nlre 1t most for the abundant COURAGE of
me man who wrote it. Probably up to that
time Mr.. Cleveland had given little consid
GRAFTON TO the question of tariff taxation
when however he did take it up. and the
truth IN regard to it dlwned on him II
was like the light that broke on 81 pal ~
Els way to Damascus. He could not 500
anything else until he had brought the mai
Ter to the attention of Congress and of the
american people. Some, perhaps MANY,
democrats had an idea then that the praS
1dtnt had ruined the party They were lii a
lot OF frightened doves in dove cote
Yet that message really solidffied the Marty
as nothing else could have DONE
The Tariff and the Silver Questiop
The Senator laughed at the suggestion
that the American people would ever po
JAIN u d HlSn protective tariff, and scoffed
at the proposition that Asia would ruin the
American people by doing the manufacture
ing for the world
suppose they do send a lot of cbe,n
Manufactured goods here" he said "OI,r
peopie must do something to earn those
EoDis or they cannot buy them And thal,
VIII ina some industry in which to do If
Never believe that the people of our blood
and race are going to be at a loss for o.
cupaiion. am not afraid of the competition
or cheap labor. What difference did if
make TO the people of Delaware when
massachusetts, began to manufacture shoes
1t meant simply that the people of Dela
ware We're more chedply shod Besides n
Is not the business of the government 70
furnish labor to men. -
The greatest mind in the history nf tho
republlc.' said the Senator. was Daniel
NehSters; and he exposed the fallacies of
protection completely and unanswerabIv in
ls2t. He retracted that speech in later
years, but 1t stands today an unanswered
and unanswerable argument The con5i-
tons which govern international trade are
growing simpler and more uniform every
year. 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 governed by the same
principles as trade between Massachusetts
ana New York. Every year the trade rela-
lions of the world are being simplifed We
VIII never return to the old tariff condi-
tons"
MIR. Gray spoke with some enthusiasm of
Mr.. Cleveland's work for sound money
The free silver heresy," ne said and
then he paused. You are a sound money
nan. are you not?' he asked with rare con-
siderdtion for even the political feelings of