The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-04-12
Mr.. BLAINE'S ANGRY BLOW
Smashed His Hat In Pr0te st AGAINST
Mckinleyism.
A DRAMATIC SCENE IS RECALLED.
He Predicted THAT the Protection Theory
Run Riot Would Bs tho Ruin OF tho
Republican Party.
WASHINGTON Post.

| Washington Post.
Notwithstanding the apparently uni
versal demand on the part OF tho rank
and file OF the republican party 10 nomi-
nate Mr.. Mckinley. there is considerable
doubt in the minds of the leaders as to
whether the appearance of the Ohio man
at the head OF presidential ticket will
not be 4 dangerous thing. They recall
the very effective campaign which the
democrats made against the champion of
high protection IN 1870. and they fear tina /
tho facts and arguments then so success
fully put forth VIII again have great
weight with the people. 1t Is true that
the Mckinley men assert that the condi-
tons now are vastly different. They say
that In 1876 the democratic policy of low
tariff had not been tried. and that tho re-
volt against McKinleyism was natural be-
cause 1t was believed that its opponents
had something better to offer They claim
That experience has shown that tho then
despised Mcknleyism Is really the cor
ner-stone OF the Nations prosperity.
In this connection the conservative men
IN me party are recalling the dramatic
scene wnich occurred III the room of the
senate committees on approximations in
Ell his voice in mos emphatic protest
AGAINST tho passage of the Mckinley bill
should the ex-chairman of the ways and
means committee be the republican nomi-
nee, this scene will be the text for many
u, democratic speech, and the words OF
Elaine Will be quoted in condemnation
OF republican policy. The episode is worth
eating, Tor II Illustrated to d remo rkabie
ueGIee the prophetic soul of Blaine as
wei as an antagonisn 10 that extreme of
protection which the Mckinley bill en-
bodied, and the fear of which today is the
one weakness of the Mckinley cause.
lake many other kings, Rlalnes denun-
citation of the Mckinley bill was all the
absolutely unprecedented He had zone
TO the committee room, as secretary of
I Msle 10 ds sa with Senators Allison,
consular and diplomatic appropriation
PHI. IL was a warm day and he was at
ured In light summer suit, but also wore
u d, brand new beaver. The Mckinley bill
was then pending in the senate, having
passed me house, and naturally 1t came
up IN tho casual conversation which pre-
eeded the business for which the secre-
tary had gone 10 the capitol.
What do you think OF 1t, Mr.. Score
tarN? asked MIR Blackburn
70 the surprise OF everybody present,
instead of commanding the mea sure, MIR.
Blaine burst forth with the most bitter
and fiery denunciation.
if you want my honest opinion" he
saiu, II VIII ten YOU that l think the bill
IS an infamy and an outrage. 1t Is the
most shameful measure ever propo. ed
!, 10 "a, a eiviliSed people Go on with 1t and
MIR. Blaine paused FOR a moment in b,s
invectivc, and Senator Blackburn re-
marked that no wished the secretary was
IN ,he senate to speak as publicly as he
had Just done privately.
Il wish l were," he answered, for
would stamp 1t under my feet and spit
Advancing toward Senator Allison and
Senator Halo he snapped his finger In the
lace or each man and with rising !niec-
ton said.
Go on with your drlveling idiocy and
see to what destruction II will lead the
republican party. Pass this bill and In
1892 there will not be man beggared
as to accept your nomination for the
presidency"
HOW THE CLIMAX CAME
Not content with this general criticism
Mr., Blaine took up the items Of the bill
with which he seemed to be perfectly ia
mlliar, and dissected 1t without mercy
The tremendous high protection. be-
yond all reason or necessity which had
been given to the manufacturers was es-
lNecialiy the object of his condemnation.
with the sugar schedule he was par,ic
ularly severe. This gave Senator Black
burn an opportunity 10 add fuel TO the
flame.
But the senate has gone further than
the house. he remarked. I'm order to
protect the great American industry OF
boring a hole in a maple tree and boiling
the juice. the senate has given bounty
OF cents pound to the maple sugar
growers OF New England"
Mr.. Blaine turned around in surprise
II was evidently the first time he had
heard of the proposition. He appealed 90
MIR. Hale and Mr. Allison to know II Mr.
BLACKBURN had spoken truthfully. They
confirmed the statement.
81 suppose this was donc NJ tho soIicita-
ton of Morrill, and fdmunds?' he in
CURED. Mr.. Allison nodded MS mead.
1T is a good sample of The breadth Of
their statesmanshin," commented Mr.. |
Blaine in a sarcastic tone OF voice. and
then the climax came.
Mr.. Blanes new beaver was lying on |
the table within easy reach. With n sud |
den blow he brought his clinched hand |
down upon it with such force as 20 mash |
II natter than pancake. and then, Feiz- |
Ing the battered chareaux, he hurled II |
was an exhibition of feeling that startled |
forcible evidence OF the secretarys hos |
tilty. Those present felt that the episode |
had gone far enough. and a few moments |
later the secretary and the subcommittee |
were deep in the items of tho apprOpria |
ton bill. The sequel came when Mr., |
Blaine. In an effort to widen rather than |
restrict the American market, entered |
heartily into the reciprocity feature |
which proved the mainsny OF the Nc |
Klnley bill when 1t finally became
law.
AN AUTOGRAPH.
Only n woman's delicate hand with