The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-12-23
The VOICE OF CORMAN.
No New Tariff Without Full and
Fair Debate.


Hitch In the Republican Programme.
Lively Days Ahead Both ~ to Domestic
and Foreign Concerns-An Interesting
Situation.
WASHINGTON. Dec 23.-[ Especial One
result of last weeks sensational political
debate In the senate Is IA rather disquieting
discovery on the part of the Republican
leaders They fear they may not after all.
be able TO pass their new tariff bill 80
quickly In the special session of congress
which President Mckinley will call i'm
mediately after his Inauguration. They do
expect TO have majority in the senate, as
l told you In former letter. but the old
question Of the rules of the senate has now
come TO the front again and the Republic
ans fear the opposition Is preparing to
block their game long enough TO embarrass
the new president and his party
The Republican Hopes.
The situation is really very interesting
one President Elect Mckinley boldly for
mulated his policy. He was going to have
a special session. He wanted immediate
revision of the tariff The country expect
ed the Republican party to do this. and it
was "A responsibility which would have to
be met sooner OF later. Therefore 1t were
better to get 1t out of the way quickly. In
order to save time the ways and means
committee of the present congress- with Mr.
Dingley, who is TO be the new secretary OF
the treasury at its head, could prepare the
new law ready for congress when it meets
next March. In this way the president
elect hoped to have new tariff law upon
the statute books by the end of the current
fiscal year, or July l.
This was bold policy, and In the opin-
ion of great majority of the Republicans
of the country and of congress a wise one
1t will be remem bered that foreshadowed
this policy several weeks ago, and every
occurrence since then has justified my pre-
dictions' Until now everything has been
going smoothly. But here come the Dem.
ocrats with plan of their own The Dem
ocratic party is again showing signs Of life
and activity. The leading men of that
party have had their heads together ever
since the session of congress began. They
are looking to the future They want to
build up their party again, and as a result
of their conferences a general policy has
been adopted.
The Democratic Plans.
what it IL the Democrats are trying TO do
For the present they ignore the differences
which split their party last summer They
leave that question to work itself out AS
circumstances may indicate. They are now
chiefly concerned with their attitude toward
the Republican party and the policy which
Mr.. Mckinley has formulated. The Dem
ocrats have a tacit agreement that their
wisest course is simply to hold the Repub-
licans responsible for whatever happens
to the country I'm the future. The country
expects the Republican party to restore
prosperity BY calling a special session of
congress 10 pass tariff bill the Republic
ans accept a commission TO that end, and
at least show the courage of their convic-
tions. They know what Is expected OF
them and they are going TO try 10 accom-
plish IT,
The Democrats propose to lie in waiting
to see what the effect of this Republican
policy Is going to be IL it succeeds and
the country is given large measure of
prosperity, even Democrats admit that the
Republicans will be likely To remain In
power at least eight years. But if they
fail, If prosperity does not come In suffi
cient volume To satisfy majority OF the
people, then the Democrats will expect Co
profit by such a deDouement To place
their house In order for this result, 10 take
every advantage Of the Republican failure
which they predict, is their present policy.
In accordance with their plan the Demo
cratic leaders say they want the Republic
ans to pass tariff bill They want IL 10
be a complete Republican measure, such
one as that party will be willing To go be
fore the country on. Then they must abide
by the consequences. The Republicans are
willing To accept this responsibility. They
are just as eager tn take it as the Demo-
Gratis are to give IL to them; so on this
point there Is agreement.
Hitch In the Programme.
No one doubts that the Repub leans will
pass tariff bill. But when? That Is the
interesting question. According to the Nc
Kinley programme IL should be passed in
time to go into effect July next. But
here comes the Democrats, through the
Of hotr