Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-07-24
WASHINGTON LETTER
ABANDONED THE TRIP.
THE TARIFF BILL.
The Spanish Japanese
Alliance.
THE SEAL QUESTION-PROS-
PERITY AHEAD.

(FrOm Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, July 10, 1897.
President Mckinley has had to aban
don attending the dedication OF the
Logan statue in Chicago, owing to the
delay in disposing of the tariff bill. He
did so very reluctantly, as be was par
ticularly anxious to be there, but, of
wish to be away from Washington
when the tariff bill is finally acted up
on by Congress, as it is certain to be
this week, now that the conferees have
reached an agreement, notwithstand-
ing the threat OF a coterie of democrat
and pOpulist Senators TO delay the ac-
ceptance OF the conference report by
the Senate. These threats were pro-
badly made for effect before the agree
ment was reached, as nothing can be
gained by delaying the acceptance OF
the report and even democrats and
populists are not likely to engage in
butting their heads against the rock
wall OF public opinion when they can
get nothing by doing so.
THE HOUSES VICTORY.
The country is to be congratulated
that the Houses conferees had their
way about the important schedules of
the tariff bill also the republican par
ty, and the result is largely due to the
practical unanimity of the republican
press in declaring the House schedules
to be preferable to those of the Sem
ate. This was especially true OF the
sugar schedule, the most troublesome
of them all To have agreed to the
Senate schedule would have furnished
the opponents of the republican party
with a great deal of campaign material
without aiding any American industry
or adding to the revenues of the Gov
eminent. This fact was fully recog-
nized by Speaker Reed and the repub-
licsn members of the House, and too
much credit cannot be given them for
taking the stand that the Senate SEIZED
ule would, under no circumstances be
agreed to by the House. Quite mum
Der OF republican Senators also assis-
ted in the good work by condemning
the Senate sugar schedule.
NOT PEBFEor MEASURE.
The tariff bill, as it now stands, ID
not perfect-nothing of human con-
struction Is-but it is a good bill, and
will be endorsed by ali who believe in
prote ctive tariff, and will add to the
believers in protection. 1t will enable
many thousand Americans to get the
profitable employment they have been
without for four years, and will, at the
same time, produce all the revenue
needed to run the government. Nc
one man deserves more credit for this
bill than Chairman Dingley, whose
name tho bill bears. Since last De-
har ho hos Cd ~ nd Ia
on the measure, and if the Dingley
tariff proves as popular as its support
ers expect, who knows, but it's author
may not in that course of time be al
highly rewarded as was the author o
the Mckinley tariff. Here's hopinI
that Dingley times may be as prosper.
Gus as Mckinley times, and I am sur,
that Mr.. Dingley would rather see thu
country prosperous than to be Pfesi
dent.
NO NOTICE TO BE TAKEN.
There is little probability that thi
government will take any notice O
Japan's supplementary protest agains
the annexation of Hawaii, not beoaus
of any particular desire to snCb Japan
but because of Secretary Sherman
reply to Japan's first protest coVere
the ground so fully that no other ar
swer is needed. The action of the Sc
ate Committee on Foreign Relation
in favorably reporting the annexatio
treaty without dissenting voice, wa
additional notice to Japan, and all til
rest of the world, that annexation
going to he accomplished regardless
the opinions or wishes of other nation
SECRETARY sHERMAN's LRTTRR.
No official of the administration, nj
member of either branch of Congrei
takes seriously the English made II
NOR that Spain and Japan had forme
an alliance to make war upon the I'm
ed States Nobody in Washingto
would be the slightest bit worried eve
If it were known that such an alliant
was an accomplished fact, instead {
being an English attempt to scar
somebody, as q means OF "gettir
even" for the truthful statement
trick conduct of the English govern
ment, made in Secretary Sherman
instruction to Ambassador Hay, cor
corning the seal fisheries negotiation
1t was not intended that these instrU
tiOns should be made public at tn
time, but they were obtained by
wide-awske newspaperIman and prin
ed. The publication has made I'll
English editors very mad at Il
United States, and their old oceup
ton OF abusing US, which was suspen
ed while the arbitration treaty W
pending. has been resumed but it
worthy OF notice that no attempt h
been made 30 controvert the truthfU
ness OF Secretary Sherman's arraig
m6nt of Lord Salisbury.