The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-03
THE ALDRICH SPEECH REVIEWED

humor up. But, wasn't he funny
THE ALDRICH SPEECH REVIEWED.
The most complete review and per-
feet criticism that we have seen of
Mr. Aldrich's speech introducing the
tariff bill to the senate is found in the
columns of the New YORK Evening
Post. There has been no more logica!
and convincing arraignment Of the Be-
publican party and it's policy, ITO nc re
illuminating contrast between it's Iron.
Use and it's performance, than is the fair
and logical criticism that the Post has
to offer. 1t observes that The l:epub-
lican party and it's candidate have as
sumed from the beginning that the
country was pining for more protec-
ton; that prosperity could not return
until it was obtained, and that tie
need for haste was so great that con-
gress must be called in extra session
Immediately after the inauguration. In
answer to this we find that it was still
eight weeks, lacking one day, after the
passage Of the Dingley bill through
the house, and it's consideration by the
senate committee, before that commit
tee reported 1t back. Mr.. Aldrich says
in his opening speech that "the tusi-
ness of the entire country is in a state
OF suspension, awaiting the action Of
the senate upon the bill under consid-
Grafton" Yet that suspension he and
his associates decreed should last for
two months, while they were going over
a measure that had actually been he
fore them during the whole of last
winter, when the Republicans in both
houses of congress were agreeing anon
lts details. Next, Mr.. Aldrich says that
the first object Of the bill is to provide
revenue for the government After
placing in it increased taxes on beer
and tobacco and tea, whose receipts
are estimated at $24,000000, the best
that the gentlemen claim is a surplus
Of $2,725,O00. On his own admission. it
is doubtful if his predictions are real
lied, and the probability is that this
bill, like the present law, will show
deficit. Summing up his work, the Post
says:
In short, the Republican leader in the sem
ate keeps "the business of the entire coun-
try in state of suspension" for nearly two
months, waiting to produce and eIucidate his
bill; and when he does at last make his
explanation, proclaims that protection is
last getting played out" and that even now
he must add over $50, 900 900 of new taxes to
make pretense of securing the smallest
sort Of surplus.
It is no wonder that the Republican
press and members Of the Republican
party have little appetite for a discus
sion Of the bill, or the policy behind it.
1t is exposed on every side to the con-
demnation and contempt of the people.
Its rates, eXorbitant as they are, are
not imposed for revenue, because thew
are confessedly too high for that DUR
pose. A Republican congress. made I'D
Of historic praters about the "free
breakfast table," dares to raise It's
revenue largely from tea and sugar, re-
verts partially to the Democratic sys-
tenn of a taxation for revenue only. and
then frames the balance of those duti IS
on imports so as to give the greatest
advantage to monopoly and reimburse
the ample campaign contribution made
to 1t last year by the trusts. It's posi-
ton is so lame that 1t needs only a
casual comparison Of the professions CT
its leaders with the actual work of
their hands to disclose the discreditable
nature of the performance and the mo-
tive that lies behind 1t. The senate
discussion of the Dingley bill shows
the Republican party at it's worst.
And '1t' applies equally pat to the late
legislature the st. Paul Jobbers' union, and
the pinheaded paragrapher of the G l o b e.
Call against. Cloud Journal-Press.
That's what fellow gets for having an
inquiring disposition. All we wanted to know
was in whose mouth the cloven foot was; not
out Of curiosity, but for the sake of science,
for all will agree that legislature or union
or even an editor with a cloven foot would
be discovery merting attention from all
biologists, and when the critter had, in addi-
ton, this cloven foot in its own mouth we
felt that Eastman should not monopolize it.
Call again? Guess not
Congressman McLaurln, Of South Carolina.
who has been appointed to the senate TO
succeed the late Senator Earle, is only thirty
seven years old, but possesses great ability,
Although Democrat he is protectionist.-
Dtr nth