Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-07
A rknble Debate.

The tariff debate which has just come to
an end in the Senate may be described as
q revel of contradictions and reversals.
Republicans were quoted against them
selves. democrats against themselves. and
populists against themselves. Every Sena-
tor who had participated in the debate on
thee Wilson bill seemed to have taken a
position at some stage of it antagonistic
to the position he now taking, and
the fact was paraded before him with all
the Enthusiastically of good partisan
memory and astute parti:an tactics. At
tie start there was some wincing. but as
the play proceeded and 1t became appar-
ent that everybody was Gown for dose,
good nature prevailed and everybody took
his medicine with comDosure.
The republican management of the bill
was thoroughly inept. AS reported back to
the Senate from the finance committee the
bill was disfgured by amendments which
could not be defended or sustained, and
such of these as were not promptly ADAM
doned were debated to the sharp humilia-
ton of their sponsors. The hand of the
Sugar Trust was plainly disclosed and the
catering to other special interests went
perilously close to the verge of scandal
And so ill-advised were those in charge
OF the measure on business of the highest
public import that at the very time a
treaty for the annexation of the Hawaiian
Islands was being written, they were in
sistlng in the interests of the Sugar Trust
on abrogating the reciprocity treaty ex-
listing between the Hawaiian government
and this,
The democrats, anxious to make cam
paign capital for this year and next at
he. nit No
regard of their own records. The same
men who had negotiated all of the fine
work attaching to the Wilson bill now
came forward to rebuke the same pro-
cedure in the amendments to this bill. The
same voices that pleaded then for rates
dear TO the Trusts. now Numbered againsl
the Trusts and argrily demanded their de-
struction- The comedy was pushed so far.
Indeed, that evea Mr.. German took The
noor and recorded himself as a friend of
the people as against the greed OF cor
poratlons But. after all. the Trusts as
usual. escaped everything but tongue
iashinS- The little pop-gun provision
against them prepared by their friends
and inserted in the Wilson bill. Is oontin-
ued. and under that they ought to con-
tinue to flourish
During scenes so lively and diverting the
pcpuiists were not inactive. Inspired by
the wreck of records and the crash of
principles In progress around them, they.
TOO. made some astonishing speeches and
recorded some astonishing votes 1t is
enureiy likely, indeed. that the high water
mark OF the whole revel was reached by
them In the solid support they gave to
MT Aliens amendment granting a bounty
I" the beet sugar men. For. however a
bounty may square with the policy of pro-
tection. II does not square with any eco
nomic principle the popuhsts In their plat
forms enunciate.
But the revei Is over. and the bill goes TO
conference II contains many good fea-
lures. and In conference 1t may be made to
take on more With the DingIey bill for
guide and the House conferees men of
backbone and good purpose, a sound meas
ure ought to emerge from the conference
room Then the business interests every-
where Will be able to adjust themselves 10
the rev conditions. and confidence and
prosperity. let US hope. will in good time
follow