The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-16
TILLMAN TALKS TARIFF.
FAVORS AN EXPORT BOUNTY ON AG-
RIcULTURAL PRODUCTS.

FAvORS AN EXPORT BOUNTY ON AG-
RlcULTURAL PRODUCTS.
bot Speech and Ori.Icises His Democrat
10 "rarIn for Revenue Only" Associates.
In the United States Senate on Tues
day while The tariff bill vas up for
consideration Senator Tillman took
the floor on the pending amendment
of Mr.. Cannon of Utah providing an
export bounty on agricultural pro-
ducts. He said he desired the atten.
ton of his associates. and as the at
tendance was meagre he noted the alb.
sence of a quorum. The call disclosed
ffty.four Senators present. nine more
than 8 quorum, and Mr.. Tillman pro-
ceeded. He said the tariff debate had
disclosed a nebulous condition in the
minds of Senators. The Republican
Senators sat quietly, apparently con-
trolled by the caucus, refusing TO dis
cuss the iniquities of the bill and
unanimously voting for action in be-
half of trusts and monopolies.
"On the other hand" proceeded Mr..
Tillman, ''the Democrats are in a pc.
riod of transition. They don't know
where they are at. The older, more
experienced, proclaim their allegiance
to the old time-honored doctrines.
We had an impasssioned speech yes
terday (by Mr.. Mills in behalf of the
Walker tariff principles, brought for.
ward at this late day as Democratic
doctrine. Secession, notification and
other issues which have passed out of
the minds of men might as well be
brought here. The tariff is merely a
question of policy a to how the gov.
eminent will raise its revenue. I say
without hesitation it is to the best in
terest of the American people that the
articles consumed by our people should
be produced by u people. If that is
Republican doctrine we'll and good:
If that is not Democratic doctrine, it
ought to be-"
Mr.. Tillman went on to show that
diversified industries gave diversified
means of labor. As to the farmers. the
need was not for more farmers, but for
q tariff which no longer would rob the
farmers we have. The farmers stood,
his skinny, bony hand outstretched,
asking this export bounty to overcome
the robbery of the present system; and
yet Senators sat in stony silence, ex
pecting this idiotic farmer, with the
mortgage gnawing on his home, not
to know that they refuse to give him
relief. Mr.. Tillman ~vehemently
pledged his word to his colleagues
that they would not deceive the farm
ers, and that the nine million follow
ers of the plow will settle with you
at the ballot box" Referring to any
bill not giving adequate relief to far
mers, Mr.. Tillman exclaimed: 81 am
prepared to throw some rocks that will
stagger some of you men,"
The Senator analysed the extent OF
agricultural interests throughout the
country, including the South-"the
Ishmaelite. the section that has had
no rights since the war" While that
section had la5ored under the ban of
secession, paying billions as a result
of its attempt to secede, it was still
face to face with the demand of the
horseback, crying more, more, more.
This section and the agricultural in
~terests always had been at the mercy
of tariff bills which found their gene
sis in the benefits conferred on New
England.
As Mr.. Tillman spoke the galleries
filled in anticipation of a lively time.
While speaking with his usual vehe'
mence of voice and gesture, the Sena'
tor adopted an argumentative style,
to show that the farmers were receiv-
ing the burdens, without the benefits,
of the tariff. When he referred at one
point to the Chicago platform declara.
ton on the tariff, he brought Mr.. Vest
to his feet in explanation. he voted
in the Chicago convention amid great
err uproar and confusion, said Mr..
Vest, for the long and in part nebu
lous platform. He never knew, until
it had come out, that the word "only"
udu UCSu lCiL JUL vi IuC oISLd1oblOh
for a tariff for revenue"
IF I had known it." proceeded MI.
Vest, Il would have risen in my place
and moved to insert it, for 1t is the
creed of the Democratic party. And
I believe a majority of that conven-
ton did not know of the omission, SIS
all our attention was concentrated or
the money ISSUE"
Proceeding. MI. Tillman turned to
his Democratic associates and said they
now had a chance, with the votes of q
few Republican Senators mot lost to
all sense of shame and ~decency," to
give some measure of relief to the far
mers. They would receive little Or no
benefit from the duty on the cotton
and cereals. They asked for bread and
were given a stone. They asked for
some relief and Democratic Senators
set up a mummy and labelled 1t a
tariff for revenue only"
"Great God! such Democracy! !" ex-
claimed MI. Tillman, with dramatic
emphasis.
Democratic Senators had spoken
of a new evangel," he said, land had
twitted him and others of leading the
Democratic party into the Republican
camp. These Senators, instead of Of
fering the cardinal Democratic princi-
pies of quality, gave the sodom apple
of tariff for revenue only" to their
constituents.
"You are holding the telescope with
the big end to your eyes," declared
Mr.. Tillman, addressing his associates,