The Irish standard., 1903-12-05


the measure, and the house was ready
to adjourn long ago. The Republican
Senate, however, unused to such dis
patch i'll the transaction of public bust
ness, refused to consider the measure
until the regular session. We LA &c the
spectacle of one house adjourning
from day to day to tire out the other.
The policy of the Republican party
toward reciprocity and all measures of
tariff reform has been exposed. For
some time Republicans have admitted
that the tariff should be altered and
asserted that the needed changes
would be made by the Republican par
ty. For a long time the party has
preached reciprocity, but when the OPP
portunity for putting such treaties in
practice arrives, they find way to
put of the plan. The Democrats, who
alone are honest-in their demands for
lower tariffs, have played into the
hands Of the Republicans by opposing
insincere Republican tariff schemes.
There were always enough Republi-
cars found to join with Democrats in
preventing the passage Of such insin-
cere measures, but the Republicans
were thus furnished plausible excuse
for saying that they really meant to re-
form the tariff schedules. Mr.. Will
liams has exposed this insincerity and
has inspired confidence in the Demo-
Gratis OF the country that at last cap
able and intelligent leadership has
been found. Republicans also, who
are in favor of tariff reform, will rally
to the support OF such leadership
The time has passed in this country
when political party can maintain it.
self by simply opposing the other par
ty. The Democratic party has not
been in need of issues hak so much as
it has been in @need of leaders. Mr..
Williams has demanded that Congress
do the work for which it was con-
vened. This demand has met the in
slant approval of the entire country.
In the following forcible language, he
has called the attention of the country
to Republican incompetency:
"Wel do l remember how in the
Fifty-third Congress the gentleman
from New York backed by the then
representative from Maine, Mr.. Reed,
was constantly ringing the changes tip
on Democratic business incompetent
cy' upon the idea that the Democratic
House was afraid to trust Demo-
cratic Senate and that both were
afraid to trust Democratic president.
My friends, the poisoned chalce COM
1ncnds itself to your own lips to-day.
You are afraid to trust a Republican
Senate; q Republican Senate is afraid
to trust you; and you are both afraid
to trust Republican president. The
country stands here, Mr.. Speaker, de-
handing that legislation progress; de-
rn;ntling that great evils be swept cut
OF existence: demanding with a voice
almost unanimous, from Republicans
as we'll as Democrats. that the tariff
shall be revised at least to the extent
OF ceasing to he shelter for extor-
tionate trusts. And yet you stand here
with the ways and means committee
organized for that especial sort of
business and yet doing nothing.
t.Is
Iou come here upon a great recip-
rocity idea. You boast that it is the
idea of Mckinley and Roosevelt. Yet
reciprocity with Cuba is as nothing in
Importance compared with rcciprocit,
with Canada There is now lying in
the room OF the committee on ways
and means a resolution saying that
this House would view with pleasure
and would indorse' Initiative steps
taken by the president to reconvene
the joint high commission in order
that we may have amicable. freer, and
less trammcled trade relations with
our great ncighbor to the north. All
over New England the people, Repub-
licans as we'll as Democrats, are de-
lnanding this. The people are tired
OF the absurd position where upon one
part OF the border we are importing
products from Canada and the Amer-
can consumer is being taxed in order
that we shall do it. and on another part
OF the same imaginary line Canada is
importing from us exactly the same
things and the Canadian consumer is
being taxed in order that he may get
those products.
Let It's do such business as we can
do. and that business is OF the most
important character. appeal to you,
AMI I appeal to the Republicans OF the
House in the very memorable words Of
Thomas B. Reed in Democratic
Congress-: For Heavens sake. show
your competency to attend to public
business Ii you have not any trust
and confidence in yourselves. in the
name of God whom do You expect to
have trust and confidence in you?"