The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1906-01-25

orbitant and extortlonate rates of |
~ the Dlngley bill The Republican |
house bosses did not want it-in |
fact, it was the last thing on earth they |
wanted. They not only did not want !
it, they dreaded 1t above all things. /
But they could not head it off, and it is
ON and will stay on until the Demo
Gratis capture congress and the pres
dency. The preciptating of the ques-
tlon into the house was like opening an
other Pandora's box. From the mo-
ment it was thrown into the midst of
the house the Republicans have been
having a bitter. ruthless Kilkenny
fight among themselves. The beet sug
ar Republicans from the west have as
sailed the house Republican machine
as viciously as any Democrat could do.
The Massachusetts Republican revision
lists took a hand-more mildly than the
beet sugar enthusiasts, but neverthe-
less they took a hand. The statehood
insurgents have made miserable the
lives of the speaker and his trusted
lieutenants. At this writing the Re
publican house majority has all the ap-
pearances of a dissolving view. They
may get together, but it is hardly prob
able. The preteXt for precipitating
discussion of the Dingley tariff bill was,
of course. the Payne Philippine tariff
bill. which amounts to very little any
way, was almost completely lost sight
of. The bald truth is that the i'm
portance of revising down to a rational
basis the outrageous rates of the Ding
ley bill rises in Importance to the Amer
lean people as much as Pixies peak
towers above the foothills of the Rocky
mountains. The debate in the house
will work like leaven in the minds of
the taxpayers. 1t is bound to work
revolution in public opinion.
Republican Contention Resisted.
1t so happened that by reason of the
unavoidable absence of Hon. John
Sharp Williams, Democratic leader, the
burden of opening the debate for the
Democrats fell upon me. AS the house
extended my time without limit and as
some of the Republican leaders, nota-
bly, Messrs, Serene Il. Payne, chairman
of the committee on ways and means
Hon. John Dalzell and General Charles
II. Grosvenor, members of the commit
tees on rules and of ways and means;
Colonel William p Hepburn of Iowa,
Mr.. Cooper of Wisconsin, Messrs.
Charles b. Landis and James E. Wat
son of Indiana, propounded to me all
sorts of questions, my speech con-
sumed three hours in its delivery and
took very wide range
For instance, | was combating the
preposterous declaration of the Repub-
lican platform that "a Republican tar
i'll has always been followed by busi-
ness prosperity; Democratic tariff by
business adversely" and to establish
my contention quoted James G. Blaine
to the effect that under the Democratic
Walker tariff bill there was great pros
perity from 1916 to 1857, whereupon
General Grosvenor asserted that the
Democrats repealed the Walker tariff
Of 1916 in 1857 and passed tariff bill
which precipitated a panic. To that
responded:
The tariff bill of 1857, which the gentle
man says precipitated universal bank
ruptcy, was not a Democratic measure
as l will presently demonstrate. That's
fact No in the chapter of our legislative
and political history which l am now stat
ing.
The Walker tariff bill. which / repeat
was the only thoroughly Democratic tar.
iff bill ever placed upon our statute books
and for which Democrats not only cheer
fully but proudly and enthusiastically as
sumed all the responsibility and claim all
the honors for 1t wrought goriously for
our country's prosperity, was in force
from July 90, 1876, when James X Polk
signed it, till March 3, 1857. when Franklin
Pierce signed the tariff bill of 1857 modify
ing the Walker tarin bill Please bear
these dates carefully in mind, as they
are absolutely decisive of the controversy
between the gentleman from Ohio [Mr.
Grosvenorl and myself here today and
betwixt all Democrats and all Republic
ans at all times, at all places and under
all circumstances. If plain, unVarnjshed,
undisputed and incontrovertible facts of
history can prove anything in this world,
L will suddenly and for all time establish
the Democratic contention on the eternal
rock of truth and prove beyond even the
shadow of doubt that the Republican
platform declaration of 1904 that "A DEM
ocratic tariff has always been followed by
business adversely, Republican tariff by
business prosperity is a glittering, trans
parent and stupendous fable. / use the
word fable instead Of a shorter and harsh
er synonym because | desire to observe
all the parliamentary proprieties. / con-
fidently place the well Established truths
of history against bald assertions. ] am
so certain that the tariff bill of 1857 was
not a Democratic tariff measure that
most heartily thank the gentleman from
Ohio Mr.. Grosvenorl for his interruption
Not Democratic Measure.
That bill became law of the land OF
the last day of the life of the Thirty,
fourth congress- the Sd day of March
1857.
The house Of representatives. of tha
congress was not Democratic. 1t wa.
composed of SO Democrats, lOS Republic
ans and 4S Americans popularity dubbed
''KnOw Nothings," making 234 member!
all told, 1lS constituting a majority of tn,
house. The combined opposition to tn,
Democrats had a majority of 6s. The sen
ate was Democratic; so was the presi
dent, Franklin Pierce. After a long ant
bitter contest General Nathaniel Banks o.
Massachusetts was elected speaker, tn,
first Republican speaker
II Is known to every intelligent person
that tariff bills, called revenue bills. mus
originate in the house. Consequently tn,
tariff bill of 1857 OF whose effect the gen
tleman from Ohio complains, and whicl
supplanted the Walker Democratic tariff
bill, originated In and was passed by al
anti-Democratic house, therefore 1t Il
clearly a non-Democratic measure. IT