New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-06
SOME UNWRITTEN HISTORY.

Congressional eulogies are ordinarily color
less and perfunctory. Criticism and cOntro
versy are usually stilled when tributes of re
spect are paid by Senators and Representatives
TO departed cOllea CUES The euORies on Mr.. Cor
man delivered last week in the Senate have
perhaps attracted more than usual attention
because they broke with that time honored
custom. They frankly reOpened once acri-
monious discussion and threw fresh light on An
interesting passage in our political history. IN
reviewing Mr.. Germans record Mr.. Blackburn
and Mr.. Tillman both undertook to correct some
prevalent misconceptions Of the role he played
in the remaking of the Wilson tariff bill and
10 repel the charge that in transforming that
measure he was guilty of 'perfidy and dis
honor.
President CIevelands famous letter 10 Rep
resentative Catchings, giving reasons for his
refusal to sign the Wilson German act has
been taken. and undoubtedly was meant 10 be
taken as a philippe aimed at Mr. German
The Maryland Senator. as chairman Of the
Democratic caucus and head of the Democratic
steering committee responsible
than any other man for the amendments
fastened on the House measure. The law as
IL stood on the statute book was more his work
than Mr.. Wilson'S But il was not his work
alone and the odium of its failure Mr.. Black
burn tells us. was thrust or him unjustly
party. who thus sought TO make him scape-
goat for sins Of omission and commission for
which they were equally indictable. Mr.. Black
burn is positive and explicit. He says:
The records Of this Congress show that there
was never modification made IN that measure
there was never step taken in its revision or
/ its remodeing there was never an alteration
proposed carried into effect by the conference
of $hs side of the chamber upon that tax bill
which was not unhesitatingly approved and in
! n Cd r,1n. daI Gov
higher in authority than Mr.. German and my
self, who afterward fit to denounce II and
brand it with the brand of peridy.
Mr.. Blackburn was Mr.. Germans Lieutenant
in the Senate He was also the close political
| and personal friend of Mr.. Carlisle the Secrc-
tary of the Treasury under Mr. Cleveland and
what he says is a sweeping challenge of the
sincerity of the administration and Of the good
faith of President Cleveland's reputation of
the Senate tariff bill as a dishonorabIe frus-
! traton of the counselS OF the brave in thei.
! hour of might"
| Mr.. Tillman dealt more particularly with the
! history OF the sugar schedule Of the Wilson
| German act. and gave testimony In support
/ of Mr. Germans assertion twelve wears
! ago on the floor of the Senate that Mr. Cleve-
/ lands campaign managers in 1899 had dis
/ tinctly promised the Louisiana planters that #
| the tariff were to be revised under Democra tic
auspices ii duty would be levied on sugar
Moreover it is we'll known that Secretary Car
Isle urged the Senate leaders 10 amend the
Wilson bill by taxing sugar on the ground
that the revenue would he needed The Viii
son measure as it passed the House could not
have produced funds enough 10 support tho
government and the imposition of a sugar tax
was not only unavoidable but quite In line
with the Democratic party's policy of a tariff
| for revenue only. Yet the Senate's action was
bitterly denounced by the Cleveland wing OF
the Democracy. and its fulhlment OF an obvious
! duty was condemned the browning atrocity
of record of "perfidy and dlshonor" Tie
Catchings letter caught the popular fancy aud