Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-02-07
SOME UNwRITTEN HISTORY,

colorless and perfuuctory. Criticism and
controversy are usually stilled when trib-
utes of respect are paid by Senators and
Representatives to departed colleagues.
The eulogies on Mr. German delivered
last week 10 the Senate have perhaps at
tracted more than usual attention be-
cause they broke with that time honored
custom. They frankly reopened once
acrimonious discussion and threw fresh
light on an interesting passage in our
political history. In reviewing Mr..
Germans record Mr. Blackburn and Mr.
Tillman both undertoo6 to correct some
prevalent misconceptions Of the role he
played 10 the remskiDg of the Wilson
tsrid bill and to repel the charge that
in transforming that measure he was
guilty OF "per6dy and dishonor
President Cleveland's famous letter
tc Representative Catchiugs, giving
reasons for his refusal TO SIGN the wilson
German act, has been taken, uad a.
doub,edly was meant to be isk'i. ~
philippe aimed at Mr. Gorns
TIE Maryland Senator rs chairman oI the
democratic caucus and head OF the dem
ocratic "steering committee" was more
rt spOnsiblo than any other one man for
the amendments fastened on the House
measure. The Law As ii stood on the
statute book was more his work than
Mr.. Wilson's. Bat II was not his work
alone, and the odium OF its failure, Mr..
Blackburn now tells us. was thrust on
him uniustly by democrats "higher in
authority" in the party, who thus
sought 10 make him scape- goat for Sins
of omission and commission for which
they we're equslly indictable. Mr.
Blackburn 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 re-
modelling, there was never an alteration
proposed or carried into effect by The
conference Of this side of the chamber
upon that tax bill which was not un-
hesitatingly approved and indorsed,
pleaded for and demanded by those
higher in authority than Mr.. German
aud myself, who afterwsrd saw fit to de-
nounce it and brand it with the brand of
perfdy.
Mr.. Blackburn was Mr.. Germans
| lieutenant in the Senate. He was also
/ the close political and personal friend Of
Mr.. Carlisle. the Secretary of the Treas
ury under Mr.. Cleveland, and what he
says is sweeping challenge of The sim
ce rity of the administration sDd OF the
good faith of President Clevelsnd's re-
putatiou OF the Senate tariff b II as
dlshonorable frustrst on of "the counsels
Of the brave in their hour OF might"
Mr.. Tillman dealt more particularly
with the history of the sugar schedule OF
the Wilson -Gormsn act, snd gave testi-
uony in support Of MIR. Germans own
assertion twelve years ago on the floor
of the Senate that Mr.. Cleveland's cam
paign managers in 1892 had distinctly
promised the Louisiana planters that If
the tariff we're to be revised under demo-
cratic auspices a duty would be levied on
sugar. Moreover, it is well known that
Secretary Carlisle urged the Senate
lesden to amend the Wilson bill
by taxing sugar, on the ground
that the revenue would be needed. The
Wilson measure as it passed the House
could not have produced funds enough
to support the government, and theim-
position of sugar tax was not only un-
syoidable but quite in line with the DEM
ocratic parly's policy of tariff for re-
venue only. Yet the Senate action was
bitterly denounced by the Cleveland
wing Of the democracy, and its fulfil
ment of an obvious duty was condemned
as the crowning strocity of a record OF
"peifidy aud dishonor." The Catchings
letter caught the popular fancy and had
an enormous currency. II blackened
many political regulations and greltly
accelerated the disiDtegratiOn OF the DEM
Ocratic psry. Will it, however. con-
tinue to color history when it begins to
be examined dispsssionately and crit
icaily? Or will the pTopular estimate OF
its value have to be revised in the light
of such testimony as that given by Mr.
Blackburn and Mr.. Tillmau p New
York Tribune.