The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-26
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THE TARIFF AND oRAToRY.

THE TARIFF AND ORATORY.
VIII the present tariff debate in
squire any brilliant oratory-produce
any masterful treatment Of the sub
ject?
Twenty-Five years ago Col. Morrison
OF Illinois introduced his famous hori-
zontal tariff bill. He himself was not
an orator. and his lieutenants had to
do the talking. Frank Hurd OF Ohio
was the most brilliant of the number,
and his speech was fine speciment of
his best powers. 1t was heard by a
packed chamber, and loudly applauded
The bill was killed through a demo-
cratic detection, led by Samuel J. Ran
dali.
Roger @. Mills was the leader of the
house In the F'iftieth Congress, and re-
ported a tariff bill. He was a speak
er of power and succeeded in passing
his bill through the house. There
was some excellent debate, but no
speech on either side of the chamber
stood out as of the highest quality.
1t was in the Fifty-first congress,
which followed the election of Gen.
Harrison that memorable tariff de-
bate took place. William Mckinley
was the leader of the majority, and
John G. Carlisle the leader of the mi
nority. Mr.. McKinley's first lieuten-
ant was Nelson Dingley. and Mr. Car
isles Roger @. Mills. 1t was an ex-
ceptionally strong quartet. But the
most telling speech was made by
Thomas B. Reed, who descended from
the chair for the purpose. He cared
little for ornament. and was prejudic-
ed against oratorical display, but on
this occasion he spoke at some length
and with thorough preparation. His
satirical description of the free trader
going into action produced almost five
minutes of laughter, the democrats
themselves joining in it heartily. Dur
ing the debate Mr. Carlisle was trans
ferred to the senate, and when the bill
reached that body he discussed it in a
speech which was greatly admired.
The ablest speech in favor Of the
Wilson bill in 1894 was made by the
author. He was scholarly man and
a close reasoner. and while he left a
sick bed to close the debate and spoke
with his head heavily bandaged he ac-
quilted himself brilliantly In the
senate, where the bill was picked to
pieces, the most noteworthy speech
was that of David B. Hill, which. how
ever. concerned itself more with the
constitutionality of the income tax
provision than with the general tariff
problem. The supreme court after
ward sustained Mr.. Hills position.
W. r.
To the Editor Of the Palladium
I noticed you published on Mon
day, copy of an editorial in the
Washington Post criticising Earlham
college for intolerance in refusing
Mr.. Ratliff degree and saying:
"Earlham was for the county unit
The young man voted for the town
ship, and now comes Earlhsm which
took his money for his course and
pronounced him fit for his degree
and says he has forfeited his degree
because he did not vote to meet the
views of the college. What is the
value of diploma from such college
to receive it?
1t the facts were as stated. Earl
ham would deserve the censure But
the Post is utterly mistaken. Rat
lift was refused his degree. not be-
cause he voted one way or the other,
but because he made written promis-
es to both sides and broke them both
1IN
of the fact that the liquor interests
and the liberal element OF Wayne
my nomination. l do hereby pledge
myself to oppose all temperance leg
islation whatever coming before the
next session of the Indiana legisla-
ture' and then against the protest
of the liquor men he voted in the
special session in favor of County
local option!
Later when he came up for re-
election. the temperance men secured
from him written pledge. that he
would not vote to repeal the county
local option bill, and then in the reg
nlar session following he voted to re-
peal it.
The College certifies to the good
character of those who receive its
diplomas. How could it make such
a certificate in case like thiso
Earlham never did an act which
was less the object of proper criti-
cism than the refusal of this degree.
Any other course would have subject
ed it to Just reproach. have yet to
learn that that institution either
by its trustees Or its faculty has been
guilty of any intolerance whatever
| in relation to local option. The
charges of the Post are unjust to
| the very last degree.
Eariham College is our own home
/ Institution. 1t furnishes an excel
lent and substantial education to the
sons and daughters OF our own citi-
zens as well as others, and it exer-
cises powerful Influence for good
upon the character of it's students
1t has made remarkable strides in
many directions during the past few
years. Its faculty is composed of men
OF high attachments. progressive and
broad minded. Richmond would be
greatly the loser il it were not here
Ought we not then to cooperate
heartily in maintaining against S.,rh