Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1887 — OPINIONS OF THE MESSAGE. [ARTICLE]

OPINIONS OF THE MESSAGE.

VietTs of Senators end Congressmen —Comments of Different Newspapers. Republican, Democratic and Mugwump Sentiment as to the Effect of the Document CONGRESSIONAL, OPINIONS. Both Shies Pleased—Expressions of Senators and Representatives. Both political pin tion express satisfaction with its utterances on the tariff. The Democrats are pleased with its oold declarations in favor of tariff revision and the reduction of customs duties, regarding its utteranoes as a platform of principles upon which they can appeal to the country for a continuance of public confidence and support, while for diametrically opposite reasons the Republicans profess to be pleased with it. Republican leaders say the message removes all doubt touching the attitude of the administration and the dominant party on the tariff question, clearly defines the issue between the two parties, and places the Democrats squarely In favor of a policy bordering on free trade and inimical to the great industrial interests of the country. Senators Hiscock and Evai-ta and other New York Republicans are confident that the message will insure a Republican victory in that State next tall, and Senator Sherman believes It will demoralize the Democratic party in Ohio. Mr. Randall would Bay nothing about the document until he had hod opportunity to give It careful reading and study, but his manner indicates that the message goes much farther in the direction of tariff reform than he expected. Judge Kelley rogards it as a weak argument for breaking down tho present tariff system, many of its sentences sounding like the frequent utterances of Mills and Morrison in the House and Book in the Senate. [Washington special to Chicago Tribune.] In the House, alter the reading of the message. leading Democrats expressed themselves pointedly as follows: Mr. Mills said: “Good, elegant, it could not be better." Mr. Springer said: “That is a good one. He hits the nail on the head every time. We have our platform.” Mr. Townshend said; “Elegant, elegant. It boats them all. It could not be better We aro going to stand by him, and we are going to win.” Judge Seney, of Ohio. Baid, laconically: “Good.” Mr. Hemphill expressed satisfaction. Mr. Bandall declared that he had nothing to say on tho subject at present. He was going to read tbe message again. Mr. Bland said : “It’s the best we ever had. 1 have not heard its equul since I have been In Congress.” On the Republican side Mr. McKinley said: “It is a splendid free-trade document. As good as if written at the Cobden Club. Indei d, it oould not be better if taken from some of the Cobden Club documents. I greet it with pleasure.” And he smiled ironically. Mr. Buchanan, of New Jersey, said it put the Democrats just where his party wanted them. Cleveland had shown his band, and the campaign of ’BB would be fought on that. Mr. Bayne, of Pennsylvania, said : “It Is too free trade. It would be suicidal to cut down tariff duties with the balance of trade against us as it Is. ” “It was a one-sided and prejudiced dlsorssion of financial theories, ” said Mr. Cannon, of Illinois. “It was not like anything we have ever had before us or will have again. ” “It makes the issue for the Democratic party. They were afraid to make it themselves,” remarked Mr. Adams, of Illinois. “That was a very good protection message,” said Mr. Jehu Baker, the successor of Col. Morrison. “It did not go us far toward fro® trade as Morrison would have gone." The Democratic Senators, almost to a man, said the message suited them exactly. Among the Republican Senators there is a large percentage of protectionists, and their views were colored accordingly, but they all praised the President for defining Himself clearly. Senator Farwell thought the message was well enough in its way as an approach toward free trade, but he didn’t think the Republicans were ready to travel that way. Senator Cullom looked upon it as throwing down the glove and inviting the Republicans to take it up, which he was in favor of doing. Senator Allison thought the President was right in insisting that taxation must be reduced, but he did not think it would be done with a leaning to free trade. Senator Spooner regarded the message as an admirable free-trade essay. Senator Frye said it was good for 5,010 votes in Maine, while Senator Hiseoek thought the Republicans could carry New York by 80,000 if the Democrats made Cleveland’s message their platform.

EDITORIAL COMMENT. How the Document lit Viewed by Different Newspapers. [Chicago Tribune, Rep.] The message is able and statesmanlike; luminous in Btyle; perspicuous in statement; oloar in its reasoning ; and irrefutable in its conclusions. It is moderate protection doctrine such as has been exemplified more than once in ths public utterances of both the great political parties. It risos above party lines and presents a common basis of patriotic statesmanship on which Republicans and Democrats are bound by every consideration of the public welfare and of political expediency/to stand together. The position taken in the previous Congress by the Minnesota delegation and some other Republicans must be stoutly maintained by the Republican side of the House at this session or they, and perhaps the party which they represent, will be overwhelmed [Philadelphia Times, Ind.] While the President urges the tnorough revision of tariff duties he is most emphatic in* demanding that our manufactures shall be fully protected. Keeping tnis in view, all assumption of a free-trade theory or purpose vanishes from the minds of the American people. The message will inspire more discussion and investigation of the exact relations of the tariff to capital, industry, and trade than any document that has emanated from the Chief Magistrate. [Chicago Inter Ocean, Rep.] The President has issued a free-trade pamphlet in which no argument is educed that has not been used by all the Cobden Club organs till it has become stale and threadbare. [Chicago News, Mugwump.] There is no partisanship, no free trade, no appeal to class prejudice, no special hobby, in the President’s message. It is plain patriotic common sense from opening to close. He has done well in confining it to the one subject of tariff reform. His action must focus public attention upon the necessity of a systematic reduction of the tariff without prejudice and without favor. [Boston Globe, Dem.l Congress has only to frame and pass a tariff bill in the spirit and on the lines indicated in this patriotic and aide message in order to solve the most difficult financial situation which, in a time of peace, has ever confronted the American people. [New York Times, Mugwump.] Mr. Cleveland has done an act of statesmanship in the best sense. Recognizing a great duty, he has performed it with Rourage, with firmness, and at the right time. Judged by any ordinary standard of political expediency, the President’s act is inexpedient. He has forced upon his party an issue as to which the party is divided, and so divided that unless the minority yield it can defeat the will of the majority. He has done this on the eve of a national contest in which a considerable number of men of influence in the party have been urging him to avoid this issue, and threatening him acid the party with disaster, if he did not avoid it. [New York Sun, anti-Cleveland Dem,] Mr. Cleveland bag never before in a public paper taken sides squarely upon the question. Ho has done so now in a manner that leaves room for no misunderstanding. , It is a bold thing to do, and the President deserves credit for the plainness of his speech. Nobody can accuse him of hedging or haggling or juggling with wovds. The message is the most remarkable, and in some respects the mo-t important, document that fe has produced since his political, career began. [New York World, anti-Cleveland Dem.] The admirable message of th«i President has

given to tbe Democratic party what it ha® lone lacked—an issue and a loader. The issue ia tax reform. Tbe leader is the President. * * * It can tutrdly be that tbe President has not at this juncture influence enough to Secure the union of the Democrats in tbe Houso upon a measure of revenue redaction and tariff reform. [New York Commercial-Advertiser. Mugwump.] President Cleveland’s concise, able, and manfully canuid message to tbe newly assembled Fiftieth Congress cannot fail to make a profound sensation. The novelty in form and the unconventional tone of the message, as well aa the urgent and overshadowing importance of the single topic it considers, wi*.l attract the universal attention of the nation to the document. If we art ! not mistaken it will have a decisive weight in the future of parties and legislation. (Philadelphia Press, Rep.] A thousand thanks to President Cleveland for tho bold, manly, and unequivoeal avowal of bis extreme free-trade purposes. And a thousand rebukes and defeats for the false, dangerous, and destructive policy which he thus frankly aud unreservedly proclaims. The message deserves all Hie glory of courage, all the praise of high public issue, all the condemnation of utter ruinous heresy. It is a surprise in its method, and a still greater surprise in its matter. It comes like the sudden, echoing boom of a groat gun signaling a crucial fight ou unexpected ground. In its immediate flash of light aud in its broad bearings it looms up as one of the most momentous political events since the war. It plants the President and his party squarely on free trade; it clarifies the next Presidential battle as by a lightning stroke; it makes free trade vs. protection the overshadowing issue; it dwarfs and dismisses all other questions; it clears away all cowardly evasions and juggling subterfuges ; it ends oil pitiful personal bespattering, aud it summons tbe American people to decide tho supreme question whether the grand protective system which has built up our spieudid industries shall be overthrown or not, [Cincinnati Times-Star, Rep.] While oritioißiug the position of the President on this question, we must express our admiration for his bold and decisive stand. It compels his party to take a position which moans something. They can no longer skulk around behind glittering phrases which mean nothing. (Cincinnati Telegram, Rep i It is easy to see that Mr. Cleveland expects to be tho Democratic candidate neat year from *the way in which he bows and smiles first to one side and thou to the other of the tariff controversy. The message would not attract attention as a state paper had it come from the head of a department instead of from the President. It will not add to Mr. Cleveland’s reputation ae a statesman, but it will strengthen his chances of reuomination, whioh he probably cares a great deal more about, [Baltimore American, Rep.] The President evidently bases bis political hopes for thb future on tariff reduelvni, ana the whole campaign has, as far as a message cun do so, been precipitated on that portentous line. (Baltimore American, Dem.] It is cloar, cogent, and unanswerable, aB a demonstration of the nature and importance of tbe duty now resting upon tho legislative branch of the Government of relieving the Treasury of its embarrassments. It is addressed to the people as w< 11 as to Congress and will, no doubt, receive due attention from .both. k I Baltimore Herald, Ind.'l Mr. Cleveland's plea for a reduced tariff is both ingenious and foroible. His arguments are calculated to make a profound impression on the country, whatever be their elToot on Congress, It is quite plain that the messago is tho product of a oonferonce among loading Democrats, and that It is designed to serve as the chief campaign document of 1888. (•Baltimore Nows, Dein.] This makes up the Presidential issue for next year, which will be distinctly and definitely betweeu protection and tariff relorrn, |St. Louis Post-Dispatoh, Ind. Dena.l Tho practicability of Mr. Cleveland’s scheme of tax reduction dopeuds so much on the assent of the conflicting lt.oal interests represented in Congress that any bill which passes both houses must be a “give and take” compromise between these conflicting interests. If it is found that some it them are deaf to Mr. Cleveland's admonitions ou the subject of putting the general welfare above all local and particular interest, and that the tobacco tax will have to go with some of the moro iniquitous tariff taxes, Mr. Cleveland will be i>reoluded from vetoing such a bill by what he has said of the necessity of getting rid of the surplus. Ho has his preference as to methods, and expresses It frankly, but apparently realizes the fact that even an inferior and very objectionable method of to/ redaction is better than none. [St. Louis Republican, Dem.l The message will haye a good eff< ot on Congress and the country. We believe it will do much to simulate Congress to frame and pass 4 fair and wise reduction-of-revenuo bill and discourage the factious opposition which has defeated two such hills in the lust two Congresses. [Boston Journal, Hep ] We do not approvo the President’s recommendations, but we may frankly say that we like the tone of his message, especially the seriousness with whioh ho urges upon the at* tontiou of Congress the problem of the surplud and the tariff. His discussion of the tariff as the cause of existing difficulties is disappointing in the narrowness of its views aud the fallacy of its logic. [Boston Transcript, Mugwump.] No one can doubt that President Cleveland possesses civic courage, whatever else he may lack, after reading his message. This document discusses with great clearness and plainness a subject of vital interest to all departments of industry. He does not appear in this raessace as the reckless disturber of trade or as heading a crusade aga nst manufactures, and it is evident that he would readily Bign any tariff bill that would avert future financial disasters and relieve the country from a portion of its burden of taxation. [Boston Traveler, Rep.] He furnishes conclusive proof of his surrender to the free-traders. Possibly this may be the price of his renomination, but he makes up the issue squarely—so squarely that bo wiU doubtless yet find it to be a dear price. [Boston Herald, Mugwump.) It is a clear, sound, practicable argument throughout.