ne of division between the two parties as they
exist now and as they will exist in the future. The President
says, 'retain all internal taxes and reduce the duties on imported
merchandise that comes in competition with home industries.' We
say we will not strike down any prospering industry in this country;
that where manufactures have sprung up in our midst by aid of a
duty, this protection, as you call it, we will not reduce; we will
not derange contracts, industries, or plans, or lower the prices
of labor, or compel laborers or manufacturers to meet any sudden
change or emergency. We say that we are willing to join with you
in reducing the taxes. We will select those taxes that bear most
heavily upon the people, especially internal taxes, and repeal
those. We will maintain the policy of protection by tariff duties
just as long as it is necessary to give our people the benefit of
a home market, and diversified productions a fair chance in the
trade and commerce of our country, but we will not invite into our
country foreign importations to compete with and break down our
home industries."

The bill entitled "A bill to reduce taxation and simplify the laws
in relation to the collection of the revenue," known as the Mills
bill, was the outcome of the President's message. It was reported
to the House of Representatives by Roger Q. Mills, of Texas, and
thus obtained its name. Mr. Mills, on the 17th of April, called
it up for consideration, and it was debated and amended, and passed
the House on the 21st of July, more than seven months after the
President's cry of alarm, by the close vote of 162 yeas to 149
nays. Samuel J. Randall, then absent and sick, desired his colleague
to pair him against the bill, as, if present, he would record his
vote in opposition to the bill. It came to the Senate and was
referred to the committee on finance. On the 8th of October Mr.
Allison, from that committee, reported back the Mills bill with a
substitute for the entire bill. This substitute was a careful and
elaborate protective tariff bill, containing some provisions I did
not approve, but, in its general provisions, was, in my opinion,
a far better bill than the Mills bill. The debate on these rival
bills continued until the close of the session on the 19th of
October, when the Senate, by a resolution, authorized and directed
the committee on finance to continue during the recess of Congress
the investigation of such reven