The Morrison Tariff Bill, round which the Free-trade con- troversy
now rages, will, it is said, be debated for two weeks in the House of Representatives, and then rejected by a majority of twenty. An effort was made to refuse it a hearing, but this was defeated by a majority of two, the whole Democratic party insisting that it must be discussed. Upon the question of pass- ing it, however, a number of Eastern Democrats will absent themselves. The tide in favour of Free-trade is rising, and the Democrat party may be compelled by the West and South to fight the Presidential election upon that issue. So alarmed are the great "interests," that new efforts are being made to deplete the Treasury, and so throw obstacles in the way of lowering the Tariff. The Senate, for example, which is the Protectionist stronghold, has passed a Bill authorising a grant of 215,-000,000 from the National Treasury to the States in aid of education, the money to be distributed according to their inability to secure complete instruction. This is offering a premium upon ignorance, and the House of Representatives is expected to reject the Bill ; but the money will be a great temptation to negro voters. The South, with its coloured popula- tion, would of course absorb the larger proportion of the grant —three-fourths it is said—to the great relief of the taxpayers.
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