Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-06
Mr. Randall and Principle.

Whether it wss wise and appropriate
CT not for Mr.. Proctor Knott to endeavor
to nail the Democratic colors to the
mast on the eve of the session, it was
certainly very easy for his associates to
make a choIce between Mr.. Samuel ].
Randall and principle. And yet Mr..
Knots resolution, pledging the Demo
Gratis in the House to the platforms OF
1876 aud 1880 was indefinitely post
pOned. Il may be that those who sup
ported the pOstponement esteemed them
selves already pledged. and might have
resented, the suggestion Of renewal OF
their confession Of faith This warrant
for their conduct is much like plea OF
limitations. and their actions were not
such as should have characterized men
who had the courage of their convic-
tons.
The point made, that a recOmmittal to
a tariff for revenue would have prevent
ed the complimentary nomination of Mr..
Randall for the Speakership, was flimsy.
NIr. Randall had filed the Office in the
face Of the declarations of the two
Democratic platforms. and it was rather
late in the day to raise the plea that re-
uewing their sentiments would shut out
the ex-Speaker from an empty honor.
Mr. Knott could have assumed that his
associates were mistaken in their beliefs,
but once having expressed his doubts in
the mannCr he did they owed it TO them
selves and their constituents to put
themselves squarely on record in support
of the party's declarations.
If the plank was logical and wise
when inserted, it is so to-day. The
masses Of the Democracy have been
taught to believe in it, and the vast
majority of thinking men, who are not
blinded by prejudice and selfshness. are
persuaded that the view taken of the
tariff by the Democracy is the correct
one. II augurs i'll for the future of the
party to find a majority Of its representa-
tives in Congress hedging on this vital
issue
There is no escape from it. Protec-
ton is either right per Sc or not If IT
is right, then we should be all protec-
tIonists, and there should be no limit to
the amount afforded. We should strive
to keep out everything from abroad and
send out everything of our own. This
is its logical limit If revenue is to be
merely the incident of the tariff. then
we should, TO be thorougbgoIng
protectionists, make the tariff prohibito-
~ and raise revenue by direct taxation.
On the other hand revenue is or is not
rightfully the primary object of duties
on imports. If rightfully so, then
those duties should be so laid that they
shall bring the greatest return to the
Treasury. If laid too low, or if put too
high, the return will be small. OF ne
cessity. they must, to be serviceable, be
Of an average of from twenty to thirty
per cent Such a tariff would give the
government all the money it required
and at the same time furnish abundant
protection to home manufactures.
The Democratic party has advocated
revenue tariffs, and it cannot in honesty
depart from its record at a time when
such tariff is so sorely needed. Until it
does change its record or is silent on the
subject, no Democrat, be he Mr.. Samuel
J. Randall OF Mr.. Voorhees,, can consist
emily give utterances to any other than
the party's deliverances in the premises.