Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-07

1t is now generally conceded that the
present Congress will accomplish moth
ing in the way of tariff reform. Still it
is very evident that the Democratic mem
< bers of the Federal Legislature are de-
/ termined to do whatever may be in their
power to give the subject full ventila-
ton, so that the attention of the country
may be attracted thereto, and the people
be thoroughly instructed on so vital a
question. According to our special cor
respondent in Washington, the impress
sion prevails in that city that the tariff
is rapidly developing into political
issue, and if the Democrats handle it
with any sort of ability during the
pending debate in Congress, they will
gain thereby great advantage,
That this question should become the
gleat issue between the two parties OF
the country during the approaching cam
paigns seems to be inevitable. The war
issues have all well nigh died out, and
though the stalwart Republicans are evil
IDENTIFY exceedingly anxious that section
alism should be revived, there is
no hope of their being gratiied.
The people North and South are
wearied, worn out ard disguised with
the bloody shirt. and the recent efforts of
United States Attorney General Brewster
to reawaken sectional animosity has met
with no responsive echo even among his
own party associates. 1t being impOssl
bic, therefore, to make internal dissen-
sion and sectional hatred serve longer as
the means of maintaining Radicalism in
power, some other issue must be raised,
and this of the tariff naturally comes to
the fore.
When such an issue is fairly joined
the position which the two opposing
parties must occupy can easily be fore
seen. Opposition to a high and Oppres-
sive tariff has always been one of the
main teachings and doctrines of the
Democratic party. and must so remain
so long as that party exists. This
is manifest. The Democratic has
ever been the party of the
people, and the natural effect of high
tariff is certainly to burden the masses
by increasing the expenses of living.
That the people-the unprotected tax
payer, and the public generally-may,
therefore. enjoy, not alone the necessities,
but the comforts of life, at as little cost
as possible, is, and has ever been, one Of
the first objects of the Democracy, and
should the party. therefore, now abandon
this one of its time honored principles.
and cease to advocate as light a tariff as
possible, it would virtually yield up the
ghost and die, since a high prohibitory
tariff, only for protection and not for
revenue, is essentially anti Democratic.
On the other hand, the Republican
party is essentially the party of prOtec-
ton and high tariff. Protection is the
child and creature of party which has
always favored the recklessly extrava-
CANT expenditure of the peoples money,
and has always been cOnspicuously the
friend of the rich and the oppressor of
the poor. True, to keep in power, it has
| pretended at times to impartially favor
the rights of all men, but its record dur
ing the whole period of its political su-
premscy proves that while it might be
prOfessedly the friend of the masses dur
ing the progress OF a campaign, after its
power was secured its every tendency
has been to encourage monopoly,
foster fayoritism, spend the public money
for the benefit of favored few, and by
means of subsidies, protective tariff and
nepotism, advance the interests of an
insignificant number Of fortunate citizens
At the expense of the great body polite.
This is the condensed history of Repub-
lican rule in the United States, and to
avoid qualification, if nothing else, that
party must perforee defend protection and
a prOhibitory tariff whenever that be,
COMES the great ISSUE before the country
When this issue is made the Demo
Gratis should meet it boldly and honestly
There should be no trimming of sails to
catch any portion of the popular breeze.
As light tariff as possible is vital part
OF the old Democratic faith, and should
be maintained and guarded as a sacred
principle. We believe firmly,
too. that it is a principle which
will win. During the war, and
even to within the past year or two, the
excitement and bitterness engendered
thereby absorbed everything to the ex-
clusion of ali matters not intimately con
nected with the conflict, and it was not
difficult under such circumstances for
protection, subsidies and the like to be
foisted upon the country. Now, how
ever, all this is greatly changed, and the
people are really beginning seriously to
consider, first of all things, their indi.
vidual and material interests. As a re-
suit, tariff reform is attracting uni.
versal interest, and the recent Demo
cratic victories in the West are conclusive
evidence that the strong position taken
by the great body Of Democrats in Con-
gress in favor of such reform has, to say
the least, not tended to make the party
unpopular. There is every reason, then,
to believe that with this as party shib-
boleth, the Democracy will commend
itself to popular favor and will triumph.
But even should it encounter defeat in
defense of such cause, it would be
defeat which would command for the
party far more respect than it could ever
hope to achieve by victory gained
through the abandonment of time-hon-
ored principles.
Mr.. Frank Fl. Cushing arrived in
Washington on Monday morning last at
6 o'clock from New York, with the Zu-
mis- whom he has under his escort. All