Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-07
TOPICS OF THE TINES.
VIEWS OF A LEADING DEMO
CRAT.
congressman blackburn Interviews
ca on Guttesus the TariR. Pros
tecuOn ana Oaher Current Topics.

versailles (Kenttlckn) Correspondent Courier.
Journal
In conversation with Hon. ]. G. &. Black
ourn, requested his opinion upon some
matters and measures now attracting public
attention.
GAS you are fresh from Washington will
you tell me something regarding Guiteau
and his trislg Do you think he is fnsaneS''
querted your correspondent.
NO, sir; do not. l believe GuiteauN to
De as sane as any one Of the many who at
tend his trial; and had he been tried at any
other place save Washington he would havs
received his deserved death sentence before
this"
is there any sympathy manifested for
There is. Upon my arrival there few
weeks ago was surprised to fud the exist
enee OF much sympathy for him-a maud
lin, driveling sYmpstby-and the sympathy
for NJ. Garfield is dying out"
"Do YOU think he will haugY"
Il think not; but the jury will. The
trial is perfect farce, and in it as little to
impress one with the idea of being present
in court of Justice at the trial Of the
greatest criminal OF the age, as II at a min
strel or side show of circus"
How much more time will be consumed
In this trial ~
81 think the conclusion should be reach
ed in a week. Had Judge Cox performed
his duty the trial would have ended three
weeks ago. Ben. Butler would have ended
1t In two weeks, Guiteau is the only man
In the case who seems to comprehend the
issue-that issue being simply as to the
state Of his mind on the I'd Of July last when
the shot was fred"
"You think, then, that It will be hung
juryt"
eyes; that's my opinion"
In answer to my question as to what i'm
portant measures would come before Con
gress this session, Mr.. Blackburn replied
that, among the more important, that of
the tariff would take precedence, occupying
much Of the time of the House, and over
| which will ensue a big fight.
Just here Mr.. Blackburn remarked that
| he was glad the Courier Journal had kept
up so valiant, able and persistent a fight
upon this all important measure, and that it
deserved the thanks of all interested In
"free trade" Continuing, he said an effort
would be made to retire silver certificates,
and probably the demonetization OF silver,
or, at least, to cripple its uses by placing
limitizations upon its coinage. Heproceeded
to say that this session of Congress promises
hopefully in one respect at least, that being
the probable absence of all sectional discus
sions. Material and vital questions would
likely occupy it-such as the attempt to re-
wise the tariff through a commission.
"The anomalous features of the tariff
fight in this Congress are to be found In the
fact that the masses, who are the vict ms Of
its rObberies, will appear on the defensive.
The advocates OF the system of plunder,
emboldened by past successes, will at this
session, In accordance with the resolution
OF the late Chicago convention, demand
rev sion of the tariff in the interest of pro-
lection. This they will seek to do through
commission which, organized under the
Morrill, bill now pending in the
Senate, would be simply the YER
dict prepared by packed jury. The Gar
land bill is not much better, though not so
repulsive, because it reserves at least some
semblance of authority in Congress to pass
upon the work Of these proposed agents of
monopoly. There is no hope of relief COM
ing through the selected agents Of pro-
tective tariff party"
"Wnat is your opinion regarding the
abolition Of custom dutiesp'
"Well," said he, sin the present condi-
ton OF affairs no prudent man would ad-
wise total abolition of custom duties. The
utmost that would be warranted at present
would be the revision of the tariff with every
feature of protection for the sole purpose OF
raising revenue eliminated. This we will
endeavor to secure, but, speaking for N.Y.
self, shall labor in this direction, not ac-
cepting its accomplishment as a finality,
but as The only practical step we can take
TO warrant the ultimate establishment of
free trade"
"TheD, to sum up the matter, from all
you have said take it you are a Simon
pure, dye-in.the- wool free-trader "
"Yes, am an aVowed and absolute free
trader"