Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-16
Democraey's Policy.

future of the Republic is the cordial
unanimity of the Democratic party az
to the course i should pursue in the
direction of public affairs when the time
arrives for it to assume control. There
has been an outburst of joy at the over
whelming defeat of the bosses and the
Of their staunoh allies, the
protected barons, who have thriven at
the expense Of the people. But the
Democracy, in the midst of its joy, has
not lost its reason, and from the humblest
Democratic journal to the ablest party
leaders, there comes the like counsel
Wisdom, Courage and Justice.
The Democracy, with singular COM
prehension, has perceived the demands
of the people, and is prepared to accede
to them to the fullest measure. The
policy Of the party has been formulated,
and the details alone remain to be ar
ranged. That there will be no bungling
in this respect we are assured, but,
nevertheless, the Democratic leaders and
journals should strive constantly to en-
force the duty of careful management
IN arranging these detailsand prosecuting
The party's policy to a successful execu
lion.
The first great need long sneered at.
but now enforced by the Radical organs,
is a thorough revision Of our system of
taxation. This involves material changes
in or the total abolition of the internal
revenue. and the modification of our
tariff laws in the direction Of producing
revenue with incidental protection, in
stead of simply affording protection with
revenue as an incident. The Democratic
party has ever been in favor of tariff
for revenue as opposed to tariff for pro
lection. 4 revenue tariff is the only tariff
contemplated by the Constitution, and
any departures from such system that
We have witnessed have been due to the
reckless license of party or the conve
nient plea of the exigencifs of war. The
reform of the Mornll tariff is inevitable,
and may even come at the hands of those
who have readily championed its main
tenance. The probabilities are, though,
that revenue reform will be left for the
Democratic majority in the next House
to accomplish.
Next IN importance comes the neces-
sity of doing som ethiDg towards purify
ing the civil service and placing it upon
business basis. As it stands it is simply
a gigantic political engine, controlled by
the administration as an instrument to
promote the ends of the dominant party.
However this has been countenanced IN
the past, right thinking men in both
parties perceive the necessity of reform.
The desire exists among the Democracy
to see this reform accomplished, and
there is enough of capacity and patriot
ism in the Democratic leaders to bring il
about.
Another important question, too, that
will arise is the proper mode of dealing
with the problem of restoring our com
merce. ASIDE from the influence ex-
erted upon our commercial decline By
our navigation laws, the question of its
restoration is largely correlated witt
tariff reform. That it can be solved /;
undispute1, and that something effective
towards lis solution will be done in The
next Congress, there is every reason tC
expect.
Our financial system needs little, il
any, MODIFICATION. The people see
clearly that what is most needed here il
stability. The day of experiment witt
our finances has gone by. The public
obligations must be met, aud, with gooC
government and average prosperity, the5
will ere long be discharged.
Concessions to favored classes and mo
nopolists must cease. Expenditures mus
be RI duced to the lowest limit and faith
ful performance of duties exacted from
every servant Of the people. The voter
of the land have put their seal of con
domination upon Federal interference il
State affairs, and q better order of thing
aud higher grade of craftsmanship ar,
demanded. In short, the people hav'
declared for reform in all directions, anC
mean to see it brought about.
The victory of the h inst, was tn
victory of the people over those WHIT
have wronged and defied them. The!
have called the Democratic party to d,
their bidding, and will exact faithful com
pliance with their wishes. While tn
Democracy is rejoiced at its overwhelm
ing Endorsement, it is not delirious, ant
throughout the country it is quick Il
read the lesson taught, and prepared t.
deserve better of the people who hav'
trusted it. The task assigned it is deli
cate and difficult, but intelligence, ixitl
of purpose and patriotic action vii
effect its successful execution.