Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-21
9ourual srts Courier.
SINGLE coPIEs THREE GENTS
Monday, May Fl. 1883.

GOVERNOR BUTLER'S PLAVFOkxM.
As Governor Butler is Governor Butler,
what he has to say about the political situa-
ton is interesting, and as he is supposed to
have his best eye fixed on the White House
it may be important. He has been inter
viewed and has talked very freely about the
prospects of the Democratic party, what that
party ought to do and his own political opin-
ions.
He thinks the Democrats can win in the
next Presidential contest unless they throw
their great opportunity away, and when asked
what ground they ought to take replied:
There is brt one, the tariff. Is is the one
living issue on which the Democrats can
stand if they hope for success. The Repub-
licans say it is proper to raise revenue to
protect American industry, although that
revenue is not needed for governmental ex-
penses. During war times we needed all we
could get from whatever source, but that
necessity exists no longer. The constitution
SAYS that taxes can be levied for needed rev.
enue. Any contrary theory is unconstitu-
tional, unjust to taxpayers and impolitic as
well. Some Democrats say that the tariff
should be for revenue only. They would be
nearer the constitution if they said the tariff
should be only for revenus-ths needed rev.
enue. The difference is clear. If for ''rev-
enue only" We must raise $500, 600, 900
nearly $1,000, 600 a day-of revenue for
actual expenses, without regard for anything
else and on such articles as would stand the
test. If "onIy for revenue" tariff is i'm
posed chiefly for the protection of American
Industries.
The difference between a tariff "for reve-
nue. only" and tariff s'only for revenue" is
very apparent to the bold Governor, who
says that one raises what revenue is needed
without regard to American industry or Ia
Dor; the other raises it by taxing such ar
ticles as compete with the products of Amer
ican industry and labor. This is pretty
fine distinction and perhaps all will not be
able to see it.
''Axioms of the Democracy" according to
Governor Butler, are: No sumptuary laws
infringing sacred rights of personal liberty;
no double, no unequal taxation; no partial
enforcement of the laws; no class lsgisla-
ton. Moreover, in this day of giant naonop-
oiies, powerful corporations and coneentra-
ted wealth, seeking to subsidize every func-
ton of government to their own exclusive
benefit, all true Democrats should proclaim
their principles anew in behalf of labor and
all its interests, in behalf of the laboring
masses and all their rights, to the end that
this government may be and may continue to
be the peoples government, as the fathers of
the republic designed and intended.
Fitness, and not favor, should, in Cover
nor Buffers opinion, be the passport to pub
lie service. There should be no removal of
government employees before the expiration
of their term of service except for cause
them by the whole people should be levied
for the perpotuation of the party in power.
The Union is an indissoluble Union
of indestructible States. He would
have equal rights, equal powers, equal
burdens, equal privileges and equal protec-
tion by law under the government for every
citizen of the republic, without limitation of
race, sex or property qualification, whether
it be by tax on property or poll tax on
PERSONS impartial freedom of the ballot,
North as well IS South, East as well as West,
and tho abolition of all laws whether on the
statute books of Massachusetts, or Mississip-
pi, aimed at the unequal limitation of the
right of suffrage and the partial Withholding
of the sacred and fundamental right of repre-
sentation.
This is as complete, and, on the whole, as
shrewd Democratic platform as has yet been
constructed We shall look with interest to
see how Governor Buffers fellow Democrats
greet it,