The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-12-08
Position of the Democracy.

Those Republicans who were counting upon
Democratic bluuders in Congress for success
next year must feel depressed over the first
move Of the Democracy. The election Of
Hon, John G. Carlisle, Of Kentucky, by SO
Overwhelming vote. is an aggressive step on
a platform Of revenue reform. Mr.. Carlisle
Is. an able and consistent revenue reformer.
He is not 4 free-trader, for free trade by the
nature Of our government and the opposition
Of the people to national direct taxes, is an
impossibility; hut he is for reducing the pub
lie expenses to the lowest limit consistent with
ain efficient public service, and the reduction
Of the taxes to an amount only sufficient for
the needs Of the government. just how this
will be effected, has not yet been settled, and
there is a difference of opinion among Demo
Gratis. Some are for a reduction of the tariff
not a radical change, but gradual one, the
periods of reduction set considerable time
ahead Others favor an abolition OF the IN
ternal revenue. Mr.. Carlisle, himself, fayors
revision,of the tariff, at all eyents-an equal
ization-as the present one is discriminating in
its character, and some of It's provisions are
simply bnneombe. We doubt not that under
Mr.. Carlsle's leadership genuine revenue
reform, sneh as the people declared for in
1882, when they changed Republican ma
iority of about twenty in Congress to Demo-
cratic majority of seventy six, will be accom-
plished-at least the policy of the government
will be set in that direction, for it will take
some years of gradual approach to bring the
government back to the ante bellum days OF
economy and frugality.
Although Mr. Carlisle has been in Congress
but six years, his ability, sincerity and sound
tariff and financial views have given him a
national reputation. He has always been
outspoken on revenue reform, and his large
vote shows that the country accords with his
views. 10 his one hundred and six votes
should be added the thirty given to Mr.. Cox,
making one hundred and thirty six to fifty
two for Mr. Randall. Even that does not
show the strength Of Mr. Carlisle position on
revenue reform among Democrats, for MIR.
Randall received some yotes-four from Ma
ryland at least-on personal grounds. his
vote was mainly from the Southwest and the
great West, though he got vote from Massa-
chusetts, two from California and the only
vote from Nevada. Mr.. Cox, who stood on
platform very similar TO Mr.. Carlisle's, re-
ceived his thirty votes from the following
states-one from Alabama, three from Cali
fornia, one from Illinois, one from Indiana,
one from Iowa, two from Massachusetts,, two
from Missouri, thirteen from New York, five
from Ohio and one from Tennessee. 1t is
thus seen that Mr.. Carlisle's platform is en-
dorsed by every section of the country.
What is thought of Mr.. Carlisle's election
and the position of the Democratic party on
revenue reform may be learned from the ex-
tracts from leading Democratic, Republican
and Independent papers throughout the coun-
try published in this issue. 1t will be OBJ
served that the New York Times, the leading
Republican paper in the country, says that
Mr. Carlisle's views are endorsed by great
many Republicans as well as the Democratic
party, and warns its party that if it resists
revenue reform it will go before the country
next year obviously weak.