The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-27
THE PRESIDENCY.
Ex-senator MeDOnald's Views on Tariff
and Internal Revenue.
mr.. English ON State Politics and Possible
kesnIrs-The Last Campaign
Vf1diCated.
New York Herald

New York Herald
IEDIANAPoIIs, Ind, June 22-Joseph E.
Mcdonald, ex United Slaves Senator from In
diana, whose name is mentioned with per-
haPs as much prominence IS chat OF any
other in connection with the Democratic
nomination for the Presidency, returned to
this city today from Clinton Comfy, where
he has been engaged in Court recently as
counsel. He was visited ct his office by the
Herald correspondent ana asked Tor an ex-
preston of his views concerning the tariff,
the abolition of the internal revenue system
and other current political issues. While
the distinguished gentleman stated very
pointedly that he had nothing to conceal
from those who might for any legitimate
reason desire to know his opinions on these
topics. he at the SANS time expressed him.
self as being very much aYsrse to submitting
TO an interview for The newspapers.
AZ have no objection to stating my opin-
ion,' said he, "but can see 10 special reason
for my ObtTudiug myself upon the public
So far as all these questions are concerned, |
have opinions. mos assuredly, most decided
ones at that; but thew ere the same l have
eDfeT,sired for some time, end have there
fore nothing new to offer. With reference to
tle tRrif question, refer you to the last
public utteTances made by me on the sub
ject. 1t was en- address delivered to the DEM
ocraiic editors of Indiana, in which 1 took
very decided ground against the present sys-
tenn. Here is e copy of the address, and
suitipg the action to the word, the Senator
selected pamphlet from among bundle of
similar documents, carefully labeled. You
are at liberty 10 make sucn selections from
this as you choose"
SENATOR M'DONALD or TARIFF AND REVENUE.
A. ao1, : Lone
the Senator was asked If he could not indi-
cate paragraph or two which embodied the
drift of his opinion, to which that gentleman
replied BY marking With his pencil the fol-
lowing:
Fam opposed to e protective tariff upon two
/. Such tariff is in no jast sense tax, and TO
the extent that It excludes foreign merchandise
fro markets IL is no tax at ali. It is bounty
and the Constitution does not authorize Congress
TO impose burden Of that kind upon one class of
our people for the benefit OF another
? IL is III just and uunec ssssry, even considered
fIom the ttandDciut Of the proteetiOnist. The
claim for protec ii0n s. have already said, rests
upon the assumption thai manufacturers OF this
country can not compel with ths cheap capital
and cheap aoOr o. EuTOPn or, TO use a t4yorte
term with the advocates of protection 1.-THE pauper
Il is no. tue that the manufacturing interests
of this country at this time ia need of protec
ton beyond hat which revenue tariff would
necessarily siTe. On the contrary II is susceptI-
BILE Of the clearest demonstration that the lowest
revenue tariff which can be lald consistent with
the wsns Of the Cove Rnmentis ample protection
for any branch Of our home industries
That" said he, sis what | thought then,
and have not altered my opinions since"
''H nat do you think about the abolition
OF the internal revenue system?
Il think that is impracticable. The cur
rent expenses of the Government amount to
in the neighbOrhood of $3.50 600 600 annually
Add 10 this the interest on the public debt.
pensions and other necessary items, and the
annual expenditures of the Government
reach nearly $500, 600, 600. This OF course, must
be net, and the revenue derived from the
tariff through the Custom Houses amounted
last year TO but SIG 000O00 and ii IS doubt
full if this sum can ever be exceeded. 1t is
therefore inexI edient to abolish the internal
revenue system. / favor its continuance,
subject to such notifications as may be
deemed advisable from time to time"
Senator Mcdonald declined to be inter
viewed on political probabilities further than
to state that he was 'for the Democratic
nominee" who, he was quite sure, would be
elected. He was of the opinion that the
tariff question would constitute leading is
sue in the next campaign.
NR. ENGLISH ON DEMOCRATIC CHANCES.
William H English, late Democratic can
didaie for Vice President, and one of the
Oldest and best informed politicians in his
party in Indiana, was nexs visited. Although
Mr.. English has retired from active political
life he still retains lively interest in politics
snd manifested willingness to answer such
questions as bore upon the condition of the
two great parties in Indiana.
do you consider Indiana as certain for the
Democrats in 1SS4P'
''Well, yes, reasonably so; the chances at
least l think are decidedly in that direction
But the State has not always been reliable
for them when SO considered2' was sug-
gested, recollecting the campaign of 1880.
''By no means. Nor has it been any more
reliable for the Republicans. The truth is,
that neither Republicans nor Democrats
have carried Indiana by majority at any
general election for the past ten years.
Elections have in every instance been carried
by pluralities and not majorities."
THAT fact is not generally understood,
lie it's
NO; it was not generally known abroad
in 1880. and do not think it is now; but it
is nevertheless true, as the official returns of
every election will show. Indiana voted for
GRAFT in 1872, but the vote at the State cleo
ton the same year was so close that portion
of the Democratic State ticket was elected by
q small majority. Beginning with the State
election OF 1874. the following is the vote in
our State and general elections: