Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-27

sess an interest even beyond the gentlemen
from whom they emvnate, and will be &C
cepted by the public everywhere IS indexes
to what the history Of the Democratic party
may be in November, 1884
Interview with sOld Jos' Mcdonald.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, June 22.-Joseph E
Mcdonald, ex-United States Senator from
Indiana, whose name is mentioned with per-
hsps as much prominence as that of any
other in connection with the Democratic
nomination tor the Presidency, returned to
this city to-day from Clinton county, where
he has been engaged 10 curt recently as
counsel. He was visited at his office by the
HeraiPs CORE spondent and aeked for 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 mad nothing to conceal
from those who might for any legitimate
reason desire to know his opinions Oh these
topics, he at the same time expressed himself
as being very much averse to submitting to
an interview for the newspapers.
81 have no objection to stating my opln-
ion" said he, shut can zee no special reason
for my obtruding myself up IN the public. So
have opinions, most assuredly, decided ones
at that, but they are the same that have en-
tertained for some time, and l have therefore
nothing new TO offer. With reference 10 the
tariff question, I refer you TO the last public
utterance made by nae on the subject Ii
was an address delivered to the Democratic
editors of Indiana, in which | took very de.
cided ground against The present system
Here is a copy OF the address," and, suiiing
the action TO Inc word, the Senator selected .
pamphlet from among a bundle of similar
documents, carefully labeled. you are al
liberty 10 make such selections from this al
you choose"
SENATOR M'DoNALD ON TARIFF AND REVENUE
As the speech in question was a long one
The Senator was askt d If he could not indi
cate paragraph or two which embodied the
drift of his opinion, 10 which that gentleman
replied by marking with his pencil the fol
lowing:
81 am opposed TO q protective tariff upor
two grounds.
81. Such tariff is in no just erse a tax,
and to the extent that it excludes foreign
merchandise frsm our market is no tax al
all. Il ia bounty, and the constitution does
not authorize Congress to impose burden Of
that kind upon one class of our people fol
the benefit of another.
"2. 1t is unjust and unnecessary, even con.
sidered from the standpoint of the protection
list. The claim Tor protection, as have al.
ready said, rests upon the assumption that
manufacturers of this country cannot con'
pete with the cheap capital and cheap labor
OF Europe, or, to use favorite term with
the advocates OF protection, the pauper labor
Of Europe
fIs 10 n he ,foa
terests of this country at this time are in
need of protection beyond that which reve-
nue. tariff would necessarily give. On the
contrary, it is susceptible of the clearest
demonstration that the lowest revenue tariff
which can be laid consistent with the wants
OF the government Is ample protection fol
any branch of our home industries.
"Thst," said he, sis what thought then
and have not altered my opinions since
"What do you think about the abolition
of the internal revenue system"
NJ thiak that it is impractieabls. Tn,
current expenses of the government: amsun
to in the neighborhood of $4,000, 900 an
nually. Add to this the interest Oh the pub
lie debt, pensions and other necessary items
and the annual expenditures of the govern
ment reach nearly $S00,000,000. This, O
course, must be met, and the revenue derived
amounted last year to about $116,000,000
and it ia doubtful if this sum can ever be ex
ceeded. 1t is therefore inexpedient to abol
ish the internal revenue system. 1 favor i'll
continuance, subject to such notifications al
may be deemed advisable from time to time.
Senator Mcdonald declined TO be intsr
view on political probabilities further thar
to state that he was "for the Democratic
nominee" who, he was quite sure, would be
elected. He was of the opinion that tn,
tariff question would constitute a leading
issue in the next campaign.
Interview with Ex-Gov. English.
William 81. English, late Democratic car
didste for Vice President, and one Of the old
est and best informed politicians in mis- part,
10 Indiana, was next visited. Although Nj
English has retired from active political lii
he still retains lively interest in polite
and manifested willingness to answer sucl
questions IS bore upon the condition of tn
two great parties In Indiana.
"Do you consider Indiana as certain TO
the Democrats in 1884?"
"Well, yes, reasonably so; the chances a
least 1 think are decidedly in that directio0.
"But the State has not always been re
liable for them when so considered?" va
suggested, recollectiDg the campaign of 1886
"By no means. Nor has it been any NOR
reliable for the Republicans. The truth il
that neither Republicans or Democrats hav,
carried Indiana by majority at auy genera
election for the pact ten years. Election
have in every instance been carried by piu
rslities and not majorities."
THAT fact is not generally understood, i
it?"
"No; it was not generally known atroa,
in 1880, and do not think it is now; but
is nevertheless true, as the official returns O
every election will show. Indiana voted 10
Grant in 1872, but the vote of the State cleo
ton the same year was so close that a por
ton of the Democratic State ticket wa
elected by small majority. Beginning wit
the State election Of 1874, the following
the vote in our State and general elections: