Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-27
Mistakes.

IfMr. Randall is elected Speaker the
country will understand that the Demo-
cratic party has abandoned, at least for
the present, its attempt to reform the
tariff. The Democrats, therefore, can make
no greater mistake than to elect MI ran
dali Speaker. The Democratic party IN us
national platforms in 1876 and 1851 ana III
I,st e,,,,rass declared itself in favor
Of reducing the tariff. BY making
Mr. Randall Speaker 1t will contradict its
record and practically take step back
ward i'm the matter OF tariff reform. To
retreat from "A position which 1t has held
for wears. and which is constantly be-
coming stronger on the eve of great
political contest, is hardly wise. IL the
Democrats abandon their position
on the tariff it would
not be surprising if the Republicans
should occupy il. 1t has been frequently
said. and not without reason, that the life
Of the Republican party has been pro-
lonced bv the mistakes Of the Democrats.
That party has not been slow to utilize
Democratic measures when they prom
ised to meet popular approval. such was
the case with regard to the
resumption Of specie payments, the
refunding Of the debt into 3 per cents, and
civil service reform. Only the strongest
kind Of party pressure held the Republic
cans together last winter when the pres
ent tariff law was under consideration.
The Representatives of several Of the
Western States understood that they
-
by voting for a high protective tarItl.
The sentiment in favor Of tariff reform IS
increasing in strength, and very con-
siderable reduction i'm the tariff cannot
| be DELAYED LONG. The Republican lead
/ ers are shrewd enough to see this, and ii
/ they obey this sentiment they will only
adopt the tactics which they have found
! successful in the past, and which may re-
new their leaseOf power. The Democrats
/ will find themselves lanked and outgener-
| aled and the position which commands
/ the political situation occupied by their
opponents. The Louisiana sugar planters
make a mistake in supposing that their
/ interests are with the protectionists IN
stead Of the revenue reformers. The
sugar duties, which are the largest
/ item in the receipts from the tariff,
cannot be defended on the principle of
protection. However high these duties
NAV be raised the sugar industry cannot
| he so stimulated as to produce enough
sugar to supply one-half, or even quarter
Of the demand. Louisiana doesn't pro-
/ duce as much sugar as she did twenty-five
years ago. The protectiOnists were
ready last winter, and are willing
now. to repeal the sugar
duties. The sugar planters of Louisiana
/ are not Republicans, and the Republican
/ party has no particular interest in pro-
/ tecting the sugar industry. The sugar
planters make a mistake in allying them
selves with the protectionists. They
have more to expect from the
revenue retormers. The argument
| advanced by Mr.. Carlisle last winter that
sugar was essentially a revenue article
that is. that the entire tax arising from it
went into the Treasury, is the real depend
ence of the sugar planters. Their organs
and representatives, however, are giving
their support to Mr.. Randall. 1t is prob
able that the time is not distant when
they will recognize their mistake.