National Republican., 1883-04-03
A Weak Organ.


tinctly understood that it is opposed to any
further agitation of the tariff question "until
the democratic party has power to pass o rev.
onuo reform bill" The democrats will have
fifty-seven majority over all in the house
when congress next assemblies. If that party
is honest in its denunciations Of the present
law fixing duties on imports-if it really be-
lieves tho people are being ground by
the extortions of monopolies fattened
by tho tariff for protecton--then what
so simple as to attempt reform
It is but q few years since the democratic
majority in the house undertook to make the
repeal of laws for the protection of the right
to vote and have an honest count--the price
Of passing the necessary appropriation bills.
The senate, being republican, was to be
dragooncd into voting for the repeal Of laws
for the prevention Of election frauds by the
threat that, until Il should SO vote, the demo-
cratic house would not vote the appropria-
tions necessary TO carry on the government.
OF all this attempted usurpation of power
by tho house the Washington Post was,
as we rccolloct it, hotly in favor.
Tho scheme secured tho democratic vote
in each house of congress. The refusal
of the republican senate to be coerced into
voting to repeal wholesome laws as the price
of the continued existence of the government
compelled an extra session of congress, at
which both houses were democratic. Then
the attempt was made to compel the assent of
the executive to the repeal of the laws in
question by inserting repeating provisos in
the appropriation bills. They failed in this
as in the first. But in both cases they rallied
at tho republican party for daring to deny
the absolute power of the house to name the
conditions on which money should be voted
for the support of the government.
In the light of these recent events we are
at loss to know what has made our esteemed
contemporary so meek. The power and duty
of the house to control legislation through its
power to withhold money--provided the
house is democratic-is clearly established
democratic doctrine. But this is not all. The
exclusive power is given the house by
the constitution to originate revenue
bills. If appropriations may be with.
held to secure changes in general laws
having no reference TO to the revenues-and
such is as we have shown the democratic doe
trine-it must be seen that changes in the
revenue laws may be much more properly in
sisted on as a condition precedent TO the OK.
penditure of those revenues. Wo regard the
democratic doctrine on this subject as mon
strcus, tending as it does to vest all power in
the house of representatives, but the fact
stares us in the face that the democratic party
docs so believe and has acted on that belief
The Post and the New York Sun seem afraid
of the tariff as an issue for 1884. They would
fain satisfy the ria.for-rovenue-only men
by railing in general terms against the recent
tax and tariff enactment; and then they
would satisfy the protectionists led by
Sam. Randall by declaring that as the senate
is not democratic no attempt at change ought
to be made by the democratic house. They
assume that the senate would not agree ia
what they call revenue reform, although they
know that the new tariff law only passed that
body by one majority, and that seven new
republicans take their seats in December
some Of whom have as yet made no record on
the subject. Was there ever so palpable Il
"give away?' The friends of Mr.. Randall
will find it very hard work to restrain the
democratic party from discussing the main
issue now before tho country, merely to en-.
able him to go unchallcnged into the speaker.
ship, The pretended friends of revenue re.
form cannot reconcile their desire for a rev.
enue-tarff congress in the future with their
present readiness to give the protectionists
the control of the house committees. If the
Post is with the republicans on the tariff ques.
ton let it come into the ranks.