National Republican., 1883-12-28
Morrison surronders to "tho business In-

mauing protection, and in tho next tho samo
maui, in the hands of Randall is descending
with fearful frequency, velocity, and power
upon the head of tariff for revenue only.
Mr.. Carlisle was chosen speaker because he
was for the Calhoun Walker tariff doctrine of
lSi6, and he made committee on ways and
means rather moro radical than himself in
opposition to protection. Tho southern bull
seemed to bo plungiug about in
the national china shop at fear
full rate, and tho business interests "
commenced gathering at the national capital
with lariat in hand with which to lasso him.
Bnt just as chaos seemed to have come in
with the bourbon house to stay thoferocious
free trade bull suddenly becomes quiet aud
goes grazing around in the national pasture
as calmly as stalled OK in vacation.
The central organ of the party, which
loudly secuted the idea of tariff agitation in
this congress up to recent date, and which
has ever since until yesterday, as vohc-
mently demanded tho immediate bringing
in of revenue reform bill, has at
last settled on tho fence while claiming
to be ON both sides Of it. There
has never been, and there can never be- q
bolder straddlo than that which the demo.
cratic party, through its national organ, an.
nounced yesterday. 1t is a surrender to the
Randall protcctionsts with retention OF tho
name of revenue reform. 1t is promise TO
allow each manufacturing interest to dictate
the tariff legislation it wants, upon the un-
derstanding that the result shall to the
groundlings be called revenue REFORM"
The editorial is headed "The Revenue
Reform Bill" and deals in as
scrtious which must be based upon
knowledge. The editor of the Post has access
to the central sources of information. When
he positively states what n democratic COM
mittee intends to do he is not playing the
part of an imposter pretending to have in
formation, but is giving his readers ascer-
tanned facts.
The game Of hide and seek which the DEM
ocrats have becn playing so long ON the tariff
question was certain to end in some settled
plan by which the managers could hope to gull
the most democrats on each side. How to be
for protection without losing the free traders,
aud how to be for a revenue only tariff without
losing the protcctionists, was the problem
presented. The task was difficult, but the CO.
hesve power of public plunder has asserted
itself, and Randall and Wattorson are both to
be satisfed-Randall is to have the oyster
aud Watterson the shells. The revenue is to
be reformed by such changes as the interested
parties may agree to-! The new scheme is
formulated in the editorial above alluded to.
We quote:
1t is the intention of the ways aud means COM
mittee, such at least is the dosre of Chairman
Morrison, to incorporate IN ono bill whatever
legislation they may agree upon relating TO the
| tariff.
| Editor Hutchins is right in assuming that
"the desire of Chairman Morrison" is sufi-
cient indication of "the intention" of the
ways and means committee. A train of pack
mules does not more certainly follow the
tinkling Of the bell upon the mare appointed
to lead it than will the majority of that
committee follow in the path taken by the
leader set over them. For this they were
appointed. Mr.. Morrison has, of course, been
confding to Mr.. Hutchins for public con.
sumption, the intention he desires the COM
mittee to have. As the tariff legislation is to
DO all in one billie pluribus unum as il
were-it becomes intensely interesting tc
know what will be its general and dominant
feature. But first Messrs Morrison aud
ITutchins eliminate from the subject the
things that will not be. Thus:
What particular name the general bill will bea
cannot now be stated; but the democratic news
papers that are cGpuous timid, or vacilating OF
the subject of revenue REFORM and predicting tha
the democratic party is about 10 take II step that
will insure its defeat for another quarter of cen
tury need have no fear that it will provide for al
absolute and immediate establishment of IRE,
trade or the absolute and immediate abolition OF
the tariff.
How tranquilizing! How gratefully thi.
will fall upon tho minds of the democratic
patriots who were torn up with the though
that the spois, apparently so near" were t.
be made so far" by n stupid adherence to
so.called principle. Tho national orgar
administers fitting rebuke to tn,
local smallfry, which have beer
captions, like the Louisville Courier
Journal, timid like the New York WOrld, an
vascillating like-well, like itself 1t tell
them to stop their nonsense, and stand u
stoutly against free trade and in favor o
some remnant of tho tariff. But they ar
not left in doubt as TO the principle upo
which the changes are to be made. On tn
contrary, the organ "deacons Off the song
follows
The members Of the committee arc not fools @
ignoramusos. There is abundant reason to believ
that they know what they are about that the
will propose only such changes as seem first an
most needed, and in making such changes will b
governed by what is asoertained to be the dom
nant sentiment of the business interests to be u
fected by them.
How spirited the opening, How soothin
and roassuung the close. The world is no,
informed, Mr.. Morrison has told EditC
Hutchins, and Editor Hutchins has write
it in the Post first, that the ways and NEAR
committee members are not fools, and secon,
that in proposing tariff changes they will
yoyernrd bv tho wishes of Z" the business n