Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-24
THE PRESIDENTIAL OUTLOOK
Governor Buffers Views on the Tariff
and Other Questions.
ron an InteroieiC IN tAe Ne1C YORK HeroI5

"Well, now, Governor. suppose we take
look at the Presidential prospect. Do
you think the Democrats have anv
81 do, indeed. They have a great op-
port1nlty, and can win unless they throw
| the chance Bway.''
''On what groundY'
"There is but one-the tariff. 1t is the
living issue on which the Democrats can
stand if they hope for success. The Re
publicans say it is proper to raise reve-
| nue. TO protect American industry, al
| though that revenue is not needed for gov
ernmental expenses. During war times
we needed ali we could get and from
Whatever source, but that necessity eX-
lists no longer. The Constitution saws
that taxes can be levied for needed
revenue! Any contrary theory is uncon-
stltutlonal, unjust to tax PAYERS and
lmp0lltlc as we'll. Some Democrats saw
that the tariff should be for revenue only.
Ihey would be nearer the Constitution if
theY SAID the tariff should be only for
reVenue-the needed revenue. The differ
ence is clear. If for revenue only we
mnst raise $500, 1000, ,000-nearly 81, ,0O0. 900
Il daY-of revenue for actual expenses
without regard for anything else, and on
such articles as would stand the test. If
only for revenue tariff is imposed
chiefly for the protection of American in
dustries."
Rather subtle distinction"
''NO, a broad one. One raises what
revenue is needed without regard to
American industry or labor; the other
raises 1t by taxing such articles as COM
pete with the products of American in
dustry and labor. prefer the latter. The
Republicans raise more revenues than we
need in order to protect American indus
try and labor. The Democrats should
iG ahGOl1rtolxr
raise it as to protect American industry
and labor. On this issue the fight can be
made. Why should all be taxed so that
lew may flourish, and river and har-
Dor and other treasury steals be
permIttedE Is that the way to protect
American Industries: l should be
glad to take that issue, and would have
no fear of the consequences. We RAISE
$l,OOO,OO0 day for needed expenses. and
If that sum won't sufficiently protect
American industries then they are not
worth fostering. Do you want to be taxed
for the benefit of others, knowing very
well that the money will be squandered
by the party in power? Obviously not.
Are you willing to be taxed for legitimate
government expenses? Always. Do YOU
OBJECT to being so taxed as most Ger
tainly to help American enterprise and
forward American labor? OF course not.
That's the issue. Clearly put and fully |
understood, the American people will have |
but one response. On this the Democrats |
will win.'
Didn't you make this part and parcel |
OF your state campaign, and with direct |
reference to the necessities of the Nation |
al Democratic partyE'
"Unquestionably. 4 significant section
OF our platform took hold of the precise
situation and demanded thorough and |
reform of the tariff We then
said and now say that the Constitution
OF the United States sanctions taxation,
whether by excise, impOst or customs, to |
the amount of the necessary expenditures |
of the government, whether in peace or
war, to which all its revenues must be
limited. And then we went on to say
the national expenditures are now SO
great that no proper protection can be
given to American interests, Ameri-
can industries and American labor
within these limits. Therefore we
call upon Congress so to reform
the present war taxes that hundreds.
of millions may not be. as
now, needlessly extracted from the earn
ings of our people to lie in the Treasury
as temptation to wicked and reckless
for eXtraVagant public
buildings and useless and wasteful river
and harbor bills; that no taxes shall be
leviedon the necessaries of life or upon
the raw material which is not found or
produced in our country; that the tariff
shall be so judiciously adjusted that Am
erlcan commerce shall be fOstered and
above all, American labor elevated and
amply rewarded. We then affirmed, and
/ re1terate 1t now, that all these results
can be fully realized under a new tariff
limited i'll amount to a sum necessary and
adequate for revenue"
''What do you consider axioms of the
DemOcracy?'
''No sumptuary laws infringing sacred
rights of personal liberty; no double. no
unequal taxation; no partial enforcement
OF the laws; no class legislation. These,
as we said i'll our platform, are axiOms of
Democracy"
And does the growing power of cOrpo-
rations suggest any course to your"
EXACTLY the point made, that in this
day OF giant monOpQlies, powerful cor
poratlohs and concentrated wealth, seek
ing to subsidize every function of govern
ment to their own exclusive benefit. all
true Democrats should proclaim their
principles anew in behalf of labor and all
its interests, in behalf of the laboring
masses and all their rights, TO the end
that this government may be and NAV
to be the peoples government.
as the fathers OF the Republic designed
and intended"
"What is your theory in reference to
to public 0tficesY'
''Fltness, not favor, should be the mass.
port to public service, There shouid he
no removals of government EMPLOYEES be-
lore the expiration Of their term. of SER
vice except for cause, and no assessments
on their salaries paid to them bv the
whole people should be levied for the Nor
petuation of the party in nower.n
"1ou appear to be tolerably confident
so far as the Democrats are confident. bnt
how about the Republicans %
"Ihe Republicans 90 into the race
weighted down by the wrongs of quar-
ter of century of power
with What issueP'
rlhefe is but one issue-the tariff. They
defeated Hancock ON that issue because
they sprung it on the country at the tail
end OF the campaign, when there was no
time 10 discuss it. They made most effec-
1--WE use OF II, but next time il will
pc dlnerent. They will have to meet
the issue ON the broad grounds | have
outlined as the platform of Massaohu-
Setts Democrats: They rely now, as
heretofore, on the mistakes of the
Democrats. Min0rities always have
greater wisdom than majOrities. There
are no mistakes of the past from which
they cannot be relieved, and they have no
trammels OF administration Office-hOldipg
which prevent their following IN the
true interests of the whole cau 1trv' The
has the entire field in which to
work; the majority that part only of which
1t holds possession
"Ihen you adhere to your faith in a great J
Democratic victory ?''
IL -