Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-04-18

The significant thing thus far about
tho Morrison tariff bill is that, on the
vote for its consideration, thirty.nine
Democrats, including such illustrious
Democrats as Samuel J. Randall, voted
against its being debated. From Mr..
Jefferson, the founder Of the Democratic
party, down to the other day, the true
Democratic doctrine has been in favor OF
tariff for revenue, with incidental pro-
lection to American industries. The
free trade clique Of the Democratic party
was even clique when the party started
out on its mission. In one of his most
carefully considered messages Presideat
Jefferson set the key notes to which the
party has always, until lately respond.
ed. The Democrats who have followed
the leadership Of Mr.. Randall in this
matter are those who best know and OBJ
servo the record of their party. The
California delegation, we are pleased to
note. are in line with the old time Dem.
ocratic traditions. At conference be-
fore the vote it was agreed amongst
them to vote against even the considera-
ductlon bill, the only exception to the
rule being Gen. Rosecrans. who an
nounced that he only voted to bring it
before the house for debate out of cour.
tesy to Col. Morrison and his friends,
declaring, Mt the same tim0, that he
fRosecrans) intended to vote against it
ON its passage. Unfortunately Hon.
Charles A. Sumner, who was opposed
TO It's consideration, was prevented by
sickness from being present in the
House ON this crucial vote. Had he
been present. and had Rosccrans voted
~ he felt, the Morrison bill would
then and there have died the death, as
the vote stood l40 for its consideration
to l3s against.
We are now face TO face with the act
ual status of the Morrison bill. There
are not enough votes in the House Of
Representatives to insure its passage;
while, had it successfully undergone
this ordeal, it would have been killed in
the Senate. Had it even passed both
tho Senate and House, the measure
would have received its coup de grace at
the hands of President Arthur. Most
Intelligent Democrats will fail to see Just
where any point was made in inaugural.
ing this manifestly fruitless agitation,
which was abortive from the very start,
What the people OF the United States
desired was to see the second Demo
: cratic Tidal Wave Congress at once ap
ply itself, as did the first Tidal Wave
Congress-the Forty-Fourth-to the re.
duction of the expenses of the national
administration and to the concocting of
measures which would rein in aud re-
buke an insolent and aggressive bureau
cracy. All tho time spent thus
far, and which win be spent
in the future of the current scs-
sion, on the tariff bubble, has been
just SO much time absolutely thrown
away. The lengthy debate which is Ger.
tain to ensue will re-af6rm facts which
everybody knows, and leave the work of
the session protitless as far a. real re.
formatory action as to the tariff is con-
cerned. This would not have been the
case II there had been no talk about free
trade and if there had been, besides,
well directed efforts to reetify the more
glaring abuses of our impost laws on
foreign goods.
Having lost much useful time in one
direction, it all the more behooves the
Democratic majority of the Forty.
eighth Congress to settle down to the
work of retrenchmeat on the appropria.
tions. The Democratic party may profit
as well as anybody else by the adage
that it is never too late to mend. Under
the skillful guidance of Mr., Randall,
who engineered the splendid retrench.
ments of the Forty.fourth Congress,
much good and acceptable work can be
done in the line of the popular aspra.
tions before Congress adjourns. 1t ought
to be entered upon at once and with the
energy born of partially wasted opportu-
mites. Undoubtedly tho California
,,,ar,bars xvili tnla a fnII hand in tho
work.