Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-21
DEMOCRACY NOT RUINED.
THE TARIFF BILL NOT A FATAL
ROCK AFTER ALL.

ROCK AFTER ALL.
Policy Now Assured Which Bids Fair
to Lead to Victory in NoYember-Ab-
senteeism on the Increase as the Cam
paign PrOgresses-Speaker Carlisle's
Fairness.
WASHINGTON, April 20.-The effect of
the decision of the House to take up the
tariff question for consideration has been
very good upon the Democratic party as
represented in that body. Despite the
| predictions made that such course would
| tend to widen the breach existing between
men who think differently on the question
of the tariff, it has not done so. On the
contrary, it has created a better feeling
among all members except a few who be-
| long body and soul to Mr.. Randall. 1t was
a declaration OF principle where one was
much wanted. The wavering men were
! inclined to go with the Randall protee-
tionists, while it remained doubtful what
the reformers would really do. The latter
! having accomplished decided forward
| movement, and continuing the march in
that same direction, have put forth pro-
| gramme tangible and emphatic. They
! have gained as all men gain who have
| the courage to carry out their convictions
| of right. The charge of vacillation and
fear which is ever damaging to those
against whom it il aimed, with
! even slight plausibility of be-
| ing well founded, has been dissipated.
| The majority of the Democratic party
stands out for tariff reform, in accordance
with the wishes of the people who give
the House its majority. Such a course
has its effect on the party ali over the
country. 1t has outlined at least a pOr-
~ hn g. IL
next campaign. Members generally con-
cede this fact. There will be a tariff re-
form clause in the Democratic announce
ment of principles which the Chicago
convention will give to the country.
There is 10 way to get around that, all
admit. There will be no free trade
declaration, but there will be an unmis-
| taxable ring for the reform of the rob-
| ber's schedule of import duties as it now
is upon the statute books. There is a
good deal Of talk here about the national
platform, as you may easily imagine.
There is pretty general idea that it
should be short. 1t should speak of the
tariff as the House is now treating the
subject, and declare for a reform of the
present rotten public service, arraigning
the Republican Oligarchy for that, and
for its fostering of mOnOpOlies both under
tariff laws, and by almost illimitable as
far as time is cOncerned) grants to cor
poratlOns. A short announcement to the
effect indicated. put in ringing words, is
the most popular framework for the party
battle-cry in the next campaign. And
with candidates wisely chosen to lead the
Democrats in Congress generally think
that they have more than a fair chance
for repeating the victory of 1876.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE GETTING
LEAVES OF ABSENCE
pretty frequently now. 1t may be said
to be the commencement of the season
when Congressman want to 90 home.
Those who hope and eXpect-and there are
but very few who have not that hope and
that eXpectatiOn-tOc come back again have
to keep an eye on the fences at home.
This is why the applications for leaves of
absence are beginning to drop in
like leaves in autumn. There are
men at home who want to
set in marble halls as well as those who
now occupy seats in them. IL is nee
essary that these gentlemen should be
looked after by the present incumbents
Delegates to conventions to nominate Con-
gressmen are being chosen at almost
every point of the compass. 1t is there
fore but natural that the sitting member
should want to have hand in the game
as it goes on. But despite all that thev
may do it is evident that many gentlemen
now occupying seats in the lower House
good many political accidents in the
present House. After the fitful fever of
two years as national Legislators they
may sleep well; but at any rate many of
them certainly will sleep. 1t seems. how
ever, that one of the gentlemen whom we
would most naturally put down to stay at
home the next time will in all probability
be back again as bouncing and uncrush-
ed as ever. 1t is hardly necessary to say
that reference is made to the delightful
Keifer, of Ohio. A Republican member
from that State told me to-day that
keifer almost as good as had
denomination. "He is" he said, Every
solid in his district, which is overWhelm-
| ingly Republican. He knows how TO
work things, Keifer does. He has had a
long statement of his side of the last
scrape which he got intO-the trouble with
Gen. BOyntOn-published and scattered
broadcast over his district. He has worked
up great deal of sympathy. He is re-
garded as something ofa martyr out there.
He knows how to put on the piteous
pleading when it is necessary.
delegate to the Republican
convention to select men to represent the
State in our National Convention. 1t
would not be surprising if he were one of
those men. At any rate, it is pretty GER
| tain that he Will succeed himself in the
| next Congress"
1 ASKED JUDGE HARDEMAN, OF GEORGIA.
to-day if he intended to make speech on
the tariff. The Judge is a
tariff reformer, Of course. He said
Il don't see why l should
60 further and say that do not see how
could make one that would be of much
value. l am free to confess that | don't
know much about the tariff. l hardly
know anything. | have studied the sub
ject pretty thoroughly. | have read vol
umes upon volumes about it. The more /
read the less | am able to understand. I
believe in reform, but do not see how |
can conscientiously expect to enlighten
the public on question which, as | con-
fess, have not mastered" If there were
more men willing to act as honestly about
this matter as Judge Hardeman there
would be no necessity for discussing ways
and means by which the tariff debate can
be curtailed.
That Speaker Carlisle is the fairest man
who has presided over the House for
many years is admitted by Republicans
as well as Democrats. But a man may
go too far in the courtesy that must ac-
company fairness, and that Mr.. Carlisle
does this In one conspicuous case is very
evident. The manner in which he treats
John d. White, the Republican member
from Kentucky, is altogether too lenient
and too generous. White is a crank who
is forever getting on his feet and making
a fool of himself. He is the laughing
stock of the House, and more frequently
gets Kisses than applause even from his
Republican brethren. He makes himself
disagreeable as it is the only way in
which he can make himself conspicuous.
He INDUCES in personalities because he
knows that he is held in too general con-
tempt to inspire opposition, and because
he cannot be held accountable off the
floor of the House for what he saws there
on. And yet Speaker Carlisle, out of cOur-
tesy, and because he does not wish to even
smack of untairness, allows him to 90 on
unchecked. He even strains a point in
Whites favor, although the latter not un-
frequently refers to the Speaker in most
disrespectful terms. This is the only
point upon which Mr.. Carlisle's admins
| tratiOn as Speaker is criticised. And Re-
publicans are those who most emphati-
cally think that White ought to be sat
upon. Randall used to squelch him, and
when Keifer was Speaker it was only by
great alertness and good luck that White
caught his eye. May be Speaker Carlisle
is merely giving the calf enough rope
| wherewith to hang itself.
Judge Poland, of Vermont, still wears
his sky-blue sWallow-tail coat with the
gold buttons. The Judge is a very genial
gentleman, and is always ready at re-
partee. He is a member of the House Ju-
dietary Committee. The other day one of
the newspaper correspondents asked him
if he thought the newspaper copyright bill
would pass. "Certainly not" he said.
''YOu cannot legally copyright a fact''-