Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-04
Tho Tariff Issue.

A few of our State contemporaries
opposed the Morrison bill. They did this
in face of the fact that nine-tenths of
GeOrgia's Representatives in Congress,
and, perhaps. nine-tenths OF the people of
the State, favored the bill. One of the
points that they made against the bill,
and which, apparently, appeared to them
to be the strongest point, was that 1t
provided for a horizontal reduction OF the
tariff. They regarded such method Of
dealing with the tariff as unprecedented
and unjust. They evidently had not in
formed themselves respecting tariff legis-
lation. One Of the ablest speeches OF the
tariff debate was that of Representative
Hammond. In his speech Mr.. Ham,
mOnd said: "SOme of our friends dis
prove Of horizontal reduction. We have
had horizontal reduction of 10 per cent.
in each of the years 1888, 1885,
1887, and 1889, and 30 per cent. in 1872.
We increased horizontally 20 per cent.
in 1865, and a 90 per cent. decrease, hori-
zOntally, was made in 1866. In 1872 we
reduced 10 per cent, and in 1875 increased
10 per cent, all horizontally. 4 horizon
tai scale is often applied to wages; why
not to taxes? 1t might in some instances
work unequally, but these, as well as
other instances of wrong, can be and Will
be righted while the bill is under cOnsid-
Grafton by sections. The horizontal plan
is, therefore, usual, and it is simple.
Special cases of hardship can be better
taken care Of under it than under bill
in, fha faVih lists
because it will give more time to consider
those special instances. Such bill be-
ing shorter allows more time for other
matters of public and private Importance.
And il is doubtful whether we would
have time TO pass a bill in any other
shape. We tried it last Congress, and af-
ter spending weeks in its discussion, had
to take a bill originated in the Senate and
pass it in the House without its details
having even been read by the representa-
tives of the people,"
These same State contemporaries urged,
and still urge, the ACCESSIBILITY of drop
ping the tariff question and Of doing moth
ing with respect to the tariff until the
Democrats obtain possession Of the gov
eminent. On this point Mr.. Hammond
said: 1T is not even certain that We shall
have the House in the next Congress. 1t
is certain that we will not have the next
Senate. But suppose we should have
both. and also the President. May our
majority not come from the protected
Statess May the President not be from
one of themg Shall the large Democratic
majority in this House confess to the peo-
pie that il dare not now even originate a
bill for their relief? Verify one feels like
asking the questions Of Patrick Henry,
which, as school boys, we were fond Of
declaiming:
''Shall we gather strength by irresOlu-
ton and inactiOn? Shall we acquire the
means Of effectual resistance by lying SUI
pineIy upon our backs and hugging the
deluSive phantom of hope until our enc
mics shall have bound US hand and fO0t"
By many Mr.. Hammend's speech was
regarded as the best that was delivered
during the debate. Every Georgian who
feels an interest in the tariff question,
and it is doubtful if there is an intelligent
Georgian who does not, should send for a
copy Of it and read it. 1t shows that the
position occupied by the MORNING News,
that the necessity for reforming the tariff
is imperative, and that it is the duty Of
the Democratic party to inaugurate the
reform at once, is correct and impregna-
bic. Dir. Hammond's argument makes it
clear that a large surplus revenue is full
OF danger to the country because it in
vites official corruption, encourages cor
rupt legislation and threatens the coun-
try with financial disasters.