The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-01-24
rs THERE A Splits
Differences Among the Democrats OF tho
House as to Tariff Legisiation-A Knotty
Question.

Differences Among the Democrats OF the
House as to Tariff LeGisiation-A Knotty
Question.
Speeial to the Constitution.
WASHINGTON, January 15.-. A good
deal of loose talk has been INDUCED in
recently regarding the diverse views Of
the Democrats in Congress on Tariff
Legislation, and the effect this division
will have on the action of the House.
Mr.. Randall, Mr. Curtin, Dir. Eaton,
Mr.. Converse, and other Democrats who
oppose an agitation of the tariff now, on
The line OF Mr.. Carlisle's inaugural
address, have certainly had no conclave
to devise the means of scotching the
legislative wheels when they threaten to
turn in the direction of reduced duties.
They have not expressed any opinion as
to what the action of the House, if it
acts at all, should be on this question.
Mr.. Morrison has intimated that no ex.
treme measures will be brought in by his
committee. In fact not one indication
has been given out to show the shape
the tariff question will assume before
Congress. Yet the most common talk Of
the hour is as to probable Democratic
schism. In one sense this is idle gossip
for no. one really representing either
opinion among the Democrats has allud.
ed to the possibility of such a split. In
another sense there may be something
quite serious in the. talk. referred to.
Party lines are. queerly drawn in these
days. Two men, both called Democrats,
90 into the same caucus, discuss their
common party plans and yet differ in
their views on every practical question
that will arise before Congress. People
are trying to surmise what the views of
the Democratic majority in the commit.
tees are on the vital questions of bank
ing, currency and coinage. The simple
fact of being Democrat or Republi-
can does not locate man on these issues.
On the tariff widely differing views of
expediency and policy exist among the
Democrats. The difference is not 80
striking among Republicans, but it exists.
When you say that the Republicans
assert the right of protection for pro.
tection's sake, and that the Democrats
deny this, but are willing to do the best
they can in the way of incidental protec.
ton in the raising of governmental reve-
nue., you have drawn the only line pos
sible between the two parties on that
question. i 1T when you come to analyze
the opinions you have grouped on the
Democratic side of the line, you are in
peck of trouble. The distribution of
this Incidental protection causes clamor
as loud as that over the right to protect
at all. The leader who can satisfy all
the interests grasping for the slices OF
this pie would be thrice welcome just
now BY the majority in the lower House.
Mr.. Ellis, of Louisiana, says it is OF
prime Importance to shelter sugar. MIR.
Dibble, of South Carolina demands first
consideration for rice, Mr.. Converse, OF
Ohio, says the wool growers of Ohio care
nothing for the party that cares not tor
them. Mr.. Randall thinks his friends
with few hundred millions in iron and
steel mills, many of which are now shut
down, are entitled to be heard. 10 give
these gentlemen and the dozen or 80
other classes whose interests have friends
enough to satisfy their demands would
be hard as a simple problem. But it
comes with more complications. Ihe
large agricultural classes in the West are
Tor some of the representa-
tiyes are doing 80, which is the same
thing here) such reduction of taxes as
might offend all these gentlemen with
their pet interests to be incidentally pro-
tected. Then comes in the demand for
the total abolition of the internal reve-
nue. as the most pressing duty OF the
hour. What bill can be made to trim
among all these interests and give gener,,
al satisfaction? In view of this mixed
state of affairs no suggestion from any
leader is needed to arouse
Of pretty wrangle when
the reform of the tariff is attempted.
Party tactics, as we'll as general princl.
Piles, will induce the Republican minor
ity to throw every obstacle it can IN the
way of any bill or to help in framing one
to make it as Objectionable as possible.
No one denies that the Democrats do not
think, with any degree of unanimity, on
the duty of the hour to country or party
iu regard to this question. The rtate'
ment that any one leader of the conser-
vative element, and, say fifty, of those
who think his views sound, have agreed
to defeat any bill by whatsoever man
euyres can prove available, is without
the slightest foundation. But men vote
according to their interests. The repre-
chosen by majority OF their
votes come to Congress and stand up. Tor
those interests. This may not coincide
with romantic views about leading and
not following public opinion, nor with
pretty talk and about that high political
independence which exists only in Area
dian imaginations, but it is the way pol.
itics and legislation 60 and we must
make the most of it. Looking at the
case Just as it stands, think the passage
of any general tariff bill by the present
Congress extremely doubtful. In the
house are difficulties thick and stubborn,
but suppose all these gotten over in some
fashion, we must remember that a few
feet away sits the Senate, representing
the wishes of the party opposed to that
which must make the bill in the House.
Can it stand this second ordeal? Hardly.
Dying Of Thirst.
ur.1 .rH.,. axtropoa hnpoar