Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-05

Mr.. Randall has finished his much
talked of Southern trip, and he will be
found in his seat in the House TINS
morning, doubtless, when that Dody is
called to order.
At all the points he visited he was
warmly welcomed. IL reports are cor.
rect the Republicans contributed almost
as much to the enthusiasm with which he
was received as the Democrats. 1t
seemed to be understood that he
was not TO be recognized so much as a
Democrat as a PrOtectiOnist, and the Pro-
tectiOnists, both Democrats and Repub-
Leans, did what they could to make him
believe that his views had very many
supporters in the South. Doubtless by
far the larger portion of those who helped
to swell the Randall meetings did not
sympathlze with Mr.. RandalPs tariff
views.
1t must be admitted that Mr.. Randall
showed good deal of feeling when he
talked about the internal revenue system.
He called it ''inquisitoriaP and
'svicious," and insisted that it should be
abolished at once.
He didn't point out, OF course, in what
way it was particularly vicious, and, as
1t only affects whisky, beer and tobacco,
it is probable that those who consider it
carefully will hardly arrive at the cOnclu-
sion that it is vicious.
There is another thing that Mr.. Ran
dali didn't make very clear. He said that
he wanted the tariff reduced to a revenue
basis. but he failed to explain how there
could be any reduction of the tariff at all
if the internal revenue system were abol-
ished. The surplus revenue is about
| $50, 900, 600 year. and the revenue from
/ internal taxes is about $l2O,OOO,OOO.
If Mr.. Randall could have his
way not only could there be no reduction
of the tariff, but there would be an annual
deficiency of about $40, 100000. The truth
is Mr.. Randall seems to be trying to
secure the repeal of the internal revenue
! system. not because it is vicious, but in
| order to prevent a reduction of the tariff.
Mr.. Randall, as he appears in his
speeches on his Southern trip, will not
strike the average citizen as statesman.
He appears rather as the special advocate
and attorney of certain manufacturing
mouOpoIies OF the North. The man who
wants to make whisky free and keep
heavy tax on tools, machinery, agricultu-
raj implements, clothes, blankets and
many other necessary things ought not to
be ranked as a statesman.
| Mr.. Randall says that there was an I'M
Outstanding that the power to levy excise
taxes should never be exercised except in
times of ''great war necessity" Whether
there was such an under standing or net,
the authority TO levy such taxes is very
clearly given by the constitution. Mr..
| Randall saws that there is no authority IN
/ the constitution to make tariff Tor pro-
lection. and. of course, there is no au-
tbority TO make a tariff for ''incidentaP
protection. How is it, therefore, that
| MIR. Randall, who is all the time insisting
that we shall go back to strict con-
struction of the constitution, and who is
held up by his admirers as a model
statesman, advocates the repeal
| of the excise taxes, Whlch
| the constitution authorizes and
is a firm supporter and even champion OF
a tariff for protection. which the cOnsti-
| lutiOn does not authorize? There are
other questions suggested by Mr.. Ran
! dalPs speeches in the South which, pro-
/ badly. he would find some dithculty IN
answering. While he received a cordial
receptiou in the South there is reason to
think that he made no friends for the pro
| tective system and added nothing to ms
| strength as public man.