The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-01-02
TARIFF REDUCTION.

HHf III nldJOTlty III titt HUN NouSitSs
unless some of the Democrats who
are now classed as tariff reformers
prove to be protectionists and fol-
low the lead of Mr.. Randall.
It was generally understood in
the recent campaign that the DEM
ocratic party would make an effort
to reduce the tariff to Il revenue
basis. There is hardly an intelii-
gent Democrat or Republican who
will deny this. There is a small
faction of the Democratic party
that fayors protective system.
Its representatives in Congress are
comparatively few. There were
enough Of them, however, when
acting with the Republicans, to
defeat the Morrison bill. Gov.
Hendricks talked tariff reduction
during all the campaign. Gov.
Cleveland said little about the tar
iff, but it is supposed to be we'll
understood that he is Il tariff re-
former. The next administration
is certain to be in favor of a re-
duction Of the tariff. The whole
country understood the position of
the Democratic party and its can
didates for President and Vice
President with respect to the tariff
during the campaign. The party
has been successful, and the gov
ernment will soon pass to the con-
troll Of the Democrats.
The conclusion is irresistible
therefore, that the country Is not
frightened at the prospect of a re-
duction of the tariff. The three
great manufacturing States are \.
York, New Jersey and Connecti-
cut They all gave their electoral
votes to the Democratic candi-
dates.
In the West the tariff reduction
arguments of Mr.. Hendricks had
good effect. Indiana, which gave
a Republican plurality in 1880,
gave this year a much larger DEM
ocratic plurality. Popular senti-
ment is moving in the direction of
tariff reform, and there is large
preponderance of the same senti-
ment with the Democrats of the
incoming administration.
Mr.. Carlise will be reelected
speaker. He was very popular
before he was elected Speaker of
the present House, and his poru-
larity has steadily grown. To Sc
cure the position again he will have
much less trouble than he had on
the first occasion. His reelection
will mean that the tariff fight will
be renewed. Indeed it is difficult
to understand how it is possible to
avoid it. The revenues of the gov
crnmcnt must be reduced, and
there are only two ways of redu-
cling them. One is to abolish the
internal revenue system, and the
other is to reduce the tariff.
This Congress ought to do some
thing towards reducing the reve-
nues, because the sooner the re-
vceipts Of the government are
brought down to about what the
expenses are the better it viii be
for the country. There is not
much chance, however, for tariff
legislation by this Congress. The
Democrats will, in all probability,
prefer to wait until there is a De-
mocratic administration.
1t will be seen that the people of
the West are wondering just now
how they are to meet the actual
expenses of living, with wheat and
corn at present prices. That they
arc beginning to realize the neces-
sity for cheaper clothing, agricul-
tural implements and the other
supplies they are compelled to
have, is shown by the tremendous
falling off in the usual Republican
majoritics in Western States.
When the campaign is calmly re-
viewed it will be seen that Mcssrs.
Hendricks and others, by their
tariff speeches, wrought remark
able change in public sentiment in
the Vest. With these facts before
us, it is evident that the people fa-
xy<.,. - =. &c xaJrcf.nr ard fbo.r roY,.