National Republican., 1885-12-11

n Demornltzed Iarty.
so far as tariff policy is concerned the
Democracy is deplorably situated, its con
dition calling for pity rather than ridIcule,
and suggesting the well-worn comparison
Of ship at sea without compass, chart or
helm, and crew on the verge of mutlny.
Confusion worse confounded reigns in
It's councils.
Its doctors hopclessly disagree in their
diagnosis, and equally antagonize each
other in their proposed modes Of treatment
The utter incapacity Of the party to gov
ern the country, or to make any judiclous
use Of the power now held by the ugly
tenure of fraud, could not be more forcibly
policy and lack Of ability to have one on
this great question.
II well man--one in the full enjoyment
of perfect health-were set apart as an ex-
perimental subject for all the different
schools Of medicine, allopathic, homeo-
pathic, bydropathic, and eclectic, and sub
joct to frequent visits from itinerating
quacks, his case would be close approxi-
nation TO that OF the nation at this time In
the hands Of this incapable and demoralized
old party, which filed its mission on earth
by hurling the country into the vortex Of a
sectional war twenty-five years before 1t
incidentally stumbled into its present fragile
grasp of executive authority.
When Rip Van Wrinkle, after his sleep of
twenty years, came back to the village of
Falling Waters, he was not less unfit to
take the lead in public affairs than is the
party which is surprised and dazed TO find
itself charged with the responsibilities aud
duties now devolved on the Democracy.
"Ex-Presdentn Tilden, whose hold on
the confidence and devotion Of the Demo
cratic masses will be co-cxtenslvo with his
life, and who, to the last hour of his life,
will be the most influential Democrat in the
United States, urges Congress, in an able
message, to keep the taxes where they are,
and expend any surplus revenues that the
present system may yield for various public
| purposes, such as Notifications and war.
ships.
President Cleveland urges a reduction Of
the tariff, especially on "the necessaries Of
life," although he fails to show how any
reduction is practicable, and cannot be ig
norant Of the fact that his plan for cutting
down would close most Of our industrial
establishments, and turn million or more
Of workingmen into the streets.
The estimates Of the executive depart
ments, at the head Of each Of which stands
a Democratic statesman, show that there
will be deficit Of almost twenty-five mil
lion dollars for the next fiscal year. TIL,
President omitted this fact when he madt
up his message, as he was compelled to dc
in order to avoid the awkwardness OF hav
ing one part Of that document knocked
down by another part. Still, tho omission
is significant. In fact, the message is NOR,
remarkable for what is left out than for al
the many things, mostly commendable
which II contains.
To recommend reduction OF revenue
when the estimates show a deficit, and Il
avoid mention Of the estimates lest tn
recommendation be discredlted, is kind o
strategy that is rare, II not brilliant.
Tho Now Yorl; Sun calls attention t
another remarkable and significant fact
in relation 10 the message, to wit, that til
President "treats the gross surplus Of revc
nue. over expenditure as II 1t were the avail
able margin for reduction in the taxes
IN other words, as If a large part Of thI
gross surplus were not devoted, in advance
to meeting the requirements OF the sinkin
fund laws. lie puts the surplus for tn
present fiscal year at seventy million dollars
when, In fact, it probably will not reac
twenty-five million dollars, after the sinh
ing fund requirements have been attende
tor
The President says-apparently judgln
the next year by this, and certainly igno
ing estimates:
The fact that our revenues are in excess
the actual needs OF an economical adminlstr
tion of the government justihes a reduction
the amount ex0cted from the people for /
support. A certain reduction shoul
be made in our customs revenue. The amour
of such reduction having been determined Il
inquiry follows, where can 1t best be romitte
think the reduction should be mac
In the revenue derived from tax upon Il
imported necessaries oflife.
The Sun, quoting these extracts from Il
, message, and referring to the estimated d
felt of seq, 100000, inquiries:
HOW nuCn margin is lncFc lOr rcuuclus u
taxes, even on the imported necessaries
lite, If the administrations estimates for ne
year. as presented in Mr.. Manning report, a
approximately correct?
!. That is precisely what the NATIONAL R
'. PUBLICAN inquired simultaneously wi
the publication of the message. 1t iswh
the country wants to know. There h
been so much of misstating facts relati
to the revenues, such vast discrepanci
between the official and unofficial figures
Democrats, and such glaring inconsiste
cies between estimates and recommend
tons that the public mind has become d
tressfully confused.
n 1t is certainly "H state OF THINGS" II n
/. "a pretty mess" into which this sem
q incapable, yclept the Democratic part
4 has gotten itself since its awkward hal
4 graspcd the fruits Of national vlcto