Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-22


Mr.. Samuel j. Randall has given the
country a surprise. In an interview,
published in the New York Herald, he
declares that he is in favor of reforming
the tariff at once, and says that the Demo
cratic party ought to give the administra-
ton a united and enthusiastic support
with the view of renominating Mr.. Cleve-
land in 1883.
There is a great deal of curiosity, Of
course, to know the motive that infu-
enced Mr.. Randall to make such state
ments. There are a good many who are
inclined to doubt that he is sincere in
| saying that the tariff ought to be reformed,
and many more who doubt that he means
to work tor Mr.. Cleveland's denomination.
1t is a fact that has been very generally
noticed for several days in Washington
that Mr.. Carlisle has been having long
talks with the President lately. The i'm
preston is that these talks almost wholly
related to the tariff. In fact, there
doesn't appear to be much doubt that the
views of the President and those of Mr..
Carlisle on the tariff are in harmoy.
OF course if the administration is in IA
vor of reforming the tariff Mr.. Randall
cannot afford to oppose it. While the gov
eminent was under the control of the Re-
publicans Mr.. Randall could, without very
great danger of losing his position in his
party, advocate the Pennsylvania doc
trine of protection for projections sake;
but with the government in Democratic
hands, and the administration favoring
the Democratic doctrine of tariff reform,
he would hardly dare avow himself an
Outand-out protectiOnst. If he did,
who of his party would be will
ing to follow him? Instead of
the small minority which followed
him in opposition to the Morrison bill he
would, in all probability, stand alone.
That wouldn't be an enviable position for
a Presidential candidate to occupy. Is it
not fair to assume, therefore, that seeing
the direction the administration will
probably take with respect to the tariff,
Mr.. Randall has seized upon what he
deems a favorable opportunity to put him
self in harmony with his party on this
important question?
1t is true that in declaring for tariff
ing his hold upon his Pennsylvania con-
stituency, but is it not better for him to
run that risk than to lose all influence
with his party? 1t may be that his
Pennsylvania followers will still cling to
him with the hope that his conversion to
tariff reform is not as complete as his
in erview seems to indicate.
But why has Mr.. Randall taken partic-
ular pains to praise the administration
so lavishly before it has got fairly into
working order, and TO renOminate Mr..
Cleveland? Is there not more in this part
of Mr.. RandalPs interview than appears
on the surface? What is his purpose in
this effort to strengthen himself with the
administration? 1t can hardly be that he
wants fuller recognition in the distribu-
ton of patronage, but it may be that he
is seeking the aid of the administration in
plans that he may have for his own adj
vancement.
Mr.. Randall has been a Presidential
candidate for years, and it is not prob
able that he has abandoned all hope OF
reaching the summit of his ambition.
His talk of renominating Mr.. Cleveland,
therefore, may mean that Mr.. Cleveland
ought to be renOminated if Mr.. Randall is
not nominated in 1888. The interview
gains additional Importance from the fact
that it was carefully revised by Mr..
Randall.