Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-10
Na. RANDALL,s oHANeE oF NAV


Nh. RAND1LLiS CHANGE or MIND
Though working quietly, MIR. Morrison
and his confreres among the revenue re-
formers on the ways and means commit
tee are rapidly perfecting bill for the re-
duction Of the tariff, which will be offered
in due time. The protectionists know
what is going on. They, also, are max
ing no parade, but hope by effective innu-
ences to maintain their present adyan-
tages. They expect to defeat the bill,
when 1t comes before the house, by the
same combination Of protectionist Dem
ocrats with the Republicans that was so
fatal to Morrison's horizontal reduction
bill last congress.
Among other Democrats relied upon by
the protectionists Is, first and foremost,
Mr. Randall This reliance is likely to
prove misplaced. Mr.. Randall has, since
his antagontsm led to the de-
feat OF the tax-reductlon bill Of
1854, experienced change of heart that
VIII have a disastrous effect upon the
fortunes of the monopollsts. He assented
to the tariff plank of the Democratic
platform, which pledged that party to re-
ducc taxation and correct the inequali-
ties OF the tariff. His speeches in the
presidential canvass which ensued put
him fairly upon that platform. Speaking
in his own city OF Philadelphia to an
audience OF Protectionists, he said 81 do
not believe there is in the Constitution
of the United States the authority to levy
import duties for projections sake, In
other words, | can find nothing which
gives authority to the congress of the
United States to raise taxes or import
duties for protection purposes. say
also that would so levy the duties on
the imports into the United States that
the difference between the foreign pro-
duct and the American article-when the
two are here in competition-that the
difference in the foreign rate of interest
and that Of our own country, the dit
ference in the wages of nee hancs and
labor abroad and the laborer @ the United
States, shall be equal only 10 I'LL that
gap" PROBABLY not one of tile so-called
iree-traders, not even Hurd or Mills,
would care to take more advanced posi-,
ton than that to which tho quondam
leader'ot the Protectionists committed
himself in these words. For, however
they may disagree with him as to the
ultimate extent to which the tariff may be
reduced, they would 20 no further in the
beginning than MIR Randall says he would
30.
Again, in one of his most carefully pre-
pared speeches, Mr. Randall said: 81
want, in this connection, to say few
words TO the manufacturers of the coun-
try, and to assure them that they need
have no approximations OF injury TO their
interests. The highest annual yield from
customs during or since the war was over
S2lG,0Q0,0 900 in 1872. The amount neces-
sary now is generally returned at $685.
100000, and assert that this amount can.
not he raised in an intelligent and bust
ness.lika manner upon the articles i'm
ported, which come in competition with
like articles manufactured in this country,
without giving adequate protection to
our industrles.n
Here the Democratic apostle Of protec.
ton admits that reduction Of sol ,000,-
900 OF customs duties can be made an
nually, and at the same time given san
adequate protection to our industries. y
The horizontal bill prepared by Mr.
Morrison would have cut off only $40,
0o0,0 900, or less than half the amount MIR
Randall now says can be RENTED with
out destroying the protective quality o.
the tariff. In this view, Mr.. Randall i,
S5o,000,0 900 nearer to free trade than Mr.
Morrison ever was,
If Mr., Randall is consistent in his cause
aud departs not from his declarations, h,
viii sadly disappoint those protection
lists who look to him to maintain theii
monopoly privileges. He has probably
learned something In the two years sine,
he acted as their tool, and his wisdom
has taught him to avoid them.
] -
a Pusher.