Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-08-23
MIR. RANDALL AND HIS PARTY

The Democratic party in Congress will
be held responsible by the people for the
non-fullflment OF its pledges upon the
tariff question. The Republican majority
in the Senate would have prevented any
practical results nom the action of the
Democratic House, but the latter should
have done its part towards effecting the
needed reform, and thrown the response
biity OF the failure where it properly be-
longed. As it is the blame is attached
to an inconsiderable minority OF Demo.
cratic members OF the Lower House,
headed by Randall, who joined the Re-
publicans in opposition to any action
looking towards the reduction Or modifi-
cation OF the present tariff rates. During
the last campaign, Mr.. Randall said in
his Louisville speech; "The Govern
ment should be administered economi-
cally, and there ought not to be collected
dollar OF revenue from the people OF the
United States in excess OF what is neces
sary to economically administer the Gov
ernment OF the people," This is, and
ever has been good, sound Democratic
doctrine. 1t is almost identical in Ian
guage with the National platforms of the
party for long series OF years. The fol-
lowing is the formula used by Democratic
National Conventions touching this ques-
ton of revenue:
Resolued That it is the duty of every
branch of the Government to enforce and
practice the most rigid economy in conduc-
ting our public affairs, and that no more
revenue ought to be raised than Is required
to defray the necessary expenses of the
Government, and for the gradual but GER
tain extinction of the public debt.
In his efforts to cut down the eXpendi-
lures OF the Government, and in his sup
port OF the Morrison resolution to apply
the surplus revenue now lying idle in the
Treasury to the payment OF the public
debt, Mr.. Randall has been true to the
Democratic doctrine, but not to its tarf
policy. The Democratic party is solemn,
pledged to the revision and reduction o
the tariff taxes on the necessaries OF life
This Mr.. Randall strenuously opposed
uniting with the Republicans in the HOUSE
to defeat Mr. Morrison's measure to carr,
out the solemn pledge Of his party. Thei
he introduced tariff bill of his own, the
object Of which was not to reduce taxes
but to reduce revenue. Certainly sucl
would have been its effect if it had beel
adopted. His bill proposed to abolisl
the Internal Revenue taxes on whisky ,to
bacco, ETC. on the luxuries, and not onl
leave the necessaries Of life to pay all c
the taxes they now are paying, but i'm
posing fresll taxes upon such articles c
necessity. This was undemocratic.
is the Republican idea, and Mr.. Randall
can never succeed in humbugging til
Democracy OF the country into believing
that it is Democratic. On this grea
question OF tariff revision and reduction
the beginning OF all real reform, is tht
key to the whole situation, and upon
Mr.. Randall takes issue with his party
Ignoring one OF its most vital principles
he should leave the organization. Assun
ing that he is the Democratic Mahome
the party is nevertheless the mountai'
and it will never move in the direction {
the Prophet.