New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-23
MR.. RANDALL WANTS HIS SHARE.

Mr.. Randall, it is said, is so opposed to mo-
nopoies that he does not want Mr.. Morrison 10
monopolize defeat For the statement comes
from several quarters that he proposes 10 try
his hand at tariff tinkering. Having said that
the Democratic party is pledged to reduce the
tariff. and having refused to support the klnd
of reduction favored by four-fifths Of his party,
he is bound by logical necessity, it is claimed,
to offer some other mode. lie Is told that II
would be fatal to him, in future Democratic
conventions, to be called the Democratic ooe
in-the-manger y; if he will not let Mr.. Morrl-
son reduce the tariff. he must show how 10 90 IL
himself. Those who hold this view expect Mt.
Randall to offer bill at once, which can be sub
stituted for Mr. MOrrison's abortion, and specu-
lation has even described its outlines. Inc
reno val of internal taxes is expected to be It's
chief feature rather than the removal OF tarlff
duties. But it is claimed that the bill will also
reduce duties on imported goods generally.
Going back to the feeble cry which he llited
early in 1884, when the whole world refused
to listen. Mr.. Randall will favor tariff only
for revenue"
The thirty-fve Democrats who opposed
the Morrison bill have claimed and received
much credit and support in Northern districts
ON the ground that they could be trusted as well
as apy Republican members to prevent aglta-
hon or change of tariff. When Mr.. Randall
proposes a change, which he knows can never
be adopted, and proposes it only to court free
trade support inside the Democratic party, the
only pretext for favorng him and his follow
ers in Northern districts will vanish.
The iron and steel industry has pros
pered greatly ever since Mr. M0rrisols COM
mittee struck out all proposed changes on iron
and steel, while other industries haze been de-
pressed by uncertainty, for with that Dill Only
pending it was certain that no change affecting
this industry would be made. Now, 1T is threat
ened all this is to be changed, and that industry
also is to be Frustrated by uncertainty, and this
is to be done by the act of Mr.. Randall himself,
the very man of all others to whom Pennsyl-
vanans have supposed they were indebted
The Republican party will not suffer if Mr..
Randall and his followers thus destroy their
only claim to confidence at the North.
As to the internal revenue, any demagogue
can propose to remove taxes only statesman
can impose taxes wisely. Nay more, it is the
distinguishing badge of a deIragogue that he
must propose reduction of taxes. Only
statesman has the power and the courage to
teach people that wisely laid tax is blessing,
which it would be crime to remove. The tax
ON liduors and tobacco originated in the Deces-
sites of the war; 1t is now said that it bears
more heavily upon the people who caused the
war than upon Others but, we're that true, 1t
would only be another reason for retaining that
form of tax, in preference to one imposing
burdens mainly on people who did not cause
ic hot
the taxes on liquors and tobacco do not lessen
the productive power of the people, but, in so
far as they tend to restrict the excessive con-
sumption of stmulants, they increase that pro-
ductive power and the thrift of the Nation.
The time may come when the Government will
be ready to remove all these taxes, and to tax
other kinds of products, but it will not come
until the Government is ready to prohibit the
use Of liquor. These are burdens of which no
man need bear any part unless ne chooses. The
persons who do not drink, smoke or chew are
every whit as happy as those who do, and
they prefer TO pay no part OF the tax. If any
man pleases to take enjoyment III that form,
the taxation of his preference is no burden
upon society or industry.
When this question was briefly discussed
two years ago there was surplus revenue.
Then the cry of all dcmagogues was that the
surplus must be reduced. But the surplus has
vanished, aud with 1t the excuse for reducing
taxes. The striking fact that a surplus of
$4,000, 900 may vanish utterly in single
veal has proved that it is folly for a nation TO
calculate on raising exactly the sum necessary
for government and no more. With finances
regulated on that plan, the first year of depres-
sion sends the Treasury into the market to
borrow money. Before MI. Randall can justify
any reduction of taxes, he will have to show
that there is any surplus to be spared