The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-12-27
A Test of Democracy.

There is Il question now before the
country which is II test Of the sincerity
of those who advocate, or those who pre-
tend to advocate, tariff reform.
The New York World says, indeed,
that the question is q test of democracy.
Without going as far as that, since it is
not necessary to do SO, we insist that it is
test of the sincerity of those who pro
feSS to be tariff refOrGlerS. That qucS-
ton is whether the party shall postpone
all consideration of the tariff to 1894, or
begin the work and prepare the way for
it in 1898. II is the question Of an extra
session.
Whenever you find democrat who is
opposed to an extra session, and who
bases his opposition on the stupid argu-
mont that it will involve hasty and pre-
cipitate legislation, YOU may know he is
not a sincere tariff reformer. You may
know that he is either insincere in his pro-
feSsiOn, or that he is ignorant of the
meaning and purposes of tariff reform.
The only objection to an extra session
would be the prol0ngatiOn of the session
beyond the time necessary to arrange the
preliminaries for preparing and develop
ing q tariff reform bill. Mr. Cleveland
very clearly perceiyes this, and we have
it from the best authority that he is in
favor Of All extra session if he can re-
ceiye assurances Of an early adjournment
of congress after it has once committed
the subject of tariff legislation to the
ways and means committee. The presi-
dentelect perceives that an extra session
is necessary for the purpose of furthering
the work Of tariff reform, so that no I'M
reasonable or unnecessary delay may be
permitted to como between the peopIe ana
the realization of their desires, and be
tween the party and the fuldllment Of
its pledges. But lie sees just as clearly
that an extra session called for definite
and specific purpose ought TO confine
itself to furtherins that purpose and then
adjourn
We need not go into any extended Argyll
ment to show the necessity of an extra
session. This necessity must be obnox-
ious to any thoughtful person who really
believes that tariff reform is necessary
and that it ought to be carried out as
promptly Us circumstances will allow We
therefore have no hesitation in saving
that no sincere tariff reformer is opposed
TO an extra session, for it is impossible
that any genuine tariff reformer would be
wiling, without reason or excuse, to post
p0ne even the preparations for reform for
twelve months, carrying the whole matter
over into 1894, the year of the congress
si0nal elections. 1t is impossible that any
sincere tariff reformer should he willing
to postpone the matter for twelve months
merely because he is afraid that an extra
session Will involve hasty ana precipitate
legislation.
Some OF the prOfessed tariff rcfOmcrs,
We are sorry TO see. do not stand this
test. They have been reading other PEG
PIE out OF the party with respect to diff
fercnceS of opinion on questions of party
policy, but now, when the supreme mo-
ment is about to arrive they falter hest
tate and turn their backs on tariff reform
on the ground that they are afraid to
trust their own party. They now profess
to believe that even the preparations for
tariff reform will involve hasty and pre-
cipitate legislation by democrats who are
pledged by every consideration of patri-
otiSm and policy to a prudent and CON
servative course.
1t is strange how some people and news
papers fail when the test is applied. But
such is life.