The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-03-20
THE TARIFF AS AN ISSUE.
1T Is Now or Never as Far as the Dem-
Ocrntic Party Is Concerned.


From The New York Herald.
The announcement of the democratic con-
eressional campaign committee that the
tariff is to be made The issue in the APP
preaching campaign comes in the nature of
a surprise to those who have been laborng
under the impression that the democratic
administration would dispose of the
tariff as to eliminate it issue, unless
challenged by the opposition to defend it's
work in behalf of tariff reform.
The tariff was the issue four
yalr5 ago and two years ago. and
the tariff is the issue now before Goa
gress but if the administration carries ont
the tariff pledge on which it was elected
the tariff should not be the issue in the an
preaching campaign, unless made so by the
republicans. 1t is earnestly to be hoped
that the announcement of the congressional
campaign committee will not be taken as
equivalent to q declaration that the party
in power cannot now redeem its campaign
pledge to reform the tariff to Il revenue
basis, but that it proposes that the party
make the same issue in the approachinag
campaign to test the question before the
next congress.
Such course would put the party in an
embarrassing position and pVt at disad-
~
preaching campaign.
1t will be time enough to make the tar
if the issue after the republicans have chal-
lenged the democrats on this point, and it
would al least be the part of discretion TO
wait until the tariff measure now before
congress has been disposed of before an
nouncng that it will be made the issue in
the approaching campaign, for the mat
ter stands it is hard to foretel whether or
not the tariff bill, as finally passed, will be
democratic or republican measure. If the
senate succeeds in revamping and readjust-
ing the house measure SO as to make it a
modified Mckinley bill, and if it is finally
disposed of in this manner then it will be
worse than folly for the democrats to go
before the country with the tariff the
issue. They would be, deservedly, laughed
out of cOuntenance by the the people, who
will respond to an appeal for such vindica-
ton by the announcement that if they had
wanted a republican measure, it would not
have been necessary to overturn the repub-
Ican ADMINISTRATION to get it.
you We're elected the people will say,
ION the pledge that you would reform the
tariff to a strictly revenue basis, eliminating
the principle of protection, which you de
clared to be unconstitutional. You have
failed to comply with your promise"
But" democratic campaisners will reply,
by authority Of the announcement OF the
congressional campaign committee, the
tariff is still the issue, and while it is true
we did not comply with our pledge, with
every branch of the administration under
democratic control, now appeal to the
people with the assurance that if elected
again will do better next time"
The absurdity of such campaign and the
inevitable result, if the party places itself
in this position, is manifest.
If, on the other hand the administration
redeems the tariff pledge of the party, the
matter is disposed of as a democratic issue.
The party will have complied with its ira
Citonal record, and will have fulfilled the
tariff should then become an issue only
as made so by the republicans, and,
their challenge, the only possible basis ON
which to rest democratic defense is that
which seeks to satisfy the people that the
party has not only redeemed it's pledge, but
that it is willing and ready to defend its
work.
The prime consideration, however, of party
defense must be the absolute compliance
with the spirit and the letter of the party's
tariff pledge. If this is not done, then it will
be worse than folly TO go before the people
in the approaching campaign with the tar
if as the issue. Defeat win be foreshadowed
and the party will be in a worse condition
than if it had been defeated in the last
presidential election.
CLARK HOWELL.
Atlanta, Ga, March 18th, 1894.