The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-09-06
MIDDLEBURY VT. SEPT. 6, 1912.

the people of Vermont on the subject of the
Tariff and Protection, "valiant iariffites"
or enemies TO protectionl Does the resp.
luton propose any thing but protection as
incidental TO revenuel If the resolution is
orthodox, then am orthodox. II it is, un-
sound in principle, then have erred in a.
doping the principles of the wing party of
Vermont, solemnly put forth as declara-
lion of faith on that subject. If you con-
denim and denounce me for heterod XIV, you
condemn and denounce your own party and
your own candidate for Governor! Take
which horn of the dilemma you chose. If
for the sake ofopposing me, you condemn
my sentiments on the subject of Tariff and
projection, remember that in so doing, YOU
lanch your uncomfortable anathemas upon
your own majority in the Legislature and
your own Governor! If, to them then you
admit the sentiments os expressed in the a
bove resolution to be correct, you extend
like salvation from political perdition to
me. wait for your decision.
But you say that in the before named
Convention ''enveighed wofuily against
the horrible Tariff of l52Sp' In my re-
marks upon the occasion referred 10, took
occasion 10 say that the Tariff ought 10 be
adjusted in such manner as 10 give per-
manancy and stability 10 the protection
which it afforded and avoid those fluctua'
tons which had been destructive to inter
ests protected heretofore; and that to accom-
plish this object extreme high duties should
be avoided with as much care as extremely
low ones. further remarked that the high
duties Of the Tariff of 1928 and 1892 could
not be sustained and that the most inteli-
gent and extensive manufacturers d,preca-
ted q return to those duties as being sure TO
result in changes and fluctuations. AS
proof that | was correct in maintaing this
ground, referred 10 the authority Of Mr..
! Clay and to speech he delivered 10 Hano-
yer County, Va. in 1910. ] give you be-
low, an extract from that speech in order
that you and your readers may see what Mr..
Clay's opinion was on the subject in ques-
ton. He says:
1.-The question (of protcction) cannot be,
fought no, to be, one of principle, but ore
"of measure and degree. | adopt that of
1.-The compromise ACT, moi because that act
sis irrepealable, but because it met with the
"sancion of the nation. Stability with mod
''erate and certain protection, is far more
important than instability, the necessary
consequence of high protection. But the
"protection of the compromise act ,oiH be
"adequatc in most, If not as to all interests
"The tpeniy per cent. which it stipulates,
''cash duties, home valuations and the list of
Stree articles inserted in the act for The par.
''ticular Advantage Of the manufacturers,
''i0iH ensure, trust sufficient protection. All
together they will amount probably not
less than thirty per ceni.-a greater ertent
.sof protection than uas secured by the act Of
"lS2S. WHICH NO ONE STANDS UP TO DE
PEND"
Now, Sir, submit it 10 the candor of a
nv one who heard my remarks on the occa-
sion mentioned, TO say, whether did not go
further IN favor Of Profession than Mr.. Clay
does in the above extract. Am | to be con-
demned for saying that the high duties OF
the Tariff of S2S could moi be sustained
and would end in disastrous fluctuations
True. certainly, your Presidential candidate
should receive the same condemnation for
declaring that "no one stands up to defend"
the Tariff of 1928. 1t is undoubtedly very
gratifying to you to launch your editorial
thunders against as humble an individual as
myself, but is not the qualification much d.
minished when you find that the bolts des-
tined for my humiliation, take effect (the
measure of that effect | will not attempt to
estimate) upon this ''faiher of the American
System and the Wing Candidate for the
Presidency, who inveighs more ''icofully'
against The 'horrible Tariff of 1925" more
than even ! do.
1t is well known 10 you that the democrat
ic party, not onl, supported with great una
nimity the resolution above quoted, upon its
passage in The Legislature, but that they
here, sihce, in all their meetings-in their
State Convention and in their several Coun-
ty Conventions, unhes;tatingiy approved of
that resolution and ofthe policy it advocates
Now, Sir, will you be so good, as to inform
the public through your columns, whether
the principle of that resolution is sound or
not, and whether you consider those who
support it, advocates or enemies 10 the pro-
tective policy
Respectfully Yours.
E. d. BARBER.
Middlebury Aug. %, 1912.