Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-07-02
TIT FOR TAT.

The Albany Evening Journal, SOFT of drum
major Ia the Wing party in This stale, KEEPS the
following article standing at the head Of lis lr>L
editorial column: the extract from Mr.. PoAs
speech being printed in capitals:
"PoLK AGAINST THE TARIFF The following
extract from a speech delivered by James X Polk
before the people Of Madison county on the III
day OF April. 1918 will show that he is ana al
ways has been an lncompromisng opponent Of
protective Tariff:
The difference between the course Of the Pc
liiical party with which he (NIr. Milton Brown
acts and mySelfis. whilst they are advocates OF
Distribution and protective Tarti-mcasurcs
which | consider ruinou> 10 the interests ofthc
country, and especially 10 the interests of the
planting Siates-l have steadily and at all times
opposed both
The Albany Argus, 10 be even with its Whig
adversary, rc'aliates with the suhloined para
Graph, giving Ike extract from Mr. Claws speech
with similar typographical embellishments:
"llrHRY CLhY'S OPINIONS on THE TARIFF
QrESTioN-rhe following extract is from the
speech oil Mr.. Clay. in the Senate of the United
States, on tie 2l>t January, lsi2 in reply 10 Mr..
Woodbury., ON the Treasury Note hil-repoucd
for the Washington National lniclii@encer
Elfrac irom ~. CLyEs SjeecA
CARY ont then. said he, The spirit Of the Com
promise act. Look 10 revenue alone for the sup
peri ot Government. Do mol raise the question
of protection, which had hoped had been put to
resi-. There Is no necessity Of protection for pro-
lection"
These are excellent sentiments on both sides
For which candidate shall free trader vote, when
both address him in language - perfectly con-
iormable To the principles upon which he thinks
our commercial legislation should lestl Mr. Polk
is hostile 10 a protective Tariff This is all right;
but, then, Mr. Clay is in favor OF proceeding
strictly according 10 the Compromise act: h.
would consider the revenue alone in levvine du-
ties he protests against raising the question Of
protection and declares that protection is Eo Ion
ger necessary. Ii i hardly possible To b. more
orthodox OH the tree trade question than Mr.. Clay
is III this passage.
Looking itlc further into the matter how
ever, we iad that Mr. Clay uttered this notable
declaration Just before the present Tariff. which
Is decidedly protective Tarili-thc most proicc.
tive and most oppressive The country has ever had,
was passed He has since approved ui that Ia
riff which flies IN the face of The Compromise act,
is full of prohibiory duties which lessen The re-
venue, and is specially designed for protection,
OF, in other words, for the profit OF the manui;ic-
urcrs Mr.. Clay has called this Tariff moderate
and reasonable"
The difference between Mr. CLAY and Mr. Polk
IL al
ment 10 free trade has lis hot and lis cold fits
When il is convenient 10 his purposes, he is for
free trade; when he his advantage in iavoIing
protection, he is for protection. In 1892. Mr. Clay
made speech III the Senate OF the United States
against free trade and in favor of protection l.
was his policy Ia be, I'll The time, the champion 81
what hc called The American System and the idol
OF those who proted BY il. In 1893 he abandon.
ed protection and the American system aud
brought in the Compromise bill-tle bill which
Mr.. Adams denounced "a an act of ireachery 10
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. freedom in trade
and system Of revenue duties II was his poll
cy at that time to cause himself to be regarded as
the great paciiicator Of the Union, the friendly me-
diaor whose in,elposiion healed the ieud BE-
tween the North and The South
In 1872, he was Tor a revenue Tariff he was
for keeping the promise OF the Compromise Act;
he ,or uiyIng the question Of protection for
ever This was just before MIR Clay resigned
his place in the United States Senate. and he was
thinking OF conciliaing the support OF the South
In 1912, he went back 10 the doctrine Of proiec-
ton, and commended the Tariff Of 1872 which
violated the bargain of the Compromise act, and
re-intro!uccd protection. He was then looking 10
obtain the votes Of his old friends, the manuiactu-
rcrs III the North
On the other hand, whether Mr.. Folks views
of commercial legislation be- right or wrong,
they are consistent and honest He is ~. free
trade man to-day and proec;ionist tomorrow,
as the wind may happen TO BLOWOUT the steady
and sincere friend OF just and permanent system
oil moderate and equal duties.
~ Y. Ere. Post.
The Wings make themselves Factions because
the Democrats have nominated man for Prcsi-
don't who was baatcn for Governor in his o,yD