Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-07-24

RICHMOND, VA.
Thursday Morning, July %. 1916.

The Wings denouncc the proposed Tariff as a
"Britsh" measure-as sacrltlce OF our lndePend-
ence TO foreign interests and avarice. Though, on
the eve OF The passage Of the Tariff OF 1912, Sc
veral of its now warmest Wing supporters ex-
posed its many unjust provisions, and looked for
ward 10 its speedy modification, they nave now
become uncommony "paNiotlc," ard clamor
loudly about "vassaage" 10 Great Britain, be-
cause Inc Democratic Party propose to reform n
system acknowledged BY the Wing leaders 10 be
full ci errcrs. MIR. Webster IS one oil The most
prominent opponents Of any change oi the bill
OF 1912. When the news arrived that The peo-
pile of Great Britain looked with interest 10 The
progress Of liberal commercial principles on this
side the Atlantic, MIR. w. raised his hands in
holy horror, and protested against the dissraceful
subservicnce 10 British interests exhibited by the
friends of Taft reform. He most trasically
contras,ed lie anxiety in England for reduction
of our T.rif, with The Jealous petitions Tor The
preservation II high duties sen; in from manu-
featuring PENNSYLVANIA ard New England
En- has Mr. Webster himself always been so
7-alous an advocate Of American interests, in
opposition to British Influence? MOI more than
iirec years ago, on the Goth May, 1913, when the
present Tariff was in full operation, Mr.. W.
made speech in Faneuil Hail. in which he took
ground, utterly Inconsistent with his present mar
row views. He saw that the swelling power of
The grain-srowing region Of the West would de-
mand more liberal policy 10 open 10 her inn
mense products the markets Of Great Britain.
lie then proposed to effec, il By reciprocal COM
mercial treaties and referred to "Hc admission
into England FIR consumption al iacsr rats Of
Giliy If sercral Of on- large agricultural pTodnctS
as an arrangement favorable 10 our great agricu-
iura Interests but an agreement which must, ol
course, be founded on adequate consideration.
And he added that 'undoutte4iy lie anlg induce
mani ,rc could hoid om 10 England, u0Emtc ma
di6cotion Of Tic IarG.'"-"I do know that By
making the Tariff stable and firm, we shall rem.
der il healihful and judiciors II, ~ any great
operation that should unite the interests and OPT
Mons OF all paris Of the country, We can place
The protection o! American industry and Ameri-
can labor on permanent foundation, that IS a
more important consideration than ne degree 10
!, ''-i protection m'0g BE- extended. II is change
anc ne apprehension Of change, chinee> iel' and
charges feared, lha, are the bate Il ouf indus.
try. Now | am OF opinion, that il there is an
policy ca pablo Of combining tie Moth and South
and East and West, stamp that viii permanence
for twenty years, and il would te beaer aud better
every year, and the country would be more and
more prosperous"
Here Mr. Webster talks of holding out TO Eng
land inducements" 10 admit our agricultural
produce at lower rates OF duty. England has
just achieved what Mr.. Webster SO anxiousy de-
sired. she has thrown open her markets 10 the
granaries oil The West, and because she LOOKS
with natural interest 10 a modification ol The
Tariff, The Involvement" which Mr. w. proposed
10 hold out IN Qdrance, he Indignantly S?urns her
offer and invs;-hs against the 'easi reduc'''" -
our own high duties, as u blind subscrvicnce 10 4
foreign nation. The views which he expressed
in IS43 were sound al The time OF ullerance. and
have been fully sanctioned ~ subsequent events
Whatever motives urged him 10 advance them
or by whatever arguments he has been induced Il
change his ground what he said in 1913 is based
upon truth ard reason, and cannot lie weakened
by his affected patriotism in lSiG. England has
acted with liberal and wise spirit. The repeat
Of her cofn-laws is destined 10 conier rich bene-
lit. upon our country, il We are willing 10 avail
ourselves Of them. But 10 CO 50, We must also
adopt more liberal Commercial system In TO-
ng 80, while we show simple justice 10 the great
Interests Of the country, we furnish ample 'pro'ec-
ton" 10 The manufacturers. They have always
been The pets OF our Government, and certainly
have grown strong enough upon legislative favofs
no! 10 demand further sacrifice a! The hands OF
every other class.