Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-04-30
MR.. WILMoT AND THE TARIFF.

II.
\ persistent effort is now being made by
the Democratic press, aided 10y such of the
Know Nothing sheets as have pro-savery pro-
clivities, to excite the prejudices Of a portion
of the voters of the State against Mr. VIII
MOT on account of the Tariff question For
this purpose he is denounced by papers which
have always been Free Trade, as hostile to the
interests of Pennsylvania. In proof Of these
allegations, his vote for the Tariff of 1876, is
frequently referred to.
We have no intention to enter into any de-
fence of the vote given at that time for mOd-
fcation of the Tariff of 1872 1t will be
enough for every candid man to know that in
so acting, he expressed the wishes Of his con-
stituency, and acted in accordance with the
convictions of his own Judgment, often express
and well understood by the people who elect
ed him. To have done less, would have been
to prove faithless to his often promulgated
principles, and in defiance Of the views and
wishes Of his constituents
But the charge that he is hostile to the
great interests of Pennsylvania, predicated
upon his action in 84G, is so unjust and un-
true, and so fatty coatradicted by the history
Of the Tariff bill Of that year, that we cannot
allow it to pass by. The, best refutatiOn we
can give TO the cs.lnmny, is contained lu let
ter written by Mr.. WUMoT two years since to
Hon. b. LApoRTE, which gives a full history,
of the part taken by himself and the Pennsyl-
vana delegation in the passage of the Tariff
act, and his anxiety to secure for the interests
of Pennsylvania adequate protection.
Time has since demonstrated the sagacity of
Mr.. WIIMor at that time. If there is any
measure of his public life upon which he can
confidently appeal to the Judgment Of the peo-
pie of this State, it is the very course he took
in 1916 upon the reduction of the Tariff
Public opinion at that time clearly and irresis-
tab!y demanded a modification of some of the
details of the Tariff OF 1912 The Pennsyl-
vania delegation, instead Of presenting the in
ter2sts Of Pennsylvania, as worthy Of Nation
al consideration, saw fit to stand by the Tariff
of 1912, and to resist its modification in the
slightest manner. Nj WIIMoT believed that
law to be unjust and oncrous in many Of its
provisions, and was pledged to its modification,
but at the same time was extremely anxious
that the great interests of Pennsylvania should
be well provided for To effect this, it was
only necessary to cut loose from the lords of
the loom." The Pennsylvania delegation, hon
esty no doubt, refused to let Pennsylvania i'll
tercsts stand upou their own merits. How
has Pennsylvania been rewarded by her peril
nacty in claiming protection for the manu-
facturers of the Fast. Why in spite of the
tariff OF 1916, those very manufacturers, for
which Pennsylvania interests were sacrificed,
have liourshed, and now ask for no legislative
favorS except to buy and sell where they can
to the best advantage During the present
year the tariff has again undergone revision
and the protective principle has had no advo-
Gates III Congress. 1t has been the anxiety of
every section to fix the details of the late law
so as TO effect favorabIy their interests. Mas
sachusetts stands in no fear of foreign compe-
tlon. All she asks is the privilege of procur-
ing the raw material without paying duty
From high protective Tariff she is now al
most literally, free-trade, or at least low
tariff, State. Her capitalists have no Quxot-
ic design OF fayoring high duties on the pro-
tective principle to benefit the iron and coal
interests of Pennsylvania Such legislation as
benefits her capitalists and manufacturers, she
seeks to obtain, and her representatives very
properly vote for, without regard to the effect
it may have upon the interests of Pennsylvania.
If the course recommended by Mr.. WuMor
in lS46 had been pursued, the great interests
of Pennsylvania would now be recognized as
of National Importance, and be beyond the
danger Of political revolutions. The states
manke views expressed in a speech made by
him in the House, on the lst of July, 1916.
will at once arrest the attention of every read
er, The soundness of his position will now be
universally conceded.
But in the great anxiety to retain the tariff
of 1912, other counsels prevailed, and the in
terests of Pennsylvania were linked with those
of minor Importance. The great interests O