The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-21
TIE PRESIDENT AND REVENUE


TIE PRESIDENT AND REVENUE
REFORM
II the President ever had any doubts as to
the real character of those free traders who
are endeavoring to force their pernicious
ideas upon the country by calling themselves
revenue reformers, their action in the re-
cent election has had the effect of relieving
him of those doubts, and he is now unequi-
vocally and unreservedly outspoken 10 favor
of policy directly antagonistic to theirs
In fact the President has very recently COM
municated his views upon this subject to pro-
minent Republicans who have called upon
him, and it may be considered certain that
he has adopted policy that will recognize
in the fullest extent the requirements of the
industrial interests of the community-a
policy that is based upon the firm
belief that free trade is antago-
nistic to the welfare of the great
agricultural districts of the West, as we'll as
to the development of the mines and manu-
features of the Atlantic States. He has ex-
pressed well-informed opinions with regard
to the condition of industries in such States
as Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, and
he clearly understands that free trade means
that the loom, the spindle, the forge, the fur
nace and the workshop shall remain idle;
that the coal and the iron of the States named
shall, under free trade revenue REFORM be
permitted to remain on deposit, while New
York city will alone be aggrandized by the
use of foreign capital employed in forcing the
productions of the Old World upon the agri-
cultural communities of the South and West.
l,a fntt Of
administration will depend, in a very great
measure, upon the clearness with which he
understands what measures of revenue re-
form are really required by the industrial
interests of the country, and by the frmness
with which he adheres TO line of policy that
will grant those industries the protection and
fostering care of the Federal Government.
Not merely the success of the administration
but the future of the Republican party will
largely depend upon this; and here in Penn
sylyania, the stronghold of the coal and iron
interests, the President in the future may
look for cordial support if he
advocates practical measures to promote
those interests not otherwise. The old
issues raised 10y slavery and the Rebellion are
fast passing away, and the industries of the
natien are demanding that they shall receive
the attention they deserve from tho statesmen
of the country, and that they shall no longer
be kept i'll the background by controversies
about the mental aud physical characteristics
of the everlasting niger. The free-traders
are putting forth all their strength to accom-
plish the overthrow of the only system that
will enable the American workmen to COM
pete with those Of Europe, even at starvation
wages; and it is time that the true revenue
reformers had taken issue with their antago-
nists upon platform that will appeal to the
sympathies OF every man who has to labor to
find bread, clothing, and shelter for
himself. his wife and his little ones. The
indications are that the President will, in his
next message to Congress, take strong
grounds in favor of such protective policy
as the country needs, and if he does this he
may be sure of winning for his administra-
ton aud the Republican party the support OF
thousands in this State who now look with
spathy upon both, and who are ready to at
tach themselves to any political organization
that will seek to protect the industries upon
which the welfare and prosperity of Pennsyl
yaI1iG acpeld.