National Republican., 1880-10-21
.,wH.r WILL s,yr PnorrorIoNq"


The Philadelphia Times asks this impor-
tant question, and then undertakes to an
swer it with sophistry of reasoning and
disregard of logic which seem to be its
peculiar forte when it attempts to discuss
questions of great public Concernmcnt.
That we may not be charged with misrepre-
senlation, we copy from its own language
as follows:
Tho tariff panic which has just swept the
manufacturing centres, If 1t achieves Its logi'
cal purpose, will in the early future, perhaps
in single year, inevitably lead TO the dstruc-
tion Of our entire protective system. As at
present constituted the parties are divided
upon this question, which is ono Of ocouo-
mics and has not been actively agitated. Let
the business men force the democratic party
as whole into free-trado position and beat
it there this fall, and it is certain that that
party cannot hope to fight n winning battle
hereafter on a tariff basis Tho party will
be obliged, unless 1t is to go to pieces instantly,
to look around for some alliance which will
enable it to breast the tide. The logical course
will be to strike hands with the free-tradc re-
publicans large proportion of the republic
can representatives in congress are opposed TO
a protective tarii, and the new combination
will sweep the country like an avalanche over
any presidential veto.
The fallacy of the statement that "a
large proportion of the republican represent
atives in congress are opposed to protec
tive tariff" is easily shown by an appeal
to history. The latest test vote on that
question occ urred in the house of repre-
sentatives on the 9Th of June, 1878, on a
motion to strike out the enacting clause oil
Mr.. WOODS tariff bill which resulted in a
vote Of 134 ayes and 100 nays. Of the 13i
ayes 115 were republicans and only nine
teen democrats. OF the 100 nays 113
were democrats and only seven repub-
lcans. So it appears from the record
that only seven of the 122 republicans
voting were found with leaning toward
free trade. On the 1st of December. 1877,
Mr.. MILLS, q democrat, offered n resolution
instructing the committee of ways and
means to so revise the tariff as TO make
it purely and solely tariff for revenue
II is notable that this is precisely in accord
with the tariff plank of the democratic
platform in 1880. Now let MS look after
the fate of that resolution The vote stood
81 ayes and 76 nays. OF fle 67 ayes ca
were democratic and only were republi-
can. OF the 76 nays 81 were republican
and only IL democratic.
These bare facts CLEANED from the record
of history show the utter fallacy of the as
sumption of the Times that ~ large proper.
ton of the republican representatives in
congress are opposed to protective tariff
We leave the Times to reconcile this state
ment with the facts as recorded in his.
tory.
1t is by such sophistry and perverson o
recorded fact that the democrats hope t.
dclude the manufacturers and labo rers o.
the United States, but it Will flil of it'
purpose, though the attitude assumed by
ance between the free-trade democr ats ami
free-trade republicans will sweep the cOun
try like an avalanche over any presidential
veto" Our cotemporary is q very indifler
ent observer if it does not know that thu
dominating sentiment of the manulactur
ing and laboring classes of the American
people is largely in favor of a tariff for pro
lection. We do not desire better issu
than that between protection of American
industries and free-trade policy whicl
would prove death blow to them. Thi
is M issue which the labOring classes begil
to understand to a degree that they Sc
nothing but disaster to their own interest
should "a tariff for revenue only" or out
right free trade, prevail as our natiOna
policy.