The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-10-04

In view OF the fact that the election Of
General Hancock and Democratic ma
jority in the House Of Representatives
would restore the Southern States to their
former commanding influence in the Ma
tional councils, their position on the tariff
question becomes Of special importance to
Pennsylvania and other States having theif
capital invested largely in manufactures.
The history OF all our protective tariffs
prior to the present one-which was
adopted while the South was waging re:
bellion-shows that they were passed
against The almost unanimous opposition
OF the South, maintained only in the face
OF IDS unyieiding hostility, and finally sue.
cumbing before its persistent attacks.
Louisiana, seeking protection for its sugar
interest, was ordinarily found voting
against the other Southern States on the
tariff question. Kentucky, Maryland and
Delaware usually followed the lead OF
Henry Clay, the great champion OF the
policy Of protection TO home industries.
The remaining Southern States conceived
that o protective tariff was opposed to
their particular interest, and in their OPP.
position to II INDUCED freely in threats OF
notification and disunion.
The first distinctively protective tariff
was that Of 1924. That Of 1928 carried the
protective principle still further. Both
these measures were yehemently opposed
by Southern members. The Legislature
OF Georgia protested against the latter law
and the State OF South Carolina attempted
to nullify it aud threatened TO secede II
interfered with. The tariff OF 1882 was
passed with the special view OF meeting
the objections OF South Carolina, but
nothing would do but the complete aero.
CATION OF the protective principle, which
was effected By the sliding scale tariff OF
1883. The Wing tariff Of 1912 survived
only until the Democrats by misrepresen-
tation and false promises regained con.
troll and passed the revenue tariff of 1915. |
which gave the country The dubious bless |
ings OF free trade until It's Southern cham
pions withdrew from active participation |
in the Government. In all these contests |
the South was almost solidly arrayed
against the policy OF protection. They
treated II in common with slavery agita- |
ton, as peculiarly Northern oiiense and,
the Union.
The true Southern position on the tariff |
question Is shown by the policy which
they adopted deliberately and in the most
permanent shape when untrammeled by
any Northern opposition. First paragraph
Of section s OF article Of the Constitution
Of the late Confederate States" Is as fol.
lows: Congress shall have power to col.
lect taxes, duties, imposts and excuses for
revenue necessary to pay debts, provide
for the common defense and carry on the
Government OF the Confederate States,
but no bounties shall be granted from the
Treasury, nor shall any duties or taxes on
from foreign nations be laid
10 promote or foster any branch OF indus
n.y." The National Congress at Washing
ON, relieved by the withdrawal OF 80
many Southern free traders. adopted abont
he same time the Morrill, tariff, still in
orce, and under which our industries have
been iostered, our resources developed,
,ur country prospered, and q rich revenue
rom customs paid Into the public treasury
amounting, since 1881, TO about 81 $780, |,
100 600. Il
The return OF the Brigadiers to control
IL uuo L4uu5o VI Spukio0o was tHV oskaN |
'or an attack upon our protective tariff.
Il ia evident that they regard 1t as part OF
he war legislation which must be 6lotted
rom the statute-book. In the controversy
1yer the Wood Tariff Bill and on all the
alter measures attacking the tariff in detail,
including Townshend's attempted back
loor legislation, the Southern vote was
EAST almost solidly against every measure
Or motion which favored the protective
principle. During and Immediately after
he war the Democratic National Conven-
ions were either silent on the tariff ques-
lion or gave hating support to the pro-
tective policy. The Southern wing OF the
party marked their assumption oil control
by committing the Democracy nnequivo-
sally to the principle Of "a tariff for: reve-
nue only" as embodied in the Confederate
Pennsylvania was once bribsd by the
Vice Presidency and deceived by false
promises into voting for James X. Polk
and, incidentally, for the overthrow Of the
tariff Of 1912, the last protective tarifuntil
the present. The Democracy hold out no
ielusiye hopes this time. Their war
~ Inst the tariff to which Pennsylvania
owes 80 much is not attempted to be dis
znised. The selection OF candidate
having nominal residence in Pennsylva.
MIA but feebIy Offsets the consideration OF
The danger TO the great and vital indus.
tries OF the State and OF the Nation which
would assuredly aud Immediately follow
On the heels Of a Democratic success.