The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1881-12-03
FREE TRADE VS.. PROTECTION.

ana Dfllllaui USHI iOI iCC u duC
I made by such democratic leaders as
MIR. Watterson and such democratic
papers as the Courier Journal. ga
tariff fer revenue only" is the Cou-
rier-Jour lal's standing text, and the
sermons preached thereon are never
dull or illogical. And coming nearer
home, we find another ardent oppo-
nent of the protection policy in the
Galveston News-opposition no less
vigorous and forcible than that of
Mr.. Watterson's paper. "Free trade
is a popular idea in the south, and
notably so in Texas, where agricul-
ture is the chief industry. But, how
ever popular the idea may be, the
COurier-JOurnal and the News need
not wonder if many southern demo-
Gratis are beginning to entertain
doubts as to the possibility of the
democratic party making national
| headway so long as it goes before
The country with such pronounced
free trade principles as Mr. Watterson
is credited with having Incorporated
in he national platform last year.
Men weary of taking part in forlorD
hopes and making futile assaults
year after year. The republican
party Is unit for protection. What
ever mental reservations individual
members of that party may enter
tain they do not express them at the
hallot-box. The party marches its
iegions 10 the polls in Minnesota
Kansas, Iowa and other western
states-states that presumably ought
to he fer free trade as against pro
tection-with as much confidence
and success as III Rhode Island,
! Pennsylvania or Massachusetts
Note the case with the democratic
party: Declaring for free trade and a
tariff for revenue only, the southern
democrats come right to the front
and back the platform with their
votes. But in the east il is different |
There the democrats appear to be as
thoroughly protectionists as are
republicans. General Hancock, an
eastern democrat, openly rerudiated
the anti-proteclion plank in the ma
tional platform. Let measures be |
proposed in congress looking to a re-
vision of the tariff, so as to lessen
protection, and straightway the
eastern democratic members appear
in the role of ObstructiOnists rather
than helpers. 1t is this variance OF
sentiment OH a cardinal principle
thatle only disgusis but disccurlgcs
the southern democrats. The won
der how We are ever going to get a
tariff for revenue only" as long as
the whole republican party and 3
very large portion OF the democratic
party is opposed TO such a principle.
And another important factor IN the
solution of the problem Is the chang
ing condition Of affairs right here in
the south. In every southern stale
men with money are investing it in
manufacturing machinery. Here
and there cotton and wooden mills
are beginning 10 dot the southern
soil. We find, without an ex-
ception, that whatever the
sentiments of these men in the
past, they are protectionists now.
Every man in Texas who owns
herd OF sheep is q protectionist. He
doesn't care cent for the interest of J
The eastern manufacturers but meas
urably he is "in the same boat 8,
with them and he wants protection
so he swallows the protective {
tariff whole. In hall decade more
there will be all immense amount of :
capital operating southern manufac- !
tories. This capital will not sit idly t
by and see itself assaulted by south
ern votes. 1t Will use lis strength. +
N self-defense, as capital does the |
world over. We endeayor to lock
At ;he situation, not as we would like !
o see it, Dut az it actually exists. In d
common with other democrats we !
Tant to see tariff revision, in the :
interest OF agriculture. The logic l
If events, however, impels The con
;lusion that the democratic party b
Will either have 10 change the views. .
lot alone Of great many republi- .
ans bat also of a great many dem
)cratS, or il must abate the measure
)t its demands and meet the pro-
.eciionists on something like half $
way ground. Otherwise it must |
Expect to see the republican party |
the asccndancy in national F
matters for wears 10 ccme. S
--------- NJ