The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-09-30
THE GALVESTON NEWS SHOWS UP FIN
LAYS DOUBLE-DEALING ON
THE TARIFF QUESTION.

The Galveston News of the 26th inst, de-
votes leader to show up MIR. Finlay's incon
sistency and double-dealing upon the tariff
question. Abiding to Finlay's claim to stand
alongside of Voorhees,, Senator Brown, OF
Georgia, Bayard, Randall and Reagan, it
says:
George P. Finlay is somewhat unfortunate,
hover, when he states that he is for maintain
ing the present duty on wool, with incidental
protection, and couples this statement with the
further statement that he is with Senator Bay
ard, among other democrats of distinction, on
the subject of the tariff. In an elaborate
speech made in the senate last July, on the tax
question, Senator Bayard denounced the pres
ent tariff as systematic and unconstitutional
pervision of the taxing power, pervision
based on the dangerous doctrine that the tax
ing power can be used by any who may get
control of the legislative machinery of the
country, for class or special benefits, or for
other purposes than public ends and the uses
Of the government; and in the same speech he
referred to the duties on wool and wooden
fabrics as one particularly odious feature
which illustrated the mischievous working of
the present tariff. He said:
There is one little illustration of the practi-
cal working of this tariff that want to lay be-
fore the senate. have in my hands letter
written to me last December by very intelli-
gent, upright man, who is manufacturer.
He has gone through every stage of manufac-
ture, from being mill-hand to being mill
owner, and to-day carries on wooden mills
with success in Delaware. He spent last SUM
mer in England, and he writes me, sending
me specimen of the cloth he refers to, as fol-
lows:
"Our present tariff on wool and its substi-
tutes is an outrage upon the consumers Of
wooden goods Of America"
The News continues its comments:
1t is evident that Senator Bayard regards
wool and wooden fabrics as among "articles
of prime necessity" all of which Hon. George
P. Finlay contends, "should be admitted
free" The Senator clearly implies that he is
for abating the present duty on wool and
wooden fabrics as ian outrage on the consum-
ers of wooden goods in America"
And after quoting other tariff authority the
News adds in its peculiar vein of irony:
To avoid the inference that Hon. George
P. Finlay can not be with Senator Bayard on
the subject OF the tariff, and also be in favor
of maintaining the present duty on wool, with
its incidental protection, is q painful task,
which it would be cruel to impose even upon
a mind endowed as highly with athletic pow
ers of orthodoxy as that Of Chairman Clai-
borne, of the state democratic executive COM
mittee.
The News illustrates the Finlay class Of
tariff politicians in the following way:
politicians who advocate tariff studiously
adjusted to the protection of special and speci-
fed interests, such as wool and wooden fabrics
or iron and iron fabrics, and claim at the same
time to stand squarely on the democratic plat
form principle of opposition to a protective
and Of demand for tariff for revenue only,
attempt feat in intellectual gymnastics
which nothing short Of miracle could &C.
complish.