Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-14
ONLY ORE roL,r1cAL pAKrr.

The abiest statesmen of America have in
sisted that two great political parties in a
republic are essential 10 pure and honest
administration OF the government, for the
reason that they watch each other, the Gins"
for the purpose Of retaining power, and the
"ouls" in the hope of securing power. If
this theory be true the government is in
great peril, as there is now but one great po-
litical party 10 the United States. Since the
last elections the Republicans have been the
most Jealous champions of Democratic
measures-the policies favored by the plat
form of the last National Democratic
Convention and urged by the Demo-
Gratis in the Congress of the United
States. A lew weeks age it seemed
that the sole two issues in the next presiden-
tial contest would be Capitalization and
protective tariff advocated by the Republic
cans, and decentralization and a revenue
tariff supported by the Democrats. But
one by enc the roses fall. The Republicans
have more admiration for the constitu-
ton and less sympathy for a strong CONSOLE
dated government usurping the rights of
the States, and all OF a sudden have
shown a disposition to accept the pol.
icy OF the Democrats on the tariff question.
A. K. Mcclure, editor of the Philadelphia
Times, has long been the advocate of high
protective tariff, but in a double-leaded ed
itorial, published in the Times on Monday
morning last, he says:
revision Of the present tariff is an admitted neces-
asIss do
harmonious, helter-skelter, patchwork tariff poll
cy. 1t made under the severe pressure of civil
nifty to secure notifications which would be re-
jected in time of peace without consideration. In
addition to the special legislation on the subject
in favor of particular interests the business and
the progress of the country have made portions of
oppressiyely extortionate, and the general reyis
ion of our tariff laws is supreme necessity. Ar
wisely taxed ten tweRty years ago. and duties !
which were moderate decade ago, are oppres- !
sive now. The extravagant duty on quinine re- |
coiled and made it free in the rebound, aud the |
present extravaganza duty on steel has done more |
ihan all the plausible sophistrfes OF free trade |
theorists. TariH revision is an absolute necessity,
be averted The age Of prohi6iOry protective policy
has gone By. The time was when our manu-
measure of protection to enable them TO develop
our home products and diversity our home indus
od Won IN a eSeryng that he
development of our varied sources of wealth, ex-
eept IN the eheapness Of aDor ana ~ is 70 TsqniIe
have been most needed. In all the multiplied In
ventions of the age, and in all the wonderful per-
lection of machinery the United States SURPRISES
the other civilizations of the world, and we are
now largely exporters and sellers Of our hsndi.
From purely pro3fgneGtsfvg eeqSa
Gated half a century ago by Clay, we now need
q tudicious revenue policy to meet our large
in favor of our industries. II we had
no national debt, and no hundred millions year
be more distinctiTely that OF protese
ton; but the present generation, with its debt a
need revenue tariff with fair discrimination in
avor of protection. We have progressed until
purpose OF our revenue laws, and we must ad-
vance our tariff policy with the memorable adj
OF our Industries and trade.
This is fine Democratic talk, and coming
from the advocate of high protection tariff
and emanating from paper published in
Pennsy lvanis, State which has always
been an avowed advocate for prohib itory
protection, is of more than ordinary sigui6-
wen embraced the policy of the Democrats
IN the tariff question and given another
ribHte to the wisdom of the Democratic
'arty. The position ken by the Times is
correct. Our industrie, are infant industries
10 longer. We deny the right of the gov
rnment at any time and for any purpose 10
oster one branch of industry at the expense
4 another. But if there ever was reason for
a policy so unjust and con-
rary TO the principles OF equal rights 10 all, ,
xclusive privileges to none, the basis of .
rue Democratic government, that reason no
onger exists. Our manufacturing Industries s
re well established and able to compete
nth the world. If it was ever right, which
re deny, to protect them, at the expense of
ne great consuming masses, the time has
ertainly come when the people should no
niger be taxed TO enrich the capitalists en- l
aged in manufactures. The war tariff is
Oomed, and the tariff of the Democratic 9
arty ia TO take its place. Even in Pennsyl. {
ania the. people begin to see that it is not s
lat or fair that the manufacturer should be !
rejected by duties on merchandise, while f
lie laborer is exposed to competition, not /
nly of free imported labor, but also the t
-eat competition of machinery, which >
Ie manufacturer avails himself of q
crowd down the price of labor a
the lowest possible point, while he
protected at the expense of the rest :,
the community. In other words, the a
st of The community, and even the 8
borers, are taxed in the shape of higher v
ices in what they consume in order to in
ease the profits Of the manufacturer. The
ch nabobs engaged in manufactures have o
ng been sucking the Gfe blood of the pto. g
e, and the policy Of the Democratic party .
the tariff question has been accepted, and Il
objection will soon be ''buried in the tomb C,
absolete ideas" W