The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-13
Tho Tariff Question.

vep,ion OF July next. IL will be for thai
body 70 lay down platform upon which
the Democratic party OF this State is t'
stand next fall. There is an absolute ne
ccssity, therefore, for prudence, forbear
ance. and the exercise Of wise Judgment
We have a party TO fight whose leaders in
1880 supported General HANCOCK for Presi
dent OF the United States. and claimed tc
be the Conservative party OF Virginia boti
in numbers and principles; but me same
leaders arc now mastering the forces Thai
supported GARFIELD in 1850.
VIVA, shall be the issues OF 1882 Shall
we elect Legislature pledged to rcpeal the
RlppIrBERGER bfls BY no means. Tho
Supreme Court CT TIE United states ha'
settled all questions connected with oul
nublic debt. Shall we divide upon Tho
question OF protective tariff! Shall We
rule out Mr.. RANDALL, Mr.. GEORGE H.
WISE. Mr.. WILSON, Mr.. SNYDER, Senator
JOE Brown. Mr. HOPKINS, Mr.. DAVIS, and
Mr. CAMDEN. Of West Virginia, Mr.. NooR
HE'S. OF Indiana, aud all other such COCO
and true Democrats, because they believe
that i'm raising by tariff three hundred
millions OF dollars for the support OF the
Federal Government, Congress ought tc
see 10 IL that our manufactures receive that
incidental protection which VIII enaple
American goods TO compete successfully
with those from foreign lands!
about among themselves! What can be
the question concerning tariff that must
produce three hundred millions year-we
repeat, what can be the question important
cnough to Justify the Democrats IN ruling
out of their party the men who favor
tariff incidentally protective to American
industriesy
Is there anybody in favor of prohibito-
nv foriTy Surely not. That assumption Is
disproyed by the fact that so large sum OF
money is to lie annually raised. We all
know that prohibitory tariff produces no
revenue. Well, what next ! Is there anybo-
div i'm favor OF discriminating against Anne
rican industries? Nobody at all. We are
all agreed that il would never do to adopt
n policy of that sort. Is there anybody in
favor of levying all the customs-dutles
upon coffee. tea, French brandies, wines,
md other articles not produced IN Tins
country? Nobody. What remains! No
thing but a tariff so framed as TO raise an
nualv three hundred millions OF dollars
upon articles produced in the United
States. Now, ii that immense sum Is TO
be raised every year upon articles i'm
ported into This country but which ar
ticles are also produced here, where
is there anything to quarrel aDout
Isn't that protection enough to satisfy
the most ultra protectionist: There are
and can be no free traders. Their doctrine
is ruled out by the fact that revenue must
be bad.
But il is a dangerous question. We
have named some of the best OF Democrats
who are avOwedly for protective tariff.
What is now West Virginia in ante-belum
times was the stronghold of the Demo-
cratic party OF Virginia. Now, listen to
her leading Democratic journal. The
Wheeling register says:
elf there is one point in which this is
brought out more prominently than an
other i'm the present Third district cam
paign it is in the attitude OF the two par
ties upon the tariff question. The Third
district, like the First, and as all other dis
tricts of West Virginia are soon destined
TO be, finds that its growing industries, its
great mines and manufactures, are in great
need of the fostering and protecting care
of iudicious tariff. The Democratic can
didaie, Captain snyder, recognizes and APP
preciates the importance OF this matter TO
his people. and plants himself squarely on
a tariff platform that will protect the in
terests OF his section"
Hon. HENRY ;. WALKER, once leading
candidate for United States senator. and
long a prominent West Virginia Democrat.
tells why he supports for Congress Captain
SNYDER, who is the Democratic nominee TO
iii the vacancy caused by the election OF
Mr.. KENNA to the United States Senate.
Mr.. WALKER writes
"Had the Convention nominated man whose
election could have put in peril the future Of our
district involved In the tariff question: then IN
might have been arrayed against MN. Tor years
we have given 10 the world the facts, the hgures,
the statistics, and the maps 10 verify our cam 10
the possession Of valuable resources in Iron.
coal. salt, and timber. Upon these, and
especially upon our coal and timber, depend
our present prosperity and our future growth.
The timher regions drained 10y the Greenbrer. Elk.
Big sandy, a. al. aud Guyaudotte rivers would al
be iniurioasy Affected by free trade In Canadian
lumber. The coking coats of the tiauley. New
River, and Fiat-TCp regions, the ores Of Pocsbon-
ias, Groenbrier, and Monroe, and the gas and
sieam-coals of our own kanawha, would lose their
value with the admission OF foreign and fuels
duty free. The people identified with these great
Interests fully understand this danger.
"But few days ago the frst shipment of coal
over the New-Rivcr division of The Norfolk and
Western railroad was made iiom the border of
Mercer county TO the board 1t was AN event IN the
history Of the Nirginas deemed worthy 10 be re-
joiced at home and cabled abroad. IL
marked another step in the material and pOiti-
cal progress of the South. When the people
of the venerable city OF Norfolk assembled
in multitude, and hailed the arrival of thar cargo
with shouts Of prate and salyos Of artillery, IL in
dlcatci how rcsOlutely, under the leadership Of
her young and progressive men, OF whom Phil.
snyder Is splendid type the South Is turning her
back upon all policies and cutting loose from all
traditions that would forever bar her wealth
within its mountain beus.
1.-THE great interest Of West Virginia
need the fostering care OF intelligent protection.
From a fun knowledge of his sentiments and con-
victons, aud of his ability 10 make himself heard
and felt have the utmost confidence that these
terests Will be faithfully cared Tor Al Captain
Snyders hands"
How does Virginia respond? We have
heretofore quoted other papers. Here Is
what the Scottsvile Courier says:
This vexed question is the rock upon which the
National Democratic party may split in The presi
dental contest next year.
Iii appears To us that the proper thing for the
De,noci-scy 10 do Is TO let the tariff severely alone
repcal the nternai-revenue system. and, If neces.
sary. devise an excise system by which proper
tax on whiskey may be collected without he in.
teryention OF an army of spies, iniormers, anC
political strikers.
The Harrisonburg Old Commonwealth
published in the heart OF the old Tent