The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-17
Tho Tariff Question.

W. ro,es, that we are not responsible
Tor any uneasiness that may exist IN the
minds Of the Democrats as to the possibility
o,asp,it in the Democratic party OF 'r-
,in,o. We ask no Democrat TO adopt our
y,cws on this question. We propose 10
read out Of the party no Democrat. we
are silaply ondcayoring to persuade inc
other side not 10 read us and those WHO
soree with rs out OF the party. whenever
this assurance shall have been given we
shall be ready and willing to drop the sup
,ect. Meanwhile we shall continue to con-
suit our contemporaries OF the Virginia
Democratic press. The Petersburg indeT-
Appeal says;
popuhhcan papers say Democrats are
sdodsins' the tariff question: ln.s -
uonsensc. Congress has not even ihG' !e',
and when Il does meet IL Democrats should
a,tempt revision favorable TO any oul
corporations the Republicans wouio pre-
vent effective action"
wise man it was who when asked how
he was going to act in q remote contingency
renliea that he never crossed bridge be-
fore he got TO Il. The present tGriii-We
mean the one passed last winter-is tAe
worst that was ever known except the last,
we doubt not; but this is no reason why
the Democrats In Congress should ouo
their brains out in trying TO demolish 0
stone fence by the use OF their heads.
For be IL remembered that an unsuccess-
fu, a,,cmpt TO reform the tariff will not
only parolyze many kinds Of industries
whilst the subject is under discussion IN
Congress and undetermined. but VIII SUD-
ject the Democrats TO any and all SORTS Oh
charges as 70 what they had intended to do
and would have done but for the restrain
ing hand Of the President or the Senate
or the Republicans in the House OF hepre-
septatiycs. Let the Democrats take UP the
tari1. and forthwith some crank VIII pro-
pose 10 tax tea and coffee. The motion VIII
be unsuccessful. Of course; but the DEMO
cratic House OF Representatives VIII DC
held responsible for the attempt. Again
Some member will propose to admit free
tobacco, or sumac, or iron or steel rails,
or some other article upon which a
duty ought TO be laid, and though
there may not be twenty votes IN favor OF
the proposition, the weikin VIII ring
throughout the presidential campaign OF
1884 with the charge that il the Democratic
nominee is elected President OF the United
States these articles will all be imported
free forever afterwards. Once more some
member may move to admit sugar duty
free and that member will Of course be
Republican, seeing that he will know that
he can thus embarrass the Democratic
members, who could hardly have the face
10 admit free al article which yields annu-
ally nearly or quite fifty millions OF dol
lars Of revenue without putting fifty
millions more into the hands OF the
men who produce the sugar. Let such
a motion be made, and let the Demo-
Gratis in body vote either for or against
It's adoption, and what will be the result !:
They will lose the vote Of Louisiana for
President next year if they vote AYE"
and will subject themselves to the charge OF
taxing the poor mans sugar ii they vote
"No.v
II does seem TO us that for the Democrats
in Congress thus to bite of their own noses
to spite the Republicans would be worse
than folly. 1t would be one OF TALLY
RAyD's blunders-worSe than crime.