The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-08-10
What Is The Tariff Issue :

protective tariff question has becuus one of pcr.
n'cNlty anu confusion to some of our Democratic
politicians cannot well divine. There is moth
ing new in il. Nothing dangerous to our com.
mercial prosperity in waging war against it,
on the contrary, it is well nigh as old as the
Republic itself. 1t has always been tho distin-
gushing policy of the Democratic party South
TO keep the tariff within reasonable revenue
bounds, and, so far as our commercial prosperity
- concerned, reason and experience both teach
lis that all tariffs for purely protective purposes
amount TO class legislation arc unjust, inioui-
tous and destt uctive to every civilized people
By such Il riffs we have almost closed the
markets OF the world against manufactured
goods. We have subject I'd our laboring classes
to all the evils of periodical stagnauon of trade
We have tos.ered Communism arfayed labor
against capital, the poor against the rich, and
rendered the struggle of man and woman on
this continent Tor bare subsistence as ariuous
as IN the overcrowded countries of the Old
World. We have created moneycl princes
whose acquisitions are Il standing threat to lib
crty, aud have sunk into sordid pcnury millions
whose wrongs and sutfcringS cndanger the fa
brio of society. We have filled the lobbics of
Congress with political pimps, corrupted our
Govcrnment, turned our representatives into
base huckstcrs, and thrust u Stanley Matthews
on the Supreme Bench, to cpualize, as it were
the inttmy of each department.
notwithstanding AL this, some Of our leading
Democratic pOliticiaus-l will not call IN ,,n
''''NNS"Su- " 'tppEOaCn inc tlrlIl question
with fear and trembling. They look upon an
attempt TO cOnine tariff to revenue prrncses
only rs new and revolutionary. and consequently
dangerous to the success the Democracy Do
they know the history OF the country they pro-
cess to lcgislatc for? Are they aware that up to
the year lSlG the tariff was confined solely
of revenue purposes? In that year, and for the
first time in the history Of the Republic, tariff
law was passed, having protection for its object
IL was supported by men from all sections
among others by Mr.. Calhoun. Its uulairncss
and scitishncss were CLOSED over by appeals to
patriotic sympathy for those who in the war of
lSl2 had embarked in manufactures to meet
the wants Of their fellow. citizens during the
suspension OF commercial intercourse with Eu-
rope. 1t was represented as n tenn porary meas
urc. Alas it proved the entry of the Trogan
horse within the citadel of our constitutional
rights and liberties. 1t also proved the apple
of discord which rent once harmonious people
into warning sections. The Act of 1873 was far
from popular in the South and Mr. Calhoun had
good reason to regret that he ha,i aided to
drive in this entering wedgc-as witness his
desperate retrograGc movements against the
tariff law of 1S2S, which eliminated in nullifi.
cation threats and the compromise Of 1898.
The Act Of lSlG was followed by those of 1870
1921 and 1923, each Act more pronounced than
its predecessors i'll I'M ustice to the bulk of the
American people and intensifying by progressive
stages the popular discomfort. One of your
family, Nh. Drayton, of South Carolina, in the
halls ofCongrcss ironically proposed to amend
the title Of the Act of 1898, so that il should
read ".in act 10 increase Tie duties upon ccrtuia
imports for tie purpose Of Increasing lie prcdts Of
certain manufacturers"
The Pro;cctioniSts. however, had got the b,ll
at their feet, and from the fatal Ac, of 1916 to
this day they have kept it rolling in the same
direction, regardless of the tears and sorro of
suffering millions, 1t is true that the doctrine
of tariff for revenue only has hitherto been
peculiarly The distinguishing feature of the
Southern Democracy. and hence, to n consdcra
bic degree, scctona! but n great awakening
has taken place amongst the masses of the North,
who have been taught hy sad experience that
they have been deluded by the phantom of
protection to native industry" to support a
party hostile to the best interest of society and
the welfare of tn human racc-a party utterly
regardless ofall but its own aggrandizement.
There is no other issue worth contcnding for
by the DcmOcracy-all others dwarf into
lnsgntcance beside it. Mcssrs. Dibble and
Tillman, whose pariIiiy for Randall must rank
them as Protcctionists, may say, let us assail
our oppoAcnt, on the weak side. Let us expose
their corrupt practices. II won't do. The
reply will be: You are Just as corrupt as we
are, and little more so. When your chimney
has smoked as long ours it will REQUIRE
sweeping too We admit the foulncss of ours,
hu, we can furnish own chimney sweep.
The Government is safer in our hands than in
N'''S' wv '''S huHSIS anu lcHn, anu IL Will
take great deal of public pap to fattcn you.
We are in good condition, and less will do US"
NO, gentlemen, If von wish TO bring success to
the Democratic blnner you must rise mt least TO
the level of great popular demands and fight
upon an issue which strikes at the very exis-
tancc ofthc Republican party--an issue which
1t cannot straddle or toy within which the
lines of separation arc as clearly defined as that
between the sheep and goats oc final judg mcnt.
Don act like silly virgins casting lots for a
husband, saying at each cast, This year-ncxt
ear-sometimc-ncvcr," but like men with Fl xed
principles and fixed purposes believing in right
and daring at all hazards to do right Mr..
Dibble's position on the tariff question causes
me sg5RriSs Ills Tin" in" G I %v I In,ensey
scopc, and he but follows honestly the teachings
obtained from his contracted range of vision
Mr. Tillman's course however, puzzles me- for
] have always given him credit for breadth Of
intellect, wide scope of political vision and n
manly hardihood in the assertion of his views
almost bordering on recklcssness.
Nom rerrons. ii. NJ. THOMPSON.
THE LOUISVILLE ExrosirIoy. y.-Louisvillc,
august l.-To-day is general holiday, there
being no business done whatever With the
FIRST streak of daylight crowds of people com.
mcnccl pouring into the city frcm every point
OF the compass and trains were doubled up
By clock the main streets were so full that
1T was difficult to pass along the sidewalks. The
President rested well and was ready by IL A. NJ
to take his part in the exercises Of the day,
The Presidential party left the Gait House in
carriages, escorted by body of police and mil
itary organizations, and moved by the most
direct route to the Exposition Their way was
perfect ovation the entire distance. thousands
OF people cheering as the distinguished visitors
passed them. The great main building capable
Of holding 10000 people, was filed completely,
and the crowd was too thick for comfort. Pres.
ident Dupont, Of the Exposition, wcco ned the
President and President Arthur gracefully res.