The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-06
The Tariff Question.

The Tariff Question.
We nj one time feared that there might
he In the Lynchburg Convention some
delegates so strenuously opposed to tarin
for protection, even incidental, that they
would insist upon having tariff article oil
faith inserted in the Democratic creed TO
be formulated by that body. But since we
have read the resolutions adopted IN va
rious county meetings, and remarked the
utterances Of the State press upon the
subject, we have, as we have before said,
dismissed our spprehensions.
We do not consider II at all surprising
that the Democrats Of Virginia should be
inclined to subordinate all other issues 10
the one grand object Of defeating the men
who have Nv the aid Of the negro vote IN"
stalled themselves In the ofiices OF TINS
Commonwealth, and who now preach doc
trines which they themselves would have
been among the first TO condemn only Anew
wears ago. The duty OF rescuing Virginia
from the hands Of the Coalitionists and
giving her vote next year to the Democratic
nominee for President OF the United States
Is much more important than any
question concerning tariffs. Not so is the
tariff viewed in all the States. In Ken
tucky, Iowa, and other States, there are
numbers OF persons in both parties who
regard IL as controlling and overriding
Issue. MFR. WATTERsoSes Courier-,joundf
still seems 10 regard the question OF pro-
lection TO American industries as the most
important one before the American peo-
ple. Recently the New York World went
as far in this direction as Mr.. WATTERsoN.
But the new editor Of the World, who has
acted so badly towards the Democrats OF
Virginia on another question, seems to be
oil enc mind with thesh in regard to the
rrlpolicy OF making a fight in Congress
next winter against the existing tariff.
The World says:
The Democrats are not for free trade.
There Is only one Democrat who is Free
trader--that is the gifted but very erratic
Frank Hurd. But there are hundreds OF
thousands OF Democrats who are Protec-
tionists.
A tariff Is a necessity. The Government
costs nearly million day. As long as we
have debt we must have tariff. AS long
as we have any tariff we can have no free
trade.
But even II The Democrats were for free
trade, as they are not, they could not ac-
complish anything.
They have control only OF the next
House Of Representatives. The President
is Republican; the Senate remains Repub-
lican for years. Two OF the three arms OF
the Government are opposed to the Demo-
crazy. The one Democratic arm Is power
less.
There are unquestionably hundreds OF
thousands OF protectionists in the Demo-
cratic ranks. We may not agree with
them, but here they are. Free trade would
drive these protectionist Democrats out OF
their party without gaining any Republic
cans. No free-trade Repubkc lean will de-
sert his organization in presidential cleo
ton. Not one The Republican party is
openly for protection. Grant, Hayes, and
Garfield were all elected by protectionists
as protectionists. The record does not
show single Republican free-trader who
ever deserted his party in presidential
contest.
why snOulu tue Democracy luNltc Vie
seusion in its own ranks for the benefit OF
the enemy? Why should its arm be raised
against its own friends?
When the time comes for wise and final
action on the tariff question the Democracy
will speak with no uncertain voice. 1t
will not disturb the country by fighting
wind-mills. 1t will not CRAFTY the Repub-
licans by making fictitious issues in its own
ranks.
What would the Democracy, what would
the country, what the cause OF free trade
even, gain II the Democratic ProtectiOnists
were driven into the Republican ranks only
to strengthen the party in power, perpetu-
ate its rule. and further benefit the privi-
legged and "protected classes9
That is good advice for the Democrats OF
every State in the Union but douby appro-
pirate for the Democrats OF Virginia. We
would be guilty Of the supremest act OF
folly that ever destroyed party IL we
should drive out OF our ranks the l'rotec-
tionists who are now and have been for the
lastfourteen years Conservative Democrats.
The advice comes from bad source; but
we may learn sometimes even from an
enemy.