The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-24

The Register win Assert. Hat Not Dis
auNh.


The Register declines to discuss the seven
tariff propositions which we presented Tor
its consideration. It declines because 1t
doesn't want to cucumber It's columns with
too much "dry tariff talk" because "the
features Of q protective tariff 80 lar az they
affect or concern the manufacturer are
probably better understood by the manu-
facturer than by either Of us;"-selah! be-
cause "lhere Is only one phase Of the tariff
question that would be profitable or pro-
duc,ive OF good in this locality,
and that is the phase which relates
t. the bearing Of the present tariff
upon the employee phase OF the ques'
ton included in our seven propositions;
be ause the IN1ELILoEScER "lays down
seven different propositions for discussion
without indicating which side Of any one
Of them it will support or assail." 1t is true
that the propositions are ditfsrent-would
our neighbor have taken to them more
kindly II they had been all alike? 1t is
not true that we failed to state which side
we should take.
In its article Of the 18th inst. the Register
planted itself s9uarely and fatty on the
Tree trade side. Nobody needed to be told
that the INrELLIoRScRR is on the other
side. But In our invitation we de-
clared in plain English that, 1.-THE
ISrKLLlGEScER will maintain that" and
then followed the seven propositions, for
INFLATED from the letter and spirit Of the
Regster's article Of the 10Th inst Those
rea lens OF the Register, II there be any,
who are 80 unfortunate as not to see the
INrRLIIdHSCKR are left to believe that
this paper merely wants to set up de.
batting society and is not particular
which side it takes Of q practical economic
question OF first importance. II the Register
had been disposed to give courtesy for
courtesy it would have printed our short
article. II seems TO have preferred to mis-
representa-, after the fashion Of free traders.
But while our neighbor declines 10 en-.
ter largely into any elaboration" Of the
subject, it selects one Of our propositions
aad makes this generous offer: III our
cotsmporary has anything to say on the
negative side Of its fist proposition, that
customs duties are not necessarily taxes
wa will reply to it." The negative side Of
the proposition as stated would be that
customs duties are necessarily taxes. That
is the free traders ground taken in the Regis.
ter's article Of the 10th inst, and We leave
that side OF the proposition for the Register
to defend. The ISrELiIGRScRR Is not a
tres trade newspaper even in the dis
gnise OF "for.revenue-only."
We can not force the Register TO defend
the faith it has proclaimed, to take back its
false assertions, to correct It's misstatement
OF duties, nor to quote honestly an offer
made in good faith by the INrELLiGEScER.
Free trade and lair play are not wont TO go
together, and assertion is much easier than
proof. In fact we are ready to agree with
the Register when it says, I'VE feel incapable
Of presenting any phase Of the tariff ques.
ton that would be Of much profit or add
much to the information Of that class Of
men who have made 1t a practical study"
We accept the confession Of incapacity and
ignorance, which relieves our contemporary
Of the suspicion OF cowardice.
We come now to where our neighbor
tiually "begs od"-"Thc Register has lived
good many years in this community,
and It's views upon almost every phase Of
the tariff question are well understood. 1t
Is not necessary that 1t should make
record" We have no desire to measure
years with our contemporary, in which
contest we should have considerable
start, but how can the Rtgi,ter', views on
u given subject be well understood by the
community when they arc not well under
stood by the Register itself? Certainly
there was no opportunity to come to an
understanding last September when the
Register was lodging all around the hay
stack in the hope OF electing It's candidate
TO Congress by false pretense.
The INrELLlGEScER, under It's new man.
agement," has no special feat to perform.
Every man who reads this paper knows
that 1t stands by American industries as
against all other industries, that 1t takes
the practical and patriotic view Of the
tariff question, that 1t champions the
American policy, under which this country
has made such progress as all history can
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