The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-19
The Next president-The Issue.

The Next President-The Issue.
Hon. THOMAS A. HENDRICKS, Of Indiana,
who was the Democratic nominee for Vice
President OF the United States In the year
1870. and who has ever since been consid-
cred A prominent aspirant TO the first office
in the republic. has been interviewed by
New York reporter. lie said he wasn't
candidate for President. Further, he said
..There ia no doubt that the question OF
tariff will enter. but do not think II will
he n very important issue. In Indiana
majority Of the people hold that we should
have tariff for revenue, with due regard
TO the interests OF the manufacturers. Ihe
question depends greatly on how the IN
forests of the country are affected by the
new act. should il be found to be bench
cial il would 20 far towards settling tne
question, and IL is not probable that, III
that case. the tariff question would enter
into the campaign issues or be discussed I'D
the next Congress-
as no, the Democratic party greatly
divided on the tariii!'
"The leaders appear to be much more
divided on that subject than they really
are"
"Is there not large free-trade clement
in the pariy!'
..Somc Of the leaders are termed free
traders. but so far as | can learn there Is
not one among them who Is in lavor OF an
soIutcIy abolishing duties and collecting
by direct taxation ] do not think there
will be 80 much difference OF OPINION
among Democrats as has been supposed.
The tariG is = question OF business. 1
know Of no Democrat who advocates u
total abolition OF revenue duties. mere
has 10 be great deal OF Judgment eNer-
cised I'm the arrangement OF taNatioh Oh
different articles
"What. in general terms, then, is The
position II The Democracy on the tariff"
"That l. a broad question. can only
saw this in reply: Taxation for protection
is moi going to be received by the Demo
cratic party
Now. the reader will at once see that
when reduced 10 its plainest terms what
Mr.. HENDRICKS says is just what NJ. RAN
DALI says; yet Mr.. RANDALL is called q
Democratic Protectionist, whilst Mr.. HEN
bricks is an orthodox Democrat OF the
tarif-for-reyenue persuasion. eve leave
out the word "only.") But there is not
the shadow OF a shade OF difference be-
tween the creeds of the two men as they
formulate the same themselves. Mr.. RAN
DALI even doubts the power OF Congress
to make tariff for protection only-that
is, tariff OF prohibitory duties. lie
claims. in Mr.. HEyDMcKs's words. that
Congress in passing taIlh law snail
have due regard to the interests oil
the manufacturers" III Mr.. RANDALL
and Mr.. HENDRICKS, two OF the foremost
leaders of the two divisions OF the Demo-
cratic party, can thus agree upon plat
form, why should the Democrats OF Nir-
einia be asked to divide upon the tariii
question: There is no occasion whatever
for discussions amongst us. When a
Democratic leader says that he would IN
LAYING customs-duties have due regard
for vested interests, and not allow manuiac-
t,lrers who have invested their money upon
the faith OF the existing tariff to be ruined
by q new law, he admits that non-protec-
ton might ruin such manufacturers, and
that it is better to protect them than TO
leave them unprotected. We do not doubt
that Mr.. RANDALL and Mr.. TUCKER could
frame a better tariff than this country has
ever had. Let them do it, and run upon
the strength Of it for President and Vice
President OF the United States.
We desire the Democrats OF Virginia TO
see for themselves that they are not called
upon to advocate either prohibitory tarllI,
that is one framed for the mere sake OF
protection, nor tariff framed "fOr reve-
nue. only " without Ito use Mr.. HENDRICKs's
words) "a due regard to the interests OF
the manufacturers" Our Augusta county
friend who wants wool, iron, &C., &c, pro-
tected, and our other Augusta county
friend who wants James river opened,
could both agree upon the same tariff.
"Let Ills have peace"