The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-16
Sichmond 4ispatth.
SUNDAY. DECEMBER 10, 1888.
Why Not Z?

We have for some time been Of the opin'
ION that the Democrats Of Virginia could
not afford to divide into protection fac
ton and frcc-tradc faction. We have re-
yarded the Lynchburg tarif-resoiuiion as
a fair compromise between the advocates
of the one and the other theory. We give
this morning some extracts from ON
Democratic exchanges that viii, we would
fsin hope, serve to enforce the view which
we have presented. We are glad 10 bt
able 10 quote on the same question thai
sterling commercial paper the New Yorh
Journal of Commerce, which. by the way
Ia also soundly Democratic. After allu
ding to the fact that Mr.. CONVERSE, lead
ing Ohio congressman, and one who. like
GEORGE u. WISE. Of Virginia, represents
the capital city OF his State, had offered {
bill 10 restore the duty on wool which The
last Congress removed, the Journal o.
Commerce adds:
..The Ohio wool-groweTs. who lead OF
in the campaign for restoration OF the old
duties, are fortunate In having reason tC
expect the almost united support OF the
Democratic congressman OF their Statc--al
but ore Of whom are reported ready tC
stand by the Converse bin TO the last. u
this statement Is true it only shows on0'
more how completely Tariff Reform and
Protection have ceased TO be the raIlyinG
cries Of parties. There Is no ground foI
surprising that there will be any closer
agreement between the chiefs or the rank
and Tile OF either Of the two parties on the
tariff issue during the present session than
at The last one. This fact promises well
for the Gnal settlement OF the distracting
questions involved. They are questions
which should be removed as far a. possible
from the contentious OF politics. and deter
mined by the cold, clear light OF reason
alone"
Why not. Why should it be party
question: Indeed, IL cannot be unless 1t
is made the sole issue between the parties.
The anti-protectlon Republicans will not
vote on that issue so long as there are di-
viding the two great parties other issues
which they deem more important. SO with
the Democrats who advocate incidental
protection-they are not going to vote on
this question so long as there are other
more important issues dividing the two
parties. The Democrats in Virginia have
learned by actual experience that side
issue may he caused 10 grow into the lead
ing issue. The State debt was that issue.
There were two opinions in the Democratic
party on this question. Instead Of toiera-
ting these two opinions, and dividing upon
other issues. the Democratic leaders made
the MCCtILOCH bill a test question, and
were defeated as Il consequence. Let us
not make the question Of protection the
test of party fidelity. and bring upon our
selves another defeat.
VIII it be said that there is no danger of
repeating the blunder OF 1879? We dOu't
know that. We constantly see in our Viz
gnia exchanges intimations that the Demo-
Gratis who do not agree with them in their
views on the tariff question are not Demo
Gratis at all, though there are well known to
be several thousand such in this city alone,
and though, TO speak modeStly, there are
supposed to be at least enough in every
congressional district to hold the balance
of power as between the parties All, but
we don't mean TO drive them out OF the
Democratic party. You don't: Yet you
say by your words that their proper place
is in the Republican party. Ali you who
say so forget that there are 12S.000 voters
in Virginia who have on the tariff question,
or any other question, no opinion which
they will not sacrifice in order TO insure the
success OF the Republican party.
But we have wandered away from our
subject. We intended only TO second tie
motion of the journal Of Commerce that a
better tariff can be made if both parties
will agree TO discuss il as pOlitico-economi-
cal question than can be expected to re-
suit from making II party question. The
questions involved, says our New York
contemporary. &" should be removed as far
as possible from the contentious Of poll
tics" Why not? we ask again. IA the
journal well remarks. " When the farm
er's chief product is wool he then becomes
a protectionist rs eXacting as any manu-.
facturer," and 50 a. to sugar, sumac, zinc,
&C., &c. Even manufactured tobacco Is
faxed fifty cents pound in order TO keel
out tobacco manufactured in foreign coun-
tries, and which could be sold here more
cheaply than tobacco which pays eight
cents Q pound to the United States Gov.
eminent. Let us, then. look at the matter
in the cold, clear light of reason alone, y
and not as a mere party shibboleth. Why
not