The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-06
The Tar1f Issue.


who have ever since 1869 voted with the
Democrats OF Virginia demanded OF the
Conscryative-Dcmoc party SIS an or
panization thai II should raise no issue as
between the doctrines formerly advocated
nv the Wings and those formerly advocated
by the Democrats. then our neighbor
would agree with us that the State Demo-
cratic Convention which Is 10 meet in
Lynchburg on the 18th OF July next ought
not 10 declare in favor Of q tariiffor revenue
only.
Let us rehearsc The facts Of the case.
Where are the strongholds OF the Con-
seryatiyc.Dcmocratic party OF Virginia?
In Richmond city, LynchblTg, and the
counties Of Augusta, Loudoun. and Pittsyl-
wanna. Where were the strOngh0lds OF the
Wings Of other days ?-the supporters OF
Mr.. CLAY and his "Amcncan system /!
In those very counties and cities. Is there
any good reason for supposing that the
voters in those counties have changed
their opinions rs Ia The desirahility Of n
protective tariirl The best men--or GER
tainly May Of the best men-in
the present Democratic party OF Viz
ginia were formerly earnest advocates
of a protective tariff. Is there, we repeat,
any good reason for surprising that these
men have adopted new creed; Have the
old Wings of Richmond become converts
to the doctrine that a tariff for protection
Is wrong? No doubt some Of them have.
On the other hand some OF the old Demo-
Gratis here have also changed sides and now
advocate protective tariff. We hear that
there is in Richmond one organization OF q
thousand white men-nearly all OF them
un1inching Democrats, who are in favor
- OF protective tariff. In fact, we suppose
there can be no good reason for assuming
that the majority OF the voters OF this city
do not now entertain on this subject the
same opinions which that majority always
held when il was a question dividing her
people into two parties. But il even one
third or one fourth or one tenth OF the Con-
servative-Democratic voters OF Virginia are
conscientiously in favor Of tariff for pro-
lection, the seryatye-DemOcratic or
ganization of Virginia ought TO keep faith
with them. They united with us on an en-
tirely different issue. II will not avail to
charge them with ignorance, and with mis-
understanding their own interests. They
can never thus be convinced.
"Put yourself IN his place." How
would it do for the old Wings in Rich
mond to declare that the Conservative
patty must come out in favor OF a prOtec-
tive tariff, or lose their support? For our
part, we cannot understand why the old
Wings have not as much right to make this
demand as the old Democrats to make the
correlatiye demand.
But would it be wise to fight on this
issue even il the Conscrvative-Democra
of Virginia were all opposed TO tariff for
protection! The next United States Sen
ate will be more strongly Republican than
the last one was. The votes on The tariff
bill passed at the last session show clearly
that no one could reasonably expect that
body to pass any other than protective
tariff. More: If bill framing a revenue
tariff could be got through the Senate, the
President Of the United States would sure
ly veto it.
Why, then, should the Democrats waste
ton! Mr.. SPRINGER, Mr.. CARLISLE, and
Mr.. BLACKBURN are all candidates for
Speaker Of the next House Of Representa-
tives. They would like to defeat NJ. RAN
DALI on the ground that he is an advocate
OF a protective tariff. But Mr.. RANDALL
holds the same opinions he did when for
six years he was the Democratic Speaker OF
that same house. lie holds the same opin-
ions he did when in that same house he
battled for iorty-eight hours without sleep
against the force bill with which the Radi-
Gals were attempting to bind the South.
All, how grandly he led our leaders, and
how grateful to him we all felt, at that
time.
Once more: The Virginia people wish to
get rid OF the entire inteTnal-revenue sys-
TEN. When that is abolished, the Govern
ment Will be compelled to raise annually so
many hundreds OF millions Of dollars by
means Of a tariff that there can lie but little
difference between the two parties Is to the
percentage unless indeed the Democrats
are expected to undertake to tax heavily
coffee, tea, sugar, De. This last we do not
expect. There will not be a dozen Demo-
Gratis in the next Congress, we suppose,
who would vote for such a proposition.
Then the revenues must be raised from
articles produced in this country and there
fon protected articles. Both parties will
thus in effect declare for protective tariff
the .ene for tariff with protection as an
incident; the other for tariff having pro-
lection for its object. So long as the Gov
erDmeI, shall need three hundred millions
OF dollars annually, can there be concern
ing the tariff any question which it would
be wise 4or the Democrats OF Virginia TO
divide upsns
The Washington Post daily advocates
the sinking of the tariff issue-at least for
the next tw9 or three years. We do not
know, but Wa suppose, that 1t speaks for a
majority OF the Democrats in the last Con-
gress. And II there be any reason what
ever for such course upon the part OF the
national Democntic party, surely for many
other and better reasons that course would
be the wisest one for the Conseryatiye-De-
mocrats Of Virgin IL.
OF course Colone' O'FerralI must run
again. We speak ad vlsedly when we say
that the Democracy Of the eastern counties
demand candidate, an 4 desire that OFFER
rail- shall be their standu 'd-bearer Scofte