Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-05-01
Mr.. Randall on the Tariff.

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Boss intends to make his canvass next
year on the tariff issue. By taking
strong ground in favor of high pro.
tective tariff, he hopes not only to com
the wool over the eyes of his sable adj
mirers, but to deceive many of the
| white working men of Virginia, and
thus lure them into the Republican
camp. Everybody familiar with Ma
homes methods when he was at the
head of great railroad, that gave en-
pioyment to 2 large number of mechan-
les and laooring men, knows very we'll
that he felt far more concern to assure
an exorbitant salary for himself. and to
operate the road with the smallest ex-
penditure possible, in other copnec-
tions, than be did to secure liberal wa
ges tor those who were under him. He
cut down the wages of all such to the
lowest possible degree whenever he felt
1t necessary to economize in the matter
OF expenditures And hence, we are
fully justified in the belief that this
simulated zeal for the welfare of the
working men is only put forth now for
the accomplishment of 4 purpose who'll
ly foreign thereto, viz : TO promote the
political ends of William Malone,
Only this and nothing more
Now, this tariff policy is one about
which men may safely agree to differ.
/ is not a party question, aud ought
not to be; and for men or parties to
wraDgle about it now is simple nom
sense, since the condition and circuni-
stances of the country contribute to
make protective policy a necessary
incident The people want to see the
Whole Internal revenue system abol-
ished, and that So speedily as possible.
1t is anti American and repugnant to
the national taste. It's end, therefore,
is only question of time And what
then ?-wby, tariff for revenue that
must, In the nature of things, be suffi-
ciently high 10 afford protection to
American Industrial enterprises. Three
hundred millions of dollar, to be col
lected for the yearly support of the
government, will, if the tariff be Judi
ciously laid, by putting on the free
list only such articles as we cannot
produce, and that will: not therefore
come in competition with what we do
produce or manufacture, will be protec-
tion- That will afford all the protec-
ton that could reasonably be asked,
and all thatthe Constitution warrants.
A large revenue is needed to support
the government, pension its soldiers,
payment of the public debt. And this
state of facts furnishes the solution of
the whole question of protective tariff.
and no one need be humbugged by Ma
hone, or any other new light like him,
on tle tariff question.
Ard now we quote, what we intended
to 90 earlier, the language of Mr.. RAN
dail$ ex Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives, " bO has been regarded as
al advanced advocate Of the policy of
protection. He says:
II do not favor tariff enacted upon
the ground of protection simply for the
sake of protection because I doubt the
existence of any constitutional warrant
tor any such construction CT the grant
Of any such power 1t would mani
testify he in The nature of class legisa-
ton, and 10 such legislation. favoring
one class at the expense of anV other, I
have always been opposed The asser-
tion that the Constitution permits the
levying of duties n favor Of protection
for the sake Of protection is equally
uncRiled for and unnecessary. Both
are alike ilusory and not involved in
any practical administrative policy If
brought to the test, I believe neither
would stand for 3 day. Protection for
bbC Vi lH DTODlOlbiOu,
pure and simple. of importation, and If
there be no importation there will be
no duties collected, and consequently
norevenue. leaving the necessary ex-
pesses of the government to be collected
by direct taxes for internal taxes would
interfere with the protective principle,
and when the people were generally
asked to bear the burden of heavy
taxation 10 sustain class legislation
and the interest of q portion of our
people st the expense Of great bulk OF
our population, there would be an en-
phatic and conclusive negative"
We can endorse every word that Mr.
Randall has said in the above, for he
expresses The views we now hold, ami
have always held, as disciple of Henry
Clay, in his political teaching And
we may remark furtheE, that it would
be folly for the Democrats aud Conserv-
atives CT Virginia 10 be dividing. and
thus playing into the hands of William
Malone, on this question. Rather let
US take the ground that, being opposed
to direct taxation, we are in favor of all
the protection that necessarily high
tariff, judicious!y levied, SO as to secure
protection to American manufactures,
and afford revenue for the support of the
government, will yield. Anything more
than that involves "class legislation"
which, as Mr.. Randall we'll says, 'the
great bulk of cur population would OPP
pose By an emphatic and conclusive
negative. - Lynchdurg Virgiysian.