The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-10
Mr. rlower's Views.

Our Washington correspondent stated
la Yesterdays Dispatch that prominent
man had predicted that the Democratic
National Convention would nominate either
FIELD and FLOWER or FLOWER and FIELD
for President and Vice-Presldent OF the
limited States. Hon. ROSWELL p. FLOWER
IS man OF indomitable energy and actiy-
i,y. His friends are numerous and aggres-
siye. He was interviewed few days ago
by reporter for the Cincinnati CONNER
c;ai. Gazette, whose account OF the inter
view contains the following:
@Yes,~ Mr.. Flower remarked. while bis eyes
snapped, there's entirely too mnch dogma ana
docifine about congressional manaeement Of the
tariff. They can't do anything down Ia WasnIng,,
ton without theory: There Is the na,-. .,,ri
free trader, who wants 10 push nis theory without
mnch regard 10 the size and number OF wrecks y
would wash mp ON the shores OF bus ness; ana
s re- s1rr ms Of his theory Without the least
regard 10 the inIquities and injustice proouced
under changed commercial condltions Ano DC,
tween these twS extremes y0H have the so.called
revenue reformer, who wants things amendea by
the set pattern ~ horizontal reduction mat con-
stitufes his creed. What's the consequence bots
Of theories ana no results. Plenty Of long spun
doctrines, but no practical, buslness-like horse
sense. 80. ,..o..,A,o
beranse N strlciiy followed AZ would work injus-
flee. The present protective schedule Ie mon
s,roSi,y OF which the country ought 10 be ashamed
because has oesm long s sas, ogSssrosty. be-
cause we are not ready for 10. Now, " merchant
has eertS.n thing % do be takes ne QUICKEST ana
most feasible way Nine tentbs Of the people To-
Gay want this surplus and taxetion reduced.
There's the popular wish. and the first thing Us 70
esreypr n into eject rake rst The duties that
are LEVIED without rhyinS or reason, tn4. iu. I,
nish projection, create needless revenue, ana
that we have. by common consent, ouigrown-
and Top thea entirely OF That done besin 10
scale on the others, not by any inexible, horlzon-
TAI rule which bars out the very Idea OF sensible
business discrimination, but strictly on a system
thst will bring the greatest rehei 70 lne erot'e..
number, without INJECTING needless damage on
.Thai's not iheory-lrs practice Of tie most
practical Kind. Projection and free trade are
theories. but there cSn't be any unbendiug theory
AbOut revenue reform. - . "a, 80.
~By the way,"he continual, with smile. 1T
strikes me as very amusing to hear some OF our
Democratic friends point proudly 10 jefferson as
a free trader Why. he was the worst protectloulst
in the whole early outfit. just get That embargo
act aud study II clssely, and you would find that
the apostolic head of the Democratic party raised
a higher wall around American industries than inc
most fapatich Pennsylvanian would care 10 even
think of to-day"
That strikes us as a sensible view OF the
tariff question. MoRRIsoN's horizontal bill
is totally inexcusable. 1t ought TO be laid
upon the table, and the existing tariff
ought 10 be revised-that is, II at all-after
the manner suggested by Mr.. FLOWER.
What Is the use OF taking 20 per cent. tax
of sugar 2 The consumer will gain nothing
by II, 20 per cent. Of the existing tariff
being less than half cent and therefore
not capable OF being deducted from the
present price Of sugar. We shouldn't OBJ
ject TO taking all the tariff off sugar. This,
however, will not be done; because, first,
the Republican Senate would not agree to
it, and. secondly, il the Democrats of the
House OF Representatives were to vote to
do 1t Louisiana would probably vote next
fall for the Republican nominee for Presi-
dent OF the United States.
MIR. Flowers views on the tariff ques-
ten are the same in substance as those OF
the Democrats Of Pennsylvania, Ohio,
New Jersey, and Virginia, rs set forth in
their platforms Of last year. No doubt,
too. the Democratic State Convention Of
Pennsylvania repeated the same views
again yesterday. How the MORRISON
WATTERsoN combination can have the face,
in contempt Of all these evidences OF pub
lie sentiment, TO urge their tariff bill as
party measure is more than we can under
stand, unless we assume that they are more
anxious to win victory inside the Demo-
cratic party than over the Republican
party, or, in other words, would rather
make the platform than elect the Presi-
dent.