The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-20
Mr.. Flower.

namphIet containing " Remarks OF Hon.
Roswell z. Flower" OF New York, IN
the House Of Representatives OF the Forty
seventh Congress. Mr.. FLOWER mas De-
come g possible nominee OF the Demo-
cratic National Convention for the once OF
President Of the United states. We have,
therefore, in his case, as in that OF other
men whose names are often mentioned ID
the same connection, endcayored TO ascer-
tain exactly where he stands relatively 10
the questions which at present occupy the
public mind and are likely to have place
in the platforms OF the two parties as these
platforms are to be laid down at Chicago.
The pamphlet before us contains Mr..
Flowers remarks - not in the present
Congress, but In the last. 1t may be as
sumed therefore that ii il more probable
that these remarks" were made without
reference TO their effect upon his prospects
for Office, than that his more recent utter
ances were made without reference to that
matter.
Let US, therefore, look first into the
pamphiet. The first speech in it is on the
60 Tariff Commission" This was the COM
mission afterwards appointed to inyesli-
gate the question Of the tariff and Internal
revenue laws. The speech was made
whilst the bill for the appointment OF that
commission was pending in the House OF
Representatives. Mr.. FLOWER was evil
IDENTITY ahead of his fellow-members. He
said many good things. We quote few
rs to the iuternal-revenuc spies and in
| formers:
"Au over the country the same influence is at
work. and the same feeling OF law breaking ana
deception 10 engcndered. spying, wing; cheat-
| ing, fear, hatred, and lawlessness are us OUT
| growth. You can scarcely enter the room OF The
chief officer Of any OF tile districts without finding
a lot OF informers busy with him, or meet an hon
est business man who has had the honor OF VISIT
from an Inspector who does not feel something OF
the spirit OF Wat. Tyler boil within him. We nave
had enough of these things. We are past needing
them. Let them go with all other reminders OF
Ouf late struggle"
RecolIect that that was uttered year or
two before the famous platform OF the
Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New
jersey Democrats was adopted
Again: Mr.. FLOWER said:
sin New York city this internal revenue had re-
duced the number OF cigar aud tobacco manuiac-
tlrers from $1,000 TO 1900. II has given such a
monopoly TO few match manufacturers that tney
readily buy cut at his own price any one VINO mas
the audaciy 20 compete with them: IL mas arive ven
lectors patrol our streets and dictate 70 our trades
men, and It's inspectors invade the privacy OF
every home and Office az store and factory when
! the slightest suspicion of excuse is afforded"
In another speech, Mr.. FLOWER said:
| In my remarks before this House on the tariff
and. tax-commission blu, took the ground that
all of the taxes embraced In the internal revenue
system should be abolished, with the exception OF
the tax on distilled spirits. | believe the sixty
i've or seventy millions we collect from that source,
together with the five millions which would De
saved from salaries were this internal or internal
system abolished. would be sufficient 10 pay eur
pensions for all time. All the rest OF these taxes
ought to so, for they are unnecessary. ana pc
lieye that Surplus revenue Is productive OF law
ish expenditure I'm Governments as II is In indi-
viduais.
who cannot bold up their heads before the horde
of Republican of1ce-holders as can.
have had experience IN this matter OF the IN,
walked through the Eleventh district of New
York, the weafthest district IN the United states
arm I'm arm with one of The attaches OF the nternsl
Revenue Department, soliciting yOies from the
Tobacco o. manufacturers from the cigar-manufac-
turer, from the whiskey-dealer, from the lager
beer brewer and the Saloon-keeper. III there was
anywhere a man who had ever violated the law,
that man was imporluned to vote for nv oppo-
nent.
on the Chinese question Mr.. FLOWER is
sound. He said:
The question before the House Is In my opinion,
a simple one IL can be summed up In one word:
Shall we protect our labor, or shall We allow ~ 10
he degraded 10 The cody standard? This is what
we are 90 decide upon Whether we Will afford
protection 20 our lapores, or De content 70 pro-
lion. There is no question OF principle; 1here
is no question OF sentiment The question Is solely
and simply relative 10 the price OF labor.
That is enough to show that he is sound
on that question.
Mr.. FLOWER is sound on the currency
question, also. and in favor OF continuing
the present misunderstanding system.
Mr.. Flowers remarks on the river and
harbor bill and the education bill we do
not like. They have too much OF New
| York narrowness in them. There are
speeches on other subjects not so impor-
| tant.
On the tariff question, Mr.. FLOWERS
last utterances were made recently to re-
porter. We quote:
| "By the way" he continued, with smile, II
| strikes me Us very amusing 10 hear some OF our
Democratic friends point proudly to jefferson rs
| a free-tradcr Why, he was the worst protection
| Isl In the whole early outfit. just get that EN-,
barge act and study ii closely, and you would lind
| that the apostolic head Of the Democratic party
raised a higher wall around American industries
than the most fanatical Pennsylvanian would dare
/ 10 even think Of to-day"
These extracts win suffice for the pre-
sent. They will afford the reader pretty
correct idea as to Mr. Flowers creed.
4
, We have received from Messrs. WEST,
r JOHNSTON e. Co. the May No. Of The Cen.
tury Illustrated Monthly Magazine. Also,