Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-07
syyxRAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED.


lent Democratic paper, propounds to
the Wheeling REGISTER the following
questions:
The Democratic masses have thought,
and vet think, that the Republican party is
culpable for continuing this useless and
and corrupting war tariff in time OF peace.
This has been understood to be the position
and teaching OF the REeIsTER. Why Is 1t
then, thar the RssIsrKR is continually dis
parsging, by its editorials those men In
Congress, who are endesyoring to accom-
plish this end? Why is il that the Reels.
/ rKR seeks to convey the idea that there are
irreconcllable differences between the Dem
ccratic leaders on the question? Why does
/. the REGISTER join the Republican papers,
in rejoicing at every sign of defeat OF meas
uTEs looking TO the rsdCc ion OF the tariff
Why does the RLaETER cha-actsriz' such
men as Carlisle and Morrison, Free
traders" Why does the RssEsTEE desire
the DemacIots in Congress to ignore this
question, in view of the Presidential cam
paien? Would il be wise for the Demo-
cratic party to take as c1wardly course
as that?
To which the WHEELING REGISTER
responds:
l. The Democratic masses are right
in thinking that the Republican party
is eulpable for continuing the useless
and corrupting war tariff in time Of
peace"
This is 1.-THE position and teaching OF
the REGISTER" as supposed by our
cotemporary.
>. The REGISTER does not disparage
those men in Congress who, had they
the power, would correct the gross
abuses of a system which wrings one
hundred million dollars from the labor
of the country, which serves only as
corruption fund at Washington.
On the contrary, the REGISTER be-
heves that, had the Democratic major
ity in Congress Immediately on the as
sembling of that body, passed deelara-
tory resolution, emb0dying the Tariff
Reform idea promulgated in the plat
forms upon which OHIO, New jersey,
Virgins and other States were carried
in lSS2 and upon which the Democratic
majority was elected to Congress-; We
say, had Congress done this, then gone
to work in a business like way aud
matured and passed the appropriation
and other necessary bills, adjourned,
and gone before the country on this
issue, the people would have elected a
House, q Senate and President, all Of
whom would have co-operated in bring.
ing about the needed reforms.
This we are sorry to say, the Demo-
cratic majority did not DO; but instead
they iucubated and brought forth a
measure which carefully preserves every
inequality, every abuse of the presen!
war tariff, by proposing horizontal re-
duction. Where mOnopolies are now
fostered and subsidized to the detriment
of the people and other capitalists who
would de-ire to have lair field for
home competition, the MORRISON bill
carefully preserves that mOnopoly's
present advantages. In fact, the Nor
RISON bill is anti Democratic and its
principles ale squarely in opposition to
the idea upon which the Democratic
maiority was elected to Congress.
The MORRISON is a weak invention
in another respect. 1t not Only pre-
serves all thai is perniciOuS il the pres
ent tariff law, as suggested above, but
il is believed that il would exaggerate
the trouble arising out Of the present
large and indeiensible surplus. By the
horizontal reduction in duties proposed
| il j. believed, by those who are cOmpe-
tent to Judge, that the imports of foreign
manufactured articles would be So
largely increased as to actually swell
this surplus, which is the cause Of the
corruption complained Of.
8. The REGISTER does not "seek to con-
vey the idea that there are irreconcila-
| be differences between Democratic
leaders, in the sense sought 10 be con-
veyed. The REGISTER knows full well
that Democrats do differ upon the
proper policy to be pursued upon this
question; and it knows equally well
that there are wide differences of Opin-
ions among members Of the Republican
party on the same subject; that the
question of just how much tariff should
be levied upon this particular article
and how much upon that, is not apolit-
ical question but purely question Of
| business.
4. The REGISTERS designation o.
Mr.. CARLISLE as Free Trader comes
Iinr REGISTERS reading of Mr.. CAR
Isles recent free trade speech before
the New York Free Trade Cub, and Of
or e Of his speeches made in Congress
10 years Hsst. 1t ratUyally couples Mr..
! MORRISON with Mr.. CARLISLE, because
| the former GaS byen made the latter's
| mouth piece on this >uLj -; and fur
! ther from the fact that that distinguish
ed Free Trader, Mir. WATTEEsoS, who
seems to speak by authority, almost
daily makes prcclamatioHs that these
gentlemen are Free Traders. The
REGISTER does not u-e this term
as an Opprob;um, in referring
to those gentlemen. They have As
much right to be Free Traders as have
such distinguished Republicans as Rev.
HENRY WARD BEECHER, the editors
Of those powerful Republican organs
the New York Times, New York Eve
uing Post, Boston Herald and many
others.
The division in sentiment upon this
question among members OF either
party, is personal and not political
The REGISTER feels as well assured that
Mr.. CARLISLE and his Free Trade
friends VIII support the Democratic
Presidential TicNtt this year, as that