Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-22

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Editor Morning Meas: read the let
ter OF Col. John c. Nichols with interest,
and also your comments, in the issue OF
the 21st. 1t is lust such articles which
put the people TO thinking; it is the con-
flict Of opinion which develops truth,
stimulates inquiry, draws out facts, and
excites experiment. We live in a skepti-
cal age, and reverence for old dogmas and
political truths and the supposed great
wisdom Of our fathers are now viewed
with an eye Of close investigation and
many doubts. The infallibility Of politi-
cal leaders have long since been dissolved
into thin air. and thinking men now adj
just themselves to their times and sur
roundings.
For one, am tired Of seeing men dig
up the old and buried bones Of our fathers
to knock down Give flesh" Jefferson,
Hamilton. CLAW. Calhoun. and other good
and great worthless lived eighty. nifty ana
thirty years ago, wise and good IN their
day, but not gifted with supernatural
knowledge. Let them rest.
Cannot the men Of this day act and
think for their day: Certainly. As to
the tariff question, it seems that the NEWS
and Col. Nichols, member OF Congress
from this district, do not agree. Well,
we would like to see an issue made on the
tariff question. Col. Nichols says he is
no candidate for reelection. That Is true,
for If he was, he would so announce and
90 before the people without asking, seek
ing, or desiring a convention nomination.
A man is a candidate when he is self-an-
nOunced; he is a nominee before the peO-
pie when he receives a convention noml-
nation. One Is Independent, the other the
Hrnrra nv TNgaHWll mr.
convention. one occupies bold, agrees
siye position. the other the echo Of a par
I ty organization.
Mr.. Nichols. no doubt, would be
/ pleased with party nomination, though
he may be making no efforts to obtain
one. For one we would like to see the
issue made before the people on the tariff
question. The people do not understand
/ the issue, and they are asking for light.
We would like to see the views Of Messrs.
Randall and Morrison canyassed before
the people. Our present ideas are that a
/ protective tariff is a positive injury 10
/ the south, and that a tariff for revenue IS
/ best for the South and the whole country.
Let Mr.. Nichols declare himself a
| candidate, and 20 before the people and
show to them wherein a protective tariff
will do them any good if he can, and If no
/ flaw can be detected IN his logic, facts, or
arguments, he will be returned to Con-
/ gress. But he will have many nice ques-
/ ti0ns put 10 him, and be asked to explain
why factory in Georgia that saves $780,
900 in the working up Of $4,000 bales Of
cotton demands as much protection as a
Northern factory that must pay out that
much before it reaches the factory. How
! high-priced cotton machinery cheapens
goods when if allowed TO buy English ma
! chinery we could turn out goods that
/ could and would compete with any made
| in the world, and underSell besides.
Let the people be enlightened on the
I subject, or, in other words, as to the diff
/ ference between capital and labor, mo-
nOpOlists and eXtOTtionists. There Is a
/ very marked distinction, and when prop
/ erly presented the people will very readily
see that a high tariff necessitates cheap
labor, and that a low tariff encourages
labor. There is never a conflict between
labor and capital, but between monOpO-
lists and labor, and it is to destroy mo-
nOpOlists that a low tariff is now being
agitated. MOnOpOlists, like the railroad
whisky and gold, rings are looking out for
themselves regardless of the labor Of the
country.
If Mr.. Nichols feels that he is right on
the tariff question, then let him fling his
banner Of a protective tariff to the breeze
and convince the voters of this district
that Randall is right and Morrison wrong.
Right is right at all times, and does not
depend upon time or circumstances,
Presidential campaigns or off years.
X. NJ. o.