The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-11
rna worst sort o. PROTECTION.

One OF our exchanges, and one whicn y
SO bitterly hostile TO protective tariii tna1
Il would rather cut down the existing
tariff than to abolish ali internal taxes, mas
surprised us beyond measure by coming
out boldly for kind Of protection
10 manufacturing interests that we cculd
never get our consent to advocate we
quote a few sentences to show how our
contemporary looks at the matter. II says: I:
"The exemption OF manufactures from
taxation is likely TO he made I'm spartan
burgl an Issue IN the election OF members
OF the Legislature. We sincerely nope
that no such issue will be made. spartan
burg derives large and important benents
from the exemption law, aud the example
of so thriving and powerful county can
not fail TO have considerable influence
throughout the State"
Think OF that paragraph as coming from
a second wATTERsoY. 1t is nothing more
nor less than saying that it Is an advantage
TO community to make the classes otner
than the manufacturers pay all their own
taxes and also taxes which the manufac-
turers ought to pay. Contrasted with this
proposition, protective tariff appears 10
us to be au innocent measure.
We quote again:
"It is inconceivable that Spartanburg,
which so cheerfully taxes the county lor
the benefit OF railroads which are expected
TO be Of benefit in promoting the grown OF
the county. should desire, for the sake OF a
few thousand dollars, to strangle manuiac-
turing enterprises in this new field. and De
willing to injure other counties where the
growth of manufactures depends far more
on exemption from taxation than IL de-
pends in Spartanburg county,"
"Strangle manufacturing enterprises"
How suggestive that expression is OF "in-
FAINT industries" struggling undertak-
ings," &c, &c.--the phrases which we are
so accustomed to hearing from the adyo-
Gates Of protective tariff.
Again:
"It Is argued that, even regarded as a
bonus, the State has right TO order taxes
to be refunded. premium is offered to
manufacturing enterprses-not at the eX-
pense OF the people, but for the advantage
OF the people; not to prevent competition
and maintain prices, but to increase COM
petition and reduce prices"
Just 50. That's the theory Of the pro-
tectionists in q nutshell. Their high tariff
is "not at the expense OF the people,"
Far from it. 1t is for the benefit OF all the
people. And especially did HORACE
GREELEY insist that protective tariff 60 in
creased competition and reduced prices"
That Is the doctrine that Pig-Iron KELLEY
constantly breaches. We read tariff
speech few days ago in which this point
was presented with great force.
Once more we quote:
"We are OF opinion that Louisiana has a
perfect right to give bonus or a tax
exemption to sugar-planters, and Virginia
has right to give premium to the grow
ers of tobacco"
That almost took away our breath. We
read our contemporaries explanation OF
the difference between this bonus" and
"the protective SYSTEM" but to no pur-
pose. The .'bonus" stood always right
before our eyes. Here Is the explanation :
1t is beyond doubt that while Virginia
is now entitled to twelve presidential elec-
tors, there Is no provision for electing more
than eleven. tits Just as unquestionable
that an extra session OF the Legislature is
the only means by which the required pro.
vision can be made. 1t is said here that If
Governor Cameron does not issue his call
for that extra session the Democratic State
Convention will determine what shall be
done in the premises NaShinqt0n letter
Alexandria Gazette.
The Democratic State Central Committee
would be better body to consider the
matter.