The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-07-24
A Manly Position.


herst, county in his district, gives ex-
preston to the following manly sentiments,
which cannot fail to impress every fair
minded man. whether he be Republican or
Democrat
AZ never sought to come to Congress nor to
stay here. The people have, with a generous
confidence can never forget, and, with rare
unanimity, kept me in their service for ten
years. They must decide on their relation to
me upon view of their best interests. To tell
you, personally the truth, my tastes would lead
me to retire. l would not embarrass my party's
success by my opinions and my wish to remain
in public life cannot embarrass them. ] don't
covet it, but would dislike to be condemned"
The indicator quotes the above para
graph, and follows it with the following
comments
'It is unquestionable that the Opinions of
Mr.. Tucker are, and will be, serious embar-
rassment to his party if it dominates him. Mr.
Tucker is conscientious in opposing protection.
holding it to be unconstitutional. He is not a
man likely to change these opinions, either to
receive or after receiving a nomination. The
National Democratic party has just adopted
platform setting forth in exact words that tariff
shall not be lowered if lowering it should i'm
pair the ability of American workmen to COM
pete with foreign labor-in short higher tariff
rather than lower wages This Mr.. Tucker re-
CARDS as unconstitutional. We wish We could
be satisfied that his peculiar opinions would re-
suit in nothing worse to the party than embar-
RAISING it, built is our duty. as a journal wish
ing above all things the success of the Demo-
cratic party, to state that his nomination may
produce more than embarrassment
The Viad5cdtor is aware, as every other
intelligent Democrat and Republican in
the country is, that the Democratic plat
form was devised and patched up for the
express purpose of being quoted either for
free trade or protection. While it con-
tains substantially the language the Vim
dictator uses, it also says 1--WE demand
that Federal taxation shall be exclusively
for public purposes "-that is tariff for rev.
enue only
1t will be remembered that Mr.. Car
Isle, a disciple of the tariff for revenue
only" doctrine. was elected Speaker Of the
House of Representatives over Samuel J.
Randall, a protectionist, by vote in the
Democratic caucus of over two to one.
that the Morrison tariff bill, a recognized
free trade measure. was framed by the
Committee appointed by Mr.. Carlisle, and
offered in the House by Mr.. Morrison, a
free trader, and only defeated by coali-
tion of forty Democrats, lead by Randall,
with the Republican members of Congress.
Henry Watterson and Frank Hurd. two
avowed free-traders, united with Carlisle
in demanding of the National Convention
a platform sustaining their views of the
tariff question, In speech delivered at
Louisville, KY, on the 10th, by Mr.. Wat
terson, on the occasion of ratification
meeting, he said, discussing the tariff res
olution of the Democratic Platform and
its history, and the differences which arose
in the Committee on the resolution
when the fight came up in the full commit
tee some feeling arose and sharp contest was
had upon two propositions. The first was to
strike out the word Exclusively from the de-
claratory clause, and the second relating to the
selection of permanent chairman to report the
platform to the convention. 1t was coutended
by Mr. VIM. Hay, of Pennsylvania, and other
protectionists who supported him, that the
word exclusively was synonymous with the
word only Nobody disputed this, but the
friends of revenue reform defended the tariff
planks of 1876 and 1880, accepted the issue made
by the other side, and when the vote was taken
retaining the word exclusively Is yeas to l6
nays-its significance was clearly understood.
The subsequent election of Mr.. Morrison to pre-
sent the report to the convention answers the
charge that Mr.. Randall had the committee in
tho hollow of his hand and Oot all he Wanfad
asked for. If he is satisfied. however. that ends
the dispute between him and me- I, too. am
satisfied and SO are Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.. Nor
.rison and Mr.. Hewitt and Mr.. Hurd, and those
who acted with us and who think as we do. In
1880 false issue as to the tariff was preciptated
by the Republicans late in the canvass. The
Democrats ran away, and were beaten. In the
coming canvass the lines are clearly laid down.
No false issue or new issue can be sprung upon
us, and we are not going to run away. We are
going stand and fight intelligently and unani-
mously.
So we see that the Vasdicdtor, which ia
vors protective tariff, accepts the plat
form as sustaining its views, and Mr.. Wat
terson.a free trader accepts it as in harmo-
ny with his convictions. Not only this, but
Cleveland and Hendricks hold to free
trade views just as Watterson and
Morrison and Carlisle and Tucker do and
as the platform can be construed. They
can stand on the free trade section Of it,
and claim that it is all right, land the Vnadi-
Gator can quote the protection sentiment
and declare for its approval. But how can
the V7ndicator condemn Mr.. Tucker and al
lege that his opinions would embarrass the
canvass in this district, while it supports
Cleveland and Hendricks and the platform
which Mr.. Watterson and Mr.. Carlisle and
Mr.. Hurd, are satisfied with as rejecting
their free trade notions
There must be something behind the
opposition to Mr.. Tucker besides his opin-
ions on the tariff question, for if this were
all. the same opposition, to be consistent,
would have to be offered to Cleveland and
Hendricks. The secret is that Mr.. Tuck |
er cannot be run by the Staunton ring and
it is hoped by Strengthening him, the
will be in favor Of getting more
pliable material as the Democratic candi |
date for Congress in this district. His
manly letter to the Amherst Democracy |
shows out Of what stuff he is made and is
such an exhibit of moral courage and con-
scientious conviction as will draw to him |
The support of the brave and courageous of |
his party even if they do not agree with all |
that he believes on the tariff question.
The National Democratic party is COM
mitted to Mr.. fuckers position on the
tariff question, through the. election of |
Carlisle, as Speaker of the House of Rep
.esentatives the vote cast in Congress
for the Morrison tariff bill in the nomi-
nation of Cleveland and Hendricks and in
The adoption of the platform announced at |
chicago. With such backing Mr.. Tucker
will not feel very uneasy on account of the
IL NH,