The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-08


always have friends at court. The speak
ers who attended the meeting Of that Clul
on Saturday last, and attempted TO make
appear that their tariff notions are cardi
nal doctrine Of the Democratic creed were
in our opinion, not working In the intcres
Of the Democratic party. Even II th
Democratic party as II existed in snte-bel
ium times was \ free-tradc party-as ",
BY no means admit--it does not follow tha
the Democratic party OF to-day is a frce-trad'
party. Here in Virginia, and we have M
doubt everywhere ia the United States out
side Of the cities Of New York aud Brook
lyn, which are in effect the same place
those whom Dir. BLACKBURN spoke OF last
Saturday as II they were In favor Of FREE
trade deny most emphatically that free
trade is plank in their platform.
Mr.. BLAcKBuRN was selected to respond
TO ,be toast. "war Taxes not for Tunes Of
Pcace,v but quietly assumed that the Gus.
toms-duties we're the war taxes alluded to
in the toast, and spoke accordingly. He
sand, among other things:
81 don't want free whiskey or TO-
bacco, but free iron. free sugar. and salt
for the millions OF this country" :"
want free shIps.n
Yet he was one OF the leaders OF the
forces in the House Of Representa-
iives that recently undertook to in
ducc Congress to extend to the whiskey
ring privileges which it has never extend
cd 10 tobacconists or any other class In the
community. He doesn't want free whis-
KEY. Nor do the monopoIists who control
the manufacture OF that article. He doesn't
want =. free tobacco" but the planters
want free tobacco. and so do the manufactu-
rers generally. The exceptions are men who
would like TO monopolize the business OF
manufacturing tobacco as the Kentucky
and Ohio whiskey-ringsters have monopo-
lied the business Of manufacturing whis-
key. The cry for "iree iron" means the
closing OF every iron-mine in Virginia,
and the importation OF free iron from
abroad. Raise that cry in Southwest Vir-
ginia, and the Democrats would soon real
ize the difference between the state OF
things existing here in ante.bellum days
and the state Of things existing here now.
We protest against all these efforts to
array the Democrats who believe IN Incl
dental protection to the interests Of Amerl-
can labor against the Democrats who are
for free iron, free sugar, and free salt.
The present Democratic party is not free
trade party. 1t is noteyen opposed to pro-
lection. There are some fifty or sixty Of
the soundest Democrats in the House OF
Representatives who we're elected with the
full knowledge on the part Of their con-
stiiucnts that they were In favor OF pro- |
tecting bv customs.duties the indus |
tries in which their constituents were |
interested and employed. II an issue is to |
be made against this doctrine, what is to |
become OF the Democratic majority in the |
House Of Representatives? Do you say,
as Mr.. WkTTERsoN says, that these men |
ought TO 60 over to the Republican party |
Why, that is exactly the same thing as
saving that the Democrats ought to turn |
over the House Of Representatives TO the
Republican party without struggle. |
This is most unreasonable. II Is Ia
city and constantly assumed by such
men as Mr.. BLACKBURN that the
Democratic party 10 Congress as party is
pledged to the doctrines OF the Revenue
in the face of the fact that a
majority Of the members last elected to the
House OF Representatives Including OF
course Republicans for and against the doc
irine) were elected as friends Of protec-
protection in some cases,
and direct protection in others. 1t is
clear case. therefore, that men like RANDALL.
GEORGE WISE, CONVERSE, &C.,
&C.. must either vote as they are pledged to
their constituents TO vote or else ought to
resign their seats in Congress and allow
The people TO elect men who teW obey the
will OF the people.
II seems to be almost hopeless task to
undertake to open the eyes OF the so-called
Revenue Reformers TO the fact that the
.ariff is at least to the southern States one
81 the least important questions before the
country. The existence OF the SHERMAN
committee is standing pro-
est against the unwise attempt to draw the
ines between the parties where Mr.. BLACK
BURN would have them drawn. q" That
'eay lies defeat"
Mr.. MORRISON wrote to the Brooklyn
Club as follows;
"Ii we fail il will be because her chosen
Democratic Representatives, forgetful OF
Democratic principles, shall unite with
Republican projections In voting to inain-
tain war-tariR taxes"
War-tsriff taxes. Not word about the
taxes that Cypress Virginia aud her in
terests.
Yes, her "chosen Democratic Repre-
sentatiyes New York States "chosen
Democratic Representatives will, Il
yoodly number Of them, we trust, keep of
the rickety platform which Mr.. MORRISON
has prepared as " deadfall" for them and |
their party.
Mr.. CARLISLE wrote:
s.You can safely assure our Democratic |
friends that great majority of their repre- |
sentatiyes I'm Congress are determined TO
make an honest and earnest effort during
the present session TO inaugurate the policy
ri tariff reform TO which we have been so
hong committed as a political party"
"a great maiority"s That is candid
admission that there is a glorious minority.
Now, let US suppose that Democratic
club In Philadelphia had held meeting,
and had invited to II not Democrat who
did not agree with Mr.. RANDALL in his |
tariff notions; and that all the speeches
made and oil the letters written on the oc- |
easlon had Quietly assumed that the Can.