New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-03
JAMES A. WHITNEY is REPUBLICAN NOW
FOR TWENTY EIGHT YEARS HE WAS DEMO-
GRAFT But WILL BE ONE no LONGER.


James A. whitney, who has voted the Democratic
ticket for twenty years. with but one exception
when he supported James g. Blaine four years ago. an
nounced Yesterday that be should hereafter act with
the Republican party. Mr.. whitney Is wellkno"n
lawyer here though he Is not prominent politician.
Yet hls departure from the Democratic party VIII cause
regret to such men Judge Randolph b. MARITIME and
David Dudley Field Of his colleagues In the Ameri-
can and Foreign societies for the COdfcston Of the
Laws Of Nations. Mr. Whitney is an equity lawyer,
though he has worked mainly in patent cases OF a'e
years. and that way he has become necessarily con-
versant with manufacture and industries generany.
He had always been high-tarif Democrat. and no
believes that such thing mild protection docs not
exist in practice. Mr.. whitney close student OF
Industrial problems. Twenty years ago he contriouted
scientific articles to The Tribune aud The MALL. was
connected with The Word,' was Editor OF Tho
American Artisan and contributor to The
Iron Ages for long time. lie has travelled widely In
Europe Mexico and the United states TO study In
dusral problems and Joins the Republican party,
not as matter Of impulse, but OF slow and deliberate
reflection as he puts IL. Mr. Whitney was also presi-
dent of the New-York Society OF Practical Engineering
and was connected with the American Society Of Civil
Engineers. lie has been a member OF the Manhattan
Club lie IS also known as writer on the Chinese
question and as a contributor to Johnsons Universal
Encyclopaedia.
-Four years ago Mr.. Whitney voted for Mr.. Blaine as
protest against the Democratic Of his party
In nominating Cleveland. But he acted with bis .arty
on all state and local affairs Yesterday he said at his
Office No. 40 Nassaust., that he should make some
protection speeches. In defining his position Mr..
Whitney said: =" believe in a high tariff, with ex-
ceptons in the Of Mexico and the Central and
south American Republics, from which We could mpors
raw materials and to which could send our manu-
featured products. This would establish both COM
mcrcial and friendly interests and would practically
reinforce the Monroe doc rine. The great danger to
industries from tho cheap labor OF Europe and
Asia To what should the principle OF protec-
ton be extended to subsidies subsidy should DO
granted with caution and should be limited 10 those
objects which cannot be promoted through general
laws A subsidy to an enterprise Of great public I'M
portance, which cannot be promoted by other means,
rests subs stantaly upon the same grounds OF public
policy as the grant by e gsaturc of special charter
10 corporation for the purpose of which the general
act is insufficient The whole matter rests on prin-
cples OF common successful private cnter-
prise II subsidized, may raise the question whether
the public benefit Is worth more than tho public dis
buIsement.
break old political affiliations, at the age. OF fifty,
with regret But can't avoid the conviction that the
Democratic party has proved false to its mission, and
Is but the empty shell and sembance Of Its former self
II given over ideas exploded forty years ago. which