Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-03


tionists. In word, the sentiment is
strong enough to stand alone.
Does the Adrancc recollect that when
We interviewed the members OF the Nir'
GINA Legislature a few years ago
large majority Of the Democratic mem
bers avowed themselves to be Protec-
tionists? We trust, therefore, that our
old friend will give us credit for con
trolling desire to benefit the Democratic
party and not charge us with fearing to
face the opposition.
Now as to tue future. We are not
at all afraid that the Democratic Ma
tional Convention of 1888 will declare
against protecting American industries.
Mr. MILLS may have talked as if his
committee we're opposed to protective
duties, but when his bill comes before the
House of Representatives he will sing an
other tune. Read the following from
our Washington correspondents report
Of Mr.. MmLss recommendation OF the
new tariff bill. Mr.. Mills said;
Great care had been taken in max
ing ND the free list not to interfere IN
any way with the industries OF our peo-
pie, and where any foreign country lald
a tax upon any specific article the present
duty on that article had been preserved.
In the case of iron and steel but small
reductions had been made, ON piS-lron
the reduction being only seveniy-two
cents per ton. In the case of steel 1alls
the reduction is So per ton, but that
leaves n very handsome profit to the
steel trusts that now control the manu-
facture of that article.
That paragraph reads as if it were an
utterance of Mr.. RANDALLs. Great
care had been taken "n0t 10 interfere
in anu way ,ciM our industries" So,
then, tariffs have much to do with the
prosperity of "our industries. In fact,
the Alexandria gazette seems to think
not much better of the new tariff bill
than it would have thought of one framed
by Mr.. RANDALL. 1t says:
a cursory reading of the tariff bill,
reported to the Ways and Means Com
rnjttee OF the United States House OF
Representatives today by the Demo
cratic members Of that committee. Gug-
gests the idea that that bill can hardly
be satisfactory to the real taritf-reiorm-
ers of the country, and that in its prepa-
ration the effort to win Republican sup
port for il was stronger than that to re-
lieve the people Of the country OF the
burdens imposed upon them by the high
tariff on raw materials and the necessa-
ries of life. Still the bill is a move in
the right direction, and is vastly better
than none at all. "
Has the Democratic party changed
ground since 1884 No. All the talk
about the next National Convention
coming out against protection will end
in smoke. Ask Mr.. MILLS. What said
that party in 1894? Read:
at 1.-THE Republican party + has
subjected American workingmen to the
competition of convict aud imported
contract labor,
But thas is not all. Read again. The
platform of 1884 says:
"The necessary reduction in taxation
can and must be effected without de-
priving american labor of the ability to
compete successfully with foreign la
Dor"
Is that plain enough? Can that Ian
guage have two meanings? Does it not
clearly and expressly recognize it as the
duty Of Congress to protect our work
ingmen from foreign competition? If
YOU doubt, read once more. The fol-
lowing is the conclusion of the reSolu-
ton the first clause OF which is quoted
above. 1t says that this necessary re-
duction in taxation can and must be
made
without imposing lOwer rates Of
duty than will be ample TO cover any
increased cost of production which may
exist in consequence Of the higher rate
Of wGges prerajfing IN this country"
Was the Chicago platform the work OF
Protechonists? II aflirms by necessary
implication that higher wages prevail in
this country than in Europe. This we
have known anti-Protectionists to deny.
II afirms by necessary implication that
"imposing lower rates of duty" than
those amply protective would fail to pro-
tect our workmen as they ought to be
protected from foreign competition. Let
the Adeance read the new tariff bill,
and then read again its paragraph
"hallooing before it got ont of the
woods" Here is the paragraph;
"That is the music, gentlemen, Demo.
Gratis and Republicans all, and those who
refuse to dance to it will have to dance
jig by themselves on the outside
with only the music of tinkling Gym
bal Protection in such case as that
won't protect our outside Democratic
friends worth cent. They had better
come in out OF the cold at once before
too late
We said yesterday that If the BLAIR
bill or some better measure for extend
ing national aid TO education was not re-
commended by the Chicago convention
10 1884. then that body juggled with
words and employed glittering gene
ralities to deceive the voters. So as TO
protection. Either the Democratic
National Convention Of 1884 declared
for protecting American industries, or
else that body juggled with words and
employed glittering generalities in order
to induce tho people to vote the Demo
cratic ticket.
But finally: The House Of Represen-
tatiyes is going to pass tariff bill which
will be accepted by all good Democrats
in Virginia as Democratic measure,
That bill will OF course be 10 all Intents