New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-26
4 WAR DEMOCRATS VERDICT
e. N. DICKERSON TELLS WHY HE WILL
VOTE FOR HARRISON.
DEMOCRATIC USE OF HIS NAME FRAUD-AL-
WAYS "A DEMOCRAT AND ALWAYS


DEMOCRATIC USE OBJ HIS NAME FRAUD-AL-
WAYS "A DEMOCRAT AND ALWAYS
FOB PROTECTION.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In reply to your questions whether was one
u the vice presidents Of the recent meeting in Wall
Street in favor Of tariff for revenue. and whether the
statement in evening paper correct that belong
TO family Of Republicans, and have now abandoned
their opinions answer that not vice president
Of that meeting, and knew nothing OF 1t until l
my in print.
! am and always have been Democrat, my
ancestors were but both they and always believed
in protective tariff as distinguished from tariff
for mere revenue. Upon that issue, while claim
to be Democrat, shall vote for Harrison against
tho Solid South. My grandfathcrs, both sides.
fought with honor in the Revolution, among other
avowed objects, against the demand Of Great Britain
that the colonies should not protect their manu-
features from English competition. Ny father and
uncle I'm their generation, were wellknown Democratic
public men and strong advocates of protection
Mahlon Dckerson was United States Senator from
New-Jersey for many years where he was constantly
and conspicuously contcndng against the South on
this issue and then he invited by Gtneral Jackson
TO seat in the Cabinet which he continued to hold
some years. and also during q portion OF MI Van
Burens minstration-all the time the advocate
of protection American industries What was gooi
enough Democracy then Is good enough for me now;
and when the attempt is made by the revenue tariff
leaders TO drive Democrats such. into support Oh
their opinions, FOR will not be driven
This conflict is an old one. The Revolutionary war
was fought over It as of its issues and the re-
beon in this country grew out OF 1t. England mas
wagcd wars over it, compel other people TO accept
her manufactures, and is always active by diplomacy
In the same direction. In 1924 high profccuVe
tariff was passed The Solid South Of that day re-
nd
solemn act "nullifed" it, forbdding its execution
in that State. General Jackson was President and
he wrote his famous message declaring that the law
SHOULD be enforced and we were on the verge OF
civil war audacity of the South prevailed, and
the compromise act of March 90, 1888, was passed.
reducing the tariff by degrees through ten years, and
providing that no discrimination should be made
I'm duties for any purpose. On those terms the Solid
South consented TO allow the Union TO live little
longer
As the duties fell off biennially The natural effect
ensued Iron furnaces went of blast and factories
stopped till at last England controlled our MARKET
and our operatives on the streets. Food
RIOTS followed I'm Ncw-YOrk, with all their horrors
silver and gold fed to England, and totally disap-
peared from circulation being replaced by irrcdeem-
able bank bills and shin plastcrs so-caled, Issued
nv corner groceries payable In kind In those days
have seen skilled worhmen begging for bread al
my fathers door in Paterson, which had been pros
porous manufacturing town, but which was struck
with paralysis by the revenue tariff, and In which
every cotton mill stopped.
The reaction that followed swept the Democratic
party from power in 1910, and General HARRISON the
grandfather of the present representative of the
principles of protection elected President Con-
grcss met in December, 1541, and enacted the hlgh
protection tariff of 1912, under which prosperity at
once returned every closed factory was reopened
In various ways the South struggled against 1t with
tho
10 be their final effort and when they formed their
Confederate Government they emphasized their giev-
ance by constitutional provision that no protection
should be given 10 manufactures by tarin' AS
cotton growers by slave labor, they supposed they
commanded the markets Of the world, and did not In
tend to manufacture for themselves III they had
conquered us this the yoke they had prepared
for Ms. but most fortunately for them they failed.
They did not however, abandon this struggle TO
which they had devoted much effort and now that
they control the House of Representatives and hope 10
control the Senate, they are renewing the conflict OF
1888 by votes, in which they are stronger than they
were then since they for all the colored popu-
laton now but then voted for only thrce-1lfihs OF
IT, In those days the Northern men with southern
principles who were aiding their schemes were called
dough faces, but there never was a time when the
great State Of New-York had not single member on
the Committee of Ways and Means, which shapes
the financial legislationas IS the case today, when
the whole financial subject Is handcu over w tc So
western States without so much as murmur'
begin to respect the dough faces" of 1850.
have no doubt, however, that the courageous
Southern leaders believe that the revenue tariff OF
their constitution best for the South and always
they make an audacous fight for their opinion and
force the issue They tell that il we do not submit
no they will make II for us, and doubt they
mean II; and VIC must face II best we may
whether we at the North Will consent 10 surrender the
principle under which the country has grown so great
and prosperous in order that they may retry The cx
perment OF 1888 the question at issue In this cleo
ton. and II IS vital one for the worhngmen. Let
them not be deudcd by the false pretence that by
opening our ports wider to England and Germany We
shall be able 10 compete with those countries In the
markets of the world. and at the same time retain our
wages and mode of living the present standard Let
them not be msled by the false appeal 10 their pride
whether they are not equal any foreigner without
protection.
One example is enough. A ton Of steel rails to-day
can be bought in Germany for Sl7, in any quantity
1t cannot be made here for sos at the present rate Of
wages II we reduce our cost 10 less than ST. We
can compete in the markets Of the world-oiherwisc
not Food is cheaper here than there for we export
our food and they buy IT, that no saving can be
made there How else can our worsmcn reduce his
wages TO the required pointl Only by reducing his
standard OF living and increasing his hours OF labor
TIL be conforms TO tho German standard, and then he
ran compete in the markets Of the world. But why
should he do It? 1t would require generation 10
educate his stomach tn he could dispense with meat
and live on cabbage and Il would not be worth learn
ing God forbid that he should DO reduced 10 II. No
ioubt where machinery does almost ALL and hand labor
but little, we can come nearer competition abroad
Dut our machinery win go abroad also. and then the
I'D question will rccuron how little the workman
iye7 When there are profits the workman in this |