The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-16
TARIFF REFORMERs.


continued accumulation OF wealth bJ
American manufacturers, and The FRO
tectionists inquire whether the free
traders" would be pleased TO see American
manufacturers impoverished in order thai
their wealth may be transferred to foreign
countries.
The above IL from the Washington
correspondent of the New York Jour"d
of Commerce, and is no doubt the sun
and substance of a great amount Of
tariff argument. II thing is American
therefore il must be desirable; therefore
we must make the most IT it. Ricf
friends, rich relatives, millionaires are
great things. They build railroads, libra
ries, hospitals, colleges, and even
churches An old proverb says The cul'
tvation of a rich and powerful friend is
sweet thing to those who haven't tried
IT. those who have tried it fear il.
Monopolists and very rich men-do not
represent great general wealth, or ne
cessarily hcspeak powerful and happy
country. When the country is all fenced
in by tariff and the laws OF trade and
commerce are restricted in their opera
ton within the limits Of the tariff bound
and protected country the imprisoned
operatives and laborers are bound and
enslayed to iced from the hand Of the
sharp, the smart, the hearllcss. the un-
scrupulous head men. And within
these tariff bound borders the
rich get very rich and the poor
become very poor and servile. The
country does not freely exchange It's
wealth for wealth from abroad. Com
merce and interchange of commodities
was ordained by God. The apparent
wealth of protected country Is the sell
fish accumulations Of the selfish few al
tie expense of the struggling masses.
This country is the battle ground OF
giants Of modern afIairs-giants OF fl
nance, giants of enterprise, giants OF
social ideas Railroad magna,es swing
their cndgels; monopolists spread ont
their Briaran arms. but the people too,
the men who constitute the State, assert
their rights. Knights Of Labor-labor
unions have been set back by unwise
methods But they have rights
which will never die They are learn
ing bv experience, and they will rise in
new strength--temperate and Irresistible
in the maintenance of right, The wealth
and greatness OF our land is far more in
a sturdy, self-respectng, intelligent, and
courageous, and religious working class
than in self-ndulgent, luxurious, and
vicious monopoists-in spite OF their
churches and hospitals.
The free and equitable distribution OF
wealth and the promotion of general
happiness and virtue, are the great ends
of social life and the triumph Of ciyilize-
ton. Rich men are desirable and per
Missile only as great instrumentalities
in the general advance. If they grow,
their life from the general
crowd, they must be levelled with the
ground.
The people are not all fools. Now.
more than ever in the worlds history,
rich men and monopolists are MP for he
study, and each one that towers, is
studied, and the world asks, how many
were made poor to make this man rich :
How many were destroyed and consumed
to furnish this Idol?
To shut mp America from the wealth Of
the outside world will make rich men and
monopolists, and rob and destroy the
door workmen. 1t will build palaces and
make great wastes. 1t will thwart the
purposes of Heaven make our country
a bloated mass Of rank unwieldy woe.
But the country and the people are TOO
great TO be defrauded out Of their natural
and inalienabe rights-eilher in self
or in commerce With the
general world-and giving and receiving
from all mankind the gifts and products
Of the general world.