Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-18
RenIr tn fhe {" sintc. ;.


The State, | see, takes exception to my
suggestion as 10 o reaffirmation Of the tariff
| doctrine adopted by the Democratic Con-
vention at Roanoke not long ago. Tins is
/ 10 be regretted. inasmuch as harmony in
our party is to be greatly desired just now
when the time IS drawing so near for the
meeting of our convention at Richmond.
| And with an eve 10 harmony / will make a
/ brief reply 10 the STATE. There is not so
wide variance, | submit, between the
| Tariff Reformers who constitute the ma
! iority of the Democrats in this State "
| and the Tarih-Reformers who favor the
! Roanoke doctrine as the extreme men of
! the majority may suppose there IS. IL l
am correct in this opinion there ought to
/ be but little difficulty in agreeing to dis
/ agree at least. il indeed there may not be
| an adjustment of views entirely satisfactory
/ to both sides. Let Va see: The Democratic
! Protectionists in Virginia want to have the
| despotic internal-reyenue system torn up
! by the roots, and they want 10 have the fis-
cal vacuum thereby created filled up If
| necessary for the expenditures Of the Gov
eminent by such duties upon commodities
| from foreign countries as will supply the
| deficit and at the same time AFFORD prOtec-
ton 10 the labor and the products OF our
| own country when met IN our own mar
| kets by the products OF foreign labor and
]
/ headed Democrat in Virginia who can dis
/ sent from that doctriney For the
! life of me ] cannot see how any
well-intormed American mechanic, farm
err manufacturer, miner, or any man
/ who looks 10 the mechanics. the
/ farmers, the manufacturers, and the
miners for the support Of hm busi-
/ ness, whatever it NAV be, can tal 10 give
| his approval TO this position. The Demo-
cratic PrOtectiOnists are earnest antago-
nists of monopOlies. Of trusts. of all the de-
vices and combinations on the part OF the
/ strong for the oppression Of the weak.
/ They are in favor of fostering AmTtc1n
! interests through American POLICIES IN
/ which the welfare Of all classes OF our peO-
| pie shall be Justly regarded and consistent
/ " defended How is IL with those other
/ Tariff Refor1ners "who constitute the ma
! joritv of the Democrats IN this state - |
| believe that most of them can be convinced
! that if they are not already standing on the
same ground they are certainly not very
| far from il.
/ Let us suppose the Government 20 have
/ n sufiiciency Of revenue from the sales Of
/ public lands. for example without need
/ ing any money derived from duties on I'M
/ ports, would the editor OF the STATE abol-
/ ish all duties on all imDOrtsy II y's, then
/ think Of our markets flooded with foreign
| commodities and our producers pauper-
| lied by the cOntagion of unrestricted COM
merce with countries IN which none but
/ the favored few know what it Is 10 live NJ
| a free man in free country must live TO
/ be satisfied citizen and "A safe posscssor
/ Of the suffrage that holds society here to-
/ gether as it is very differently held else
| where. If no, then TO admit that theIo
should be some duties on some imports
/ whether the revenue Is needed or rot is tO
+ admit ne principle Of protection aud
/ the wisdom of exercising II. Again there
/ IS now q law vigorously prohibiting the
/ introduction Of foreign labOrers ia tins
/ country If they come here under contract
/ TO work The purpose of this law is 10
protect the laboring man of this country
/ from the competition of cheaper labor
! from other countries. And 1t is an excel
/ lent law. Would the editor Of the STATE
repeal H.? / think not. And where
is the difference between protection
/ from cheap labor brought here and pro-
/ lection from the products OF that
same labor operating elsewhere?
The tariff plank Of the Roanoke platform
/ has nothing extreme m 1T. IL ought 10 be
again acceptable 10 the party.
/ The Stdfcsays: ." We solemnlc warn those
I who would commit the Democrats Of this
/ State TO policy on the tarin antagonistlc
/ to that Of the party IN the country ai large
that the 1arih-Retormcrs IN Virginia are
moved by q spirit Of concession and con-
citation, but that they are not 10 DE
trided with ! am very sorry 90 see this
+ intimation Of harsh measures. But the
Democratic protectionists, We are quite
sure. Will not be read ont of the party.
Nor VIII they threaten their friends ON the
other side with expulsion either. We are
all of and in the same good old party in Nir-
ciuia and for Virginia. Let w. dwell to-
/ gether. work together. and win together.
The editor Of the state may probably be
/ the Democratic candidate for Governor. If
so he will have no more cordial supporter,
/ both politically and personally, than
LONLANDER.