The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-12

II is both interesting and amusing TO OBJ
serve the attitude Of the leading organ, Of
high protection towards the farming classes
Of the North when the latter give exprcs-
sion, either through representative Speakers
or i'm the platforms Of their conventions. 90
their growing discomfort with The Unequal
tiles Of the tariff. This attitude is either
that Of earnest depreciation Of the COM
n'aints ofihis class.as calculated TO weaken
the ranks of The most earnest supporters Of
The protective principles, or it is ihltof inn
patient rcmonstrance,as if these complaints
had no just ground 10 sustain them.
The latter is The position generally taken
by the New York Tribune, which is The
ablest. most plausible and most uncom-
promising Of AN the newspapers that adyo-
cate The existing tariff and this position is
only varied on its part by an occasional in-
diligence i'm sneeriug sarcasms, either at The
expense Of the farmers, who desire the pres
ent tariff rates % Doe lowered. or of those
manufacturers whose interests lead them 20
favor free raw materials.
Atareccnt meeting of the Michigan Pat
rons Of Industry that influential body adopt
ed the following resolution
Owe are i'm favor Of such revision of our
National revenue laws as viii protect pro-
ducers. Iaborers and farmers against ruin
Gus competition Of foreign production and
cheaper labor. The present tariff laws are
UNEQUAL. i'm that the manufacturer is given
more protection than the producer. Manu-
featured goods are given preference over
raw materials from our farms and mines,
and capital is given preference over pro-
duccrs and laborersn
TOan unbiased mind, this resolution seems
not only reasonable, as practically urging
that what is sauce for the goose should also
be sauce for the gander, but it also appears
10 be sufficiently perspicuous. To the Iri-
bune. however it is decidedly vague, and
that paper i'm its issue of yesterday pro-
ceeds I'm uneQuivocal terms 10 reOuke Che
Patrons Of Industry for furnishing the DEM
ocratic party with such excellent grounds
for declaring that the farmers of Michigan
have openly announced that they favor "a
reduction Of the tariff. It reproaches
them i'm terms almost of trepidation. as
90 the Interpretation that has already been
putupon these resolutions by these who
have been using every means 20 create q
strong sentiment ion favor of free raw mate
rails. "TLere is strength in unity 10 dc.
clsres: "not I'm division. The true policy
for an who desire defence OF Americana
is not to lind fault. because in the shifting
OF prices or cost of production, or through
The mistakes Of Legislators. this on that in-
terest has gained more than Others but g.
submit in a straightforward and manly way
the reasons for better defense of those in-
dustrics which have not enough. The only
chance Of the enemies Of protection is TO di-
vide its friends and get them TO quarrelling
among themselves. when those friends an
stand together, asking fair and adequate
protection for an industries, they are in-
yiucible not only in logic. but i'm num-
bofsr
lnymciblc not only in Logic but i'm nuns
bersl The logic is only 20 be found i'm the
pockets of the favored few who are thriving
through the operation of the tariff. at the
expense Of the many. The numbers. wo
are disposed % think from the evidences
that are constantly presenting themselves.
are slowly. but not the less surely, melting
away. The uneasiness TO De detected i'm the
tone of all the leading newspapers that are
supporting the present iarin laws. from ihe
New York Tribune down 20 tine least im-
portant in the list, is a premonition OF ruin
that is entitled 90 much consideration. THE
clustering and contemptuous language
in which these newspapers formerly in-
dulged so freely has been dropped Jon
measure, and they are now forced 20 de-
scend TO arguments, reproaches and rcmon
strances. The cause of this change is un-
doubleday to be discovered in the growth of
the Farmers Alliance IN an parts Of the
West, and the res0lute attitude they have
everywhere assumed towards the iarn sys-
tenn that is now operating SO deuimontsIly
to their interests.