Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-22
Republican Inconsistency.

The principal measure engaging the at
tention of the United States Senate at pres
ent is that old sore which the Republi-
cans have kept fostering IN American poll
tics-the tariff bill. They have been dick
erinr with II for years. and will continue
10 harp upon il and make capital out OF 1t
As long as they can fool the people with
their sophistries and grow fat.
The question Of national finance IL in
ANY aspect a dangerous element in poll
tics. and when brought upon the hastings
/. is the demagogues delight. He can
prove TO the satisfaction Of his hearers
anything he likes. He suits the statement
of his case 10 what he wants 20 prove, and
withreckless statistical assertions IN figures
way UP in the billions he has none TO con-
trovert them. There is probably no other
question Of general policy than this Of
the tariff upon which 60 vast an amount
of ignorance is displayed. What the
people don't know about II would
FL - well. many worlds. The Re-
publican statesmen who do understand
II purposely pervert the truth of It's work
sncs to perpetuate their power through
wealthy trusts and monOpolies, in the
Senate on Wednesday Hon. JOHN w. Dam
I'LL showed up the fallacy of their teachings.
His practical expose of the great injustice
high tariff does TO the farmers is said to
have made the Republicans very uncom-
Portable and he was several times inter
rupted with the view of drawing his fire.
Mr.. ALLISON was successful in his effort.
ana Mr.. DASIEL made that fire I'M
commonly hot for him. for after
replying to some questions Of that
senator az to Argentine wool he said that
Senator ALLISON had in times past made
some observations in the same line that he
was making even now, and he would there
fore refer the senator of to-day 70 the
senator of yesterday.
And so il Is with them all. They hold
IN untenable position, and have TO change
front with every emergency.
A recent and most pointed instance of
Republican inconsistency is shown in the
correspondence between Minister REID and
the French Government in relation TO the
American pork question. and especially in
a letter TO NJ. RIBor. Mr.. REID points out
that the exclusion Of American pork had
been upon sanitary grounds, and SAYS II IL
only candid TO explain that majority
of the Senators and Representatives,
including especially those from the
great corn-growing and pork-producing
States, regard the attitude of France
as without warrant i'll fact and I'M
friendly. "This old and growing feeling
arises" he says, unlike your recent COM
plants about our tariff bills. from no mere
objection to the size of the duty y0u choose 10
impose. although ,oiltia recent years yo1e hare
greatly increased IL. o, 10 minor detGtls IN yOlT
e,isiOm-holse methods. II springs from a
grievance moro serious and deep-seated-
your persistent discrimination i'll favor of
the products of Germany, Italy, England.
and other countries against those of your
historic friend, which you absolutely pro-
hibit on the charge OF their bad quality.
We ask tie repeal Of this prohibition as an act
Of naked Justice too long deferred"
Was there ever such downright cool i'm
pudence as this? The editor Of that radi-
cally Republican sheet the New York Tri-
bune, WHITELAw REID. the man who has
smassed great wealth and finally secured
first-class foreign mission through years of
preaching tho highest of high tariffs, lee
turing the French Government upon their
unjust tariff upon American pork. This
is truly farce. II is a keen satire upon
Republican politics. OF course the French
people have no right to decide at what
point tariff ceases to be taria and becomes
prohibition. That must be determined by
Their lecturer, the father of the tariff. Mr..
WHIrHLAw REID. And in his decision it all
depends upon the old question Of whose
OK is gored."