The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-17
MIR. HARRISON AND PROTECTION.

II will be noticed that President Harrison
in his Southern tour gushes with apparently
great enthusiasm over the prosperity Of VIZ
ginia and INDUCES in all manner Of glowing
hopes for the continuance Of her growth IN
wealth and influence. He does not seem to
think Of the inconsistency Of his present
kind wishes when contrasted with his very
recent hard efforts to destroy all chance OF
her future prosperity, and to oIins
the chaos of reconstruction days back
again by his urgent advocacy Of the
passage of the Force bill. The animus OF his
new found friendship, however, is easily seen.
lie ia most anxious candidate for renomi-
tion. and his present tour of the South and
West is evidently with the purpose Of
STRENGTHENING himself III those two sections
where rc feels himself o. he weakest, and, at
the same tme 10 try and convert the people
10 the heresies Of the Mckinley robber protec-
ton law.
Although Mr.. Harrison rather dOgmati-
cally attributes the wonderful strides onward
which the South has made, despite the persis-
tent efforts of himself and his party 70 retard
her progress, 10 protection, he still insists that
the currency question will be the main issue
in the next presidential contest In this Mr..
Harrison gives uttcrance to a wish which IS
father 10 the thought. There are many I'M
answerahle reasons why the currency problem
will be subordnatcd 10 the tariff. and why
tariff reform versus protection VIII be the
main iS-uc 20 be decided by the people in '92.
That this Is so il incontroycrible. I'm the
first place the currency problem, which
simply means the free and unlimited coinage
Of silver. cannot be made % political issue in
the next Presidential campaign. Both parties
are equally divided upon it. and no more con-
elusive proof of this fact can be educed than
that President Harrison and eX-Prcsidcnt
Cleveland. each being recognized rs
a leading representative of his respec-
tive party. are in line in opposition
to free silver coinage. How Harrison can run
against Cleveland on an issue in which both
are agreed is hard to understand. If the
Democrats adopt free coinage plank in their
national platform they will offend tho oppo-
ncnts Of free coinage in their party. and the
same is true Of the Republicans. The silver
fiN'0llOu, lltlflIltt ~ 'll' NlAl'h 'NtA'AN' "
compromise.
The most potent reason why tariff reform
will be the great issue in 1892, however, Is
that the Democratic party would be guilty of
the extreme Of folly if they permitted 1t 20
be otherwise. Here they have before them
question raised Ia 1858. upon which the
campaign of that year was fought, and.
So far as the popular vote Is con-
cerncd. won. In 1890 after the Republicans
had bought the Presidency with Quay's cor
uption fund. and had made ultra protection
their Smbbolcth the people decided against
them with such an unanimous voice as to
make the Democratic victory in that cam
paign phenomenal For tine Democrats, then,
10 allow themselves TO be defrauded of the
advantages they have gained, would not only
be suicidal, but the height of political folly.
II is the climax Of absurdity for Mr.. lIar-
rson 10 imagine otherwise The campaign
Of ~ will be wagcd on the question whether
the people prefer wholesome and whole
sale tariff reform. or continuation of the
iniquitios Of the Mckinley law relieved br
modified free trade under the name II
reciprocity. On this issue the Democracy
can appeal to the country with perfect con-
fdeuce.