The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-05
THE CAMPAIGN OF '92.

At the protection banquet held in New
York last week high protection as the ke-
publican slogan for ~. was decidedly en-
phasized This was only expected as matter
Of course The Mckinley law when 1t was
first passed settled that, and it has been
recognized by universal consent that Pro-
lection VS. Tariff Reform is TO be the issue
upon which the next presidential battle is TO
be joined.
But the friends Of monopoly and protec ton
Of tho few at the expense of the many went
so far at that banquet that they plainly be-
trayed the plan upon which they would Ike
to see the campaign conducted and which
they will force upon the Democracy If they
can. and this is that they wish the issue 10
appear as protection against Free Trade"
II the Protectonists could fasten the
charge Of being free traders upon the Demo
Gratis. it would. Of course. give them immense
advantage: out they will find that in attempt
ing 10 do 50 they will impose on themselves
an.impossble task. Free trade, under condi-
tions which will admit Of it, would no doubt
always he of great benefit 10 any people by
whom it might be enjoyed. The Creator,
when he decreed different climates and
products for different regions OF the
earth. never intended that those products
should be enjoyed only by the inhabitants OF
the special climes suitable for them. 1t was
evidently intended az a part Of the great
economy Of nature, that all mankind should
do their individual duties in that state OF life
- 81 rCd 70 them
that the whole brotherhood Of man should
share equally in the blessings resulting from
those various duties properly performed 1t IS
undoubtedly the ethics Of trade that the Is
ouimaux of the Arctics should freely enjoy
the fruits of the tropics and the native OF
the, tropics should be benefited as far as may
be by the productions Of the Arctics.
But every sensible person knows that the
practical realization Of this ideal can never
fully he this side of the millennium, and that
absolute free trade cannot exist anywhere
until the world has been formed into one
grand nation, and men shall become one
grand family. knowing no discussions, no dis
putes, and no war Certainly every think
ing man must know that it will be many
generations to come before this country
of ours can enjoy anything like un-
restricted commercial intercourse with other
nations. for 50 long as the interest on an
enormous public debt has to be paid, and so
long rs hundreds Of millions Of dollars per
annum have 10 be expended in pensions and
TO meet the regular running expenses OF the
Government. 50 long must we have revenue.
and that revenue must mainly be raised either
by duties on imports or direct taxation. No
PARTY in favor of the latter could command
corporal's guard of supporters, and therefore
it is imperative that the former be resorted to-
This the Democracy fully recognize, and
therefore they are not, and cannot be, IN favor
of free trade They must favor a tariff, but
at the same time they must. and do demand
lust and equitable tarif-one not for the
benefit Of the lev. but Of the many, and one
50 adjusted as to be as little burdensome as
possible, and to bear equally upon all without
the oppression of any.
This is the Democratic doctrine of tariff
reform. and it is the doctrine with which they
met and Overwhelmingly routed the monpo-
lists last fall They will hold and maintain it
in 1892. and they will neither allow the friends
of protection of the few at the expense of the
many to divert them from their main pur-
pose by silver or any other doubtful issue, nor
to place them in false position by the sense
less and deceptive cry of free trade.