Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-08
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 8. 1892.
Mr.. Blaine's "Contribution. /"

Mr.. BLAIgg's contribution" to the
Republican campaign documents appeared
in our columns yesterday. tits, of course,
well-eonsidered and able paper. Mr..
BLAINE is great demagogue-not in the
offensive sense of the word, but in the
chronological sense of IL. II he were to
take the stump tor HARBIsoS his speeches
would forthwith arouse the enthusiasm of
the Republicans. He would soon make
the campaign red-hot. The Democrats may
well be glad, not because of his misfor-
tunes, but because his absence from the
field of battle renders IL more certain than
1t was before that Mr.. CLEVELAND will wear
the lsurels of success after the sth of No
vember next. He is the Man of Destiny
once more.
Mr.. BIAIsE's letter treats what he con-
siders the three most important issues in
volved IN the pending contest. The Nc
kISLKY tariff is discussed with ability. He
endeavors TO make the worse the better
cause" and INDUCES in arguments which
we would like to hear discussed in the old
Virginia and western style--that IL, before
the people assembled in mass-meeting.
Mr.. BLAME called upon the ghost of john
@. CALHOUN, that greatest of southern
statesmen except Mr.. JEFFERSON, and tired
TO frighten the people. But of course Mr..
BLAINE knows we'll that MIR. CALHOUN was
the purest of our statesmen and altogether
man of whom every citizen of this great
republic ought to be proud.
Mr.. BLAINE maintains that the Demo-
Gratis have no right 10 claim Mr.. JEFFERSON
as their leader or as the advocate of such
tariff as they favor. He will neverthe-
less find in every State in the Union that
Mr.. JEFFERSON is recognized as the founder
of the Democratic party. And rs to the
tariff, the Republicans themselves demon
strated in 1890 right before the eyes of the
people that the consumer pays the tariff
tax on sugar, and if he pays the taxes on
sugar be pays all customs duties in the
end.
Mr.. BLAME next discusses his reciprocity
schemes. We said yesterday, as we had
said many times before, that whatever is
good in Dir. BLAISE's reciprocity policy is
the property of the Democratic party.
We add that 1t ought TO be reclaimed by
our Democratic speakers upon every stump
IN the land. Reciprocity is Democracy, as
far as il goes What does reciprocity re-
quire at our hands? Simply that we shall
reduce our customs duties TO a reasonable
point. If he would be consistent, Mr..
BLAINE should cry out against cutting down
his high tariff. THAT tariff is intended
for the protection of our workingmen,
x.,, IN - toY
pered with" Mr.. BLAINE, however. is not
consistent, and so does not shout to the
Democrats, Hands of, )" but proceeds TO
advocate q reduction in this Republican
tariff, and so aligns himself with the
Democrats so far as reciprocity requires
him TO do. And. more inconsistent still,
Mr.. BLAINE whilst advocating reciprocity
claims that the MCKINLEY bill has worked
admirably" and adds that " agriculture is
remunerative. manufactures are prosper
Gus, and commerce is more flourishing
than at any previous time" Let the mort
gagged farms of the West, the North
west, and the South reply TO this
argument. II required extraordinary
efrontery to enable any man TO make such
an assertion as the one just quoted. MIR.
BLAINE cannot believe that 1t is true; or
if he does he is blinded by partisan feel
ings and by his own connection with the
McKIsLEY act. Reciprocity and the tariff
involve questions SO similar that We need
not apologize for discussing them. BLAINE
again lauds the Democratic policy when
he asserts that the free-list Of the McKIN-
LEY bill Is larger in the number of articles
and in the aggregate amount of their i'm
port value than the dutiable list" This
remark might be made Of the MILLS bill.
Mr.. BLAINE next takes up the currency
question. This subject Mr.. CLEVELAND
will, we suppose, discuss in his letter of
acceptance, and the Democrats will be
willing to take him as he is. let his views
on this question be whatever they may.
Mr.. BLAINE draws q strong indictment
against the old banking-system of this
country.