Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-08
Smear Bounties.

We have always regarded it as blunder
of the worst kind on the part Of the Re
publicans that they ever consented to 90
before the people and advocate bounties
upon domestic sugars. The few sugar.
planters IN LouIsiena, backed by the
makers Of sugar in the West. constitute a
small band az compared with the millions
OF consumers Of sugar. Thirty or forty
years ago, it may have seemed as If good
policy might Justify tariff for the protsc-
ton of this infant industry; but when
year after year the sugar crop showed
the same meagre results-showed, III
deed. that sugar was in n sense
sort Of pauper industry which
did not promise ever TO DO able TO
support itself-then came the time TO
adopt new policy touching sugar. The
new policy OF the Republican party con-
sisted Of reducing the tariff upon import
ed sugar and paying bounty upon the
home product. The Republicans had the
courage OF their convictions, lot it be said
to their credit. and Incorporated into their
platform Of two years ago the plank which
we have lust mentioned, and went into
the fight of that year standing upon that
platform. We all know how badly they
were beaten. and with what feeling OF
surprise they must have contemplated the
disastrous consequences of their bold but
Ill-timed and lli-iudged sugar policy.
VIII the National Republican Conven-
ton dare TO stand next November upon
the platform from which the Republicans
fell so recently2 VIII they 60 before the
people advocating q bounty upon beet
eugar and cane sugar and all other home
sugars. and at the same time advocating
lower tariff upon imported sugars! we
shall ere long see. The Minneapolis con-
yention will soon be here. The people OF
the whole country will demand clear-cut
policy from the national conventions Of
both the great parties. The Minneapolis
platform will be constructed first. and
the Democratic platform may be some
what modified by the nature of the
blanks which may constitute the former.
If the Republicans send out a bold chal-
leuge the Democrats may accept 1t and
with equal boldness fling their banner to
,le breeze. The Republicans will either
we to desert their sugar bantling or re-
t,rnize IL and undertake to feed and
urisb il. They are generally bold
fl,urh, but we cannot but expect them
l., cause the little sugar-boy to stand aside
I,r "A time-that is. during the pending
lection. The Democrats cry of tariff
,eformr will be the only plank which 1t
e,lll be necessary for them TO lay down IN
their platform on the sugar question.
However, as the demand for financial re-
form will have to be postponed by the
Democratic National Convention for sea-
,on. md the Republicans know this fact.
the latter may decide to adopt on the
fucar question the Fabian policy. which
the Democrats will be forced TO adopt
touching the silver question.
But will the Democrats be able to carry
Louisiana upon a platform upon which
the people of that State have not been
wont TO standg Will the sugar planters
60 10 the ballot-box and cast their votes
for tho Democratic nominee for President
If the United States in the face of the
facts we have just mentioned-namely
the bounties which the Republicans ofel
TO the makers Of sugar, and the cold
shoulder which the Democrats will proba'
bly, turn towards them? This is ques.
ton which the Republicans will be sure
20 consider, for without the vote of Lou
isiana the solid South will no longer bt
solid. Louisiana's eight votes substracted
the total vote of the southern States (be
ginning with Delaware will be only l5l.