The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-26

I
The excitsment attending the nominations
Of both parties has now about subsidized ana
the voters are beginning to consider seriously
| the names of the campaign. These issues are
/ CLEARLY act forth before the people in the plat
| forms of the two parties 80 plainly that a
| child can understand them. and every voter OF
| the land will therefore have no difficulty In
| deciding how be should cast bis ballot.
The two subjects Of the greatest moment to
ba considered are Tariff Reform and the
Force Bill. OF these Tariff Reform is the one
in which the whole country has personal IN
terest. Every farmer in the land who has to
purchase farming implements in whole or 10
part Of iron. OF who has TO provide himself
and family with comfortable clothing; every
woman who has to purchase tin-ware and
cooking utensils, and do her regular shopping
for herself and children; every consumer o.
every class in the country. and all
persons who have TO buy articles imperatvely
necessary 10 their existence are, individually
and collectively directly interested in reform
of the Tariff. for that Tariff. as it now exists,
lays q heavy burden upon the shoulders OF
them ell for the support both Of the manufac-
turer and the Government. BY the shutting
out Of imports the lucky manufacturing
monopolist is given absolute control Of the
home markets. and can exact what tribute he
pleases from the toiling masses, while the
reduction of customs revenue. through the
decrease of imports. creates q deficiency in the
Treasury which must be made up by taxation
of the people. and so the average man IS
forced TO pay double taxes, once TO the manu-
faoturer for his goods and again to the Gov
eminent for its support.
Surely every consumer in every section Of
this broad land must wish to be relieved OF
such monstrous and unnecessary burdens Of
taxation imposed upon him that a few rich
may grow richer, while he becoming poorer
and poorer, is compelled to toll for the benefit
of others. But even all this hardship, which,
if anything, weighs more heavily on the
Southern farmer and planter than any other
class of people. because he is less able 10 bear
the load of taxation imposed upon him, sinks
into insignifcance when the Force Bills con-
sidered. What advantage would it be to the
people of the South if they had all the
money in the world. and could purchase,
without inconvenience. the best Of every
hing if they must have their elections con-
trolled by United States bayOnets and Federal
Marshals: negroes laced over them every
where; negro judges on the bench; negro rep
resentatiyes in Congress; negro policemen on
the streets negro guests at the hotels; negroes
in the theatres and at our restaurants in short.
the negro everywhere lording itsupercilionsly
and insolenty over the whites? WhatiSouth-
ern man can think Of such state Of affairs
without his blood boiling?
Yet this is exactly what will happen II the
Republicans win. The Northern taxpayer
will still have TO groan and sweat under the
imposition of McKnleyism, but the South
ern gentleman and citizen, in addition to this,
will find himself bound hand and foot and
given over to Republican scalawags of negro
masters. II any one thinks this Is e1aggera-
ton. let him recall the horrors Of reconstruc-
ton. the terrible experience of which period
is not 80 far in the past as TO be forgotten
Aud then let any Southern man. when he re-
calls those fearful DAYS. vote if he dares the
Republican ticket, either directly as O Bepub- /
lican. or indirectly as q member of any So
called Third party. When these facts are |
brought home to them face to face it cannot /
be possible that any Southern State can be 30 |
nsanely idiotic as TO prove recreant to
themselves and the Democracy