The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-09
pEMocnAoY Fon FngE TEADE.


George Tieknor Gurus on the Attitude OF
tho Democratic Par -It RspudIatos An
Protection.
The following letter from George
Ticknor Curtis, the great Democratic
constitutional lawyer, appears in the
Americ5n Economic:
RlcHPIELD SPRINGS, Nov. 20, 1892.
". T. Tatsalaa, Eq., GRera! Secretary, An'eriean
Protective IGrg LlgJue, Ne'7 York
Dean SlR:-The New York Times, in
its issue of yesterday, thus quotes ap-
provingly from the London Economist
ut must never be forgotten that there isuo free
trade party In the United States. but Inc dlIer'
euce between the Democratic and VIC hepuDl!'
can party IS Substitution OF modern ior extreme
protection. The Republicans desire TO remove
all their home manufacturers from the compel,
ton OF foreign producers, while Democrats VIII
give ia!r measure Of pFotceuon, however win
the possibilities OF competition, 50 that con-
suners may not be unfairly treated
This Is the temperate advice OF tue LONDON
Econ0mii, one OF the most convinced Tree tilue
journals Ia England, TO rs readers. ltrepresihS
the view that Is taken now. and has been taEeh
for yc=.s past, by intelligent English observers
OF the situation In America. II is essentially
sound vle'g. We commend 1t TO the attention
Oh senator 4iiWleg, OF lOuueEklClAt hAggsS H'It.N
seems still darkened by tOrebodinss OF disaster
from the influence of the recent election.
Tho London paper is entirely mis-
taken. There is free trade party in
the United States. 1t is the Democratic
party as now organized and led. By its
late action it has entirely renounced
the principle OF protection, maintains
ing that any protection is both uncon-
stitutional and un.Democratic. How,
then, can this party favor what the
London paper calls moderate" protec.
ton? The difference between moderate
and extreme protection is q difference
OF degree; but the difference between
any protection at all and no protection
at all is difference OF principle.
The Democratic party, as it is now
organized and led, repudiates all pro-
lection. 1t makes no account OF de-
grees; it goes for the destruction OF a
system. On the other hand, the Repub-
lican party, adhering to the constiiu-
ton, and to the policy that has been
pursued ever since the constitution was
made, seeks to preserve the principle OF
protection, and it does not seek to de-
iermine what possibilities OF COMPETE
ton" can be provided for, $50 that con.
sumers may not be unfairly treated"
We want no competition between our
own manufacturers and foreigners, in
our own market, in respect to the came
articles. We can furnish our consumers
with az good articles as can be brought
from foreign countries; or, il there are
some articles produced in foreign coun'
tries that are OF superior grade to
those made here, let our consumers
who want such Injuries pay an en-
HANGED price for them. This has always
been our policy, and it always must be,
ii we mean to maintain our indepen-
dence. and to keep the control of our
own industries in our own HANDS.
Senator Hawley's mind may DO
"darkened by forebodings Of disaster
from the influence OF the recent cleo
ton" l suppose tho Times considers
that my mind is equally darkened. The
difference. however, is that the senator
is Republican and l am Democrat.
If Mr.. Hawley is in the dark, it is a
darkness that he shares with all the
superior minds that have governed his
country for period OF hundred years.
If I am in the dark, it is a darkness
that / share with Webster and Clay and
Jackson and Van Buren, and Buchanan,
and all the great lights Of the Wing
and Democratic parties.
The truth is, that when political
party renounces principle in which it
has long acted, there must inevitably
be great peril to the public interests,
unless the opposite party can succeed
in winning for that principle the con-
tinued support OF the people.
Yours, very truly,
GEO. TIcKNoR CURTIS.