Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-07
Tar,f, Reform-Mr. Mus.

n there DO any trutis In the teachings Of
che scientists Of our day, the best possible
way Of securing the most desirable tarin
viii be by adopting the good features OF
the existing tariG. and amending It wher-
ever il needs amendment. The doctrine
Of the survival Of the fttest applies ~
well 10 the customs-dutes as to anything
else. Mr.. DAVID A. WILLS. one OF the
most distinguished economists IN the
United States, not to say the most distin-
guished, has declared himself in favor OF
improving the tariff in this way, which
10 the manner selected by Mr.. SrRrseER
and the Committee OF Ways and Means.
But Mr.. RoorR @. MILLS, chewing the
bitter cud of disappointment. and showing
his teeth to the Democrats who refused TO
elect him Speaker of the House OF Repre-
sentatives. and willing to ruin whore he can
not rule, declares that he will oppose the
half way measures of Mr.. SPBrsGER and the
Committee on Ways and Means. This
threat will not alarm the members OF that
committee. nor induce them to swerve
from their purpose OF passing the
best tariff law which has ever been upon
the statute-books. Ir. Mills will only
bite Oh his nose to spite his face, especial
" if he has decided to become boiler, rs
II would seem he has il he really ut
tered before the New York Tariff Reform
Club on Friday night the words follow
ing:
"I will follow wherever the nag points 20 free
trade. willfollow wherever the nag goes, no
matter who carries 1t, and viii tight wherever
the battle lie pitched
Translated into plain English. that decla-
ration represents Mr. Mills as ready to de-
ser. the Democratic party on the tariff CUES
ton and follow bis free-trade flag where
ever it goes, and no matter who carries 1t,
Democrat or Republican. He also
threatens to fight wherever the free-trsde
battle is pitched. This. too. seems to be
threat to bolt; but we trust that Dir. MILLS
will come out IN card explaining
that his language above quoted was not
meant to be understood as threatening
that he will have no tariff reform except
MLLs's tariff reform.
And vet Mr.. MILLS has just rs much right
to bolt as the Democrats IN New York who
object to the action of the regular Demo-
cratic State Committee in fixing the day
for the meeting of the Democratic State
Convention to elect delegates to the Demo-
cratic National Convention to nominate
candidates for President and Vice-Presi-
dent of the United States. And Mr.. MILLS
and these New York kicking Democrats
will have just as much right to bolt the
nominations that will be made at Chicago
as to revolt against the action of the Demo
Gratis in the House of Representatives on
the tariff question, or the action OF the
State committee Of New York on the
question OF the date of the meeting
of the Democratic State Convention to
send delegates TO Chicago. II such insub-
ordination is encouraged. Mugwumps and
conditional Dem show themselves
everywhere and threaten to divide the
Democratic party for the fiimsiest reasons.
Chronic boilers are cranks. They recognize
no authority but force. Force. therefore, il
the only argument that can safely and pro-
fitably be addressed to them. We venture
to say that nothing will ever be made by
endeavoring to placate such sticklers for
their own notions. They belong TO the
holier-thsn-thou +" fraternity.