The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-30
Tax All Alike.
Richmond. Va. Novemher g

Richmond, Va, November ~ 1850
Editor Times: The new tariff comes be-
fore the country with that sort Of boom
which is derived from the fact that II
IL an expression Of personal sacrifices on
the part Of those who made Il. This IS
particularly illustrated In the case OF W.
l., Wilson. whose political life seems to
end with the Introduction Of coal into
the schedule Of free articles. But, how
ever much we may admire that devotion
10 principle which runs counter 10 every
selfish consideration, We cannot help re-
fectlng that every such sacrifice should
be strictly personal TO be of the weight
II Is intended to have. Let us accord
then. TO Mr.. Wilson the respect which he
really deserves for action so little tainted
with the motives which ordinarily sway
representatives. but let us fight, none the
less. with might and MAN. those views OF
this doctrauaire Samson. woh pulls down
the temple Of our fortunes about MS own
ears, not merely 30 destroy the Phlllstlnes'
but to show his own strength. Let US
sympathize as much as we may in the
loss TO the public service Of an officer
who prefers death TO even the shadow OF
COMPROMISE with cherished convictions,
but let us not be guilty OF the selhshness
Of refusing-by sharing his performance
10 permit him to exhibit distinguished
example.
| do not belong to those who approve
in an abstract way of Democratic prin-
ciples, which relate TO the raising or rev.
enue. and begin 10 kick as soon as they
are applied, especially 70 as. Nor DO
fail to recollect that government Is the
result OF a series OF compromises In the
course OF which all must concede some
thing for the benefit OF the general ad-
vantages which flow from government.
Nor vet have | ceased because the free
coal in a professed Democratic tariff Is
a threat 10 the prosperity OF Virginia
and West Virginia, 10 insist that the
Democratic idea, in regard to the tariff,
as elaborated. and announced by the
fathers. ought TO prevail. l undertake
rather to say that a free list Is not Dem
ocratic at all; nay, that IT is Republican
and that a better arrangement Of our sys-
TENS OF revenue. along the line OF Dem
ocratic principles, would be TO tax all
imported articles, and By taxing all. 60
require the smallest possible duty upon
all The necessary revenues, In this case
would go hand in hand with little burdens
everywhere and equally distributed. IL
is inequality, burdens OF taxation which
fall heavily here and not at all there
protection, which fosters monopolies and
favored sections and robs the many and
every other section, against which that
public Indignation Is aroused. which found
its expression IN the election Of 1892
And | fail 20 distinguish between the
inequalities OF the Mckinley tariff and
that inequality OF the Wilson tariff which
gives to New England, already super
abundantly protected. free coal, and takes
away from Virginia and West Virginia
their one and great chance OF prosperity
through the agencies which produce AM
carry that article; or between the protec
ton which has made the name or Me
Kinley almost a kissing and a sham'
amoug us. and the Democratic 90 ar
ticle OF Wilson. The latter. upon thu
| false and ridiculous pretense of givnt
freedom 10 so-called raw material and
OF thus adhering 10 Democratic ideas
is piling up protection and fortifying 4
| In It's greatest Republican stronghold. an,
| renting the balance OF a Democrats
| country 10 the privilege OF sucking poor
| II Democratic. paws. and OF whisting
| i'm the absence OF all natural encourage
| ment. TO keep up the courage OF Demo
cratic convictions. We will have none o
that sort OF Democ -acy. We want th'
| pure article, or none at all. But We Low
| the pure article so much that we shal
| fight in no bastard or dilettante fashion
| inside the party. not merely for the sax
| OF the organiZation-all valuable as J.
! is-but for the better sake Of those unGy
| ing truths which IL was born 10 upho'u
| and by adherence TO which the orgamza
| ton Itself can alone be preserved
| Very truly yours.
PEYToN WISE.