Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-06

w always read the Atlanta Constitution
with pleasure We have borne testimony
10 tie ability with which it Is edited. 1t
Is a power 10 the Empire State Of the
South. and circula'eS FAR and wide in
other States. Nevertheless We have
thought sometimes that 1t did not appre-
cate tho condition of things IN Virginia
and some other States. seeing that IL advO-
Gates at least 90 measure which, If II
should become the law of the land, would
ruin Virginia. Nemoau tariff levied for
revenue purposes only. The Constitution
has the following paragraphs on this sub
ject. We quote:
.Ihe other day the Constitution said that tho
Democratic platform declares protection 70 Do
unconstitutional. and pleiges tae party 20 a
taris for revenue only. Whereupon the RICH
MOND DISPATCH serenely remarks. 1t was just
such paragraphs as the above that lei us into
tho belief that the Georgia Democrats were not
"harmonious.7 Surely our Atlanta contempt.
rary knows-yee, knows-thst this country Will
never have tarii for revenue only.
"Surely, surely our aIable Richmond con-
Temporary is familiar with the solemn pledges
made 10 the people in the Democratic platform.
The Committee on Resolutions brought In &
tariff plank with protection In 1t, but the cOnyen-
zion representing the party repudiate1 1t IN a
way to leave no room for doubt as to what the
Democrats wanted. The cut and dried tariff
resolution Of tho committee was trampled under
foot, and the convention, amidst tho most In
tease enthusiasm, formulated a tarin plank Of
its own. declaring that protection Is unconstitu-
iional and pledging tho party 70 the repeal OF
the Mckinley law AMI 10 a tarid Tor revenue
only.
ave call tho attention Of our serenely doubt
full contemporary 10 tho fact that this decara.
ton OF the convention was not as important as
the result that followed. The people took the
party az its word; they construed the declara-
ton 10 mean what II said; they accepted 1t as
Il pledge. aud on that pledge with others they
lifted the party into power
"Wiu the DISPATCH tell US that tae declara-
ton and the result mean nothing tho
party IS sailing under false colors-,hat 1t does
not purpose 10 lift the burdens Of protect i've
legislation from the people,"
The facts stated by tho Constitution
mean. "a we interpret thom, just the re-
verse of what that paper interprets them
to mean. The fact that in tho Chicago
convention the large and highly-iutell-
gent Committee On the Platform reported
against a tariff for revenue only is evil
dence sufficient TO satisfy us that the ad-
voca;es of that measure are IN the mi
norlty, and that tho next Congress will
not even so much as undertake TO frame
such tariff.
A tariff for revenue only means tariff
levylng heavy customs-duties upon sugar.
A Democratic Congress would not dare to
lay such duties. Thev would fail upon the
people IN proportion 10 their number in
stead OF In proportion to their ability to
purchase that necessary Of life. So as 10
coffee, tea. &C.. DC.
Countervailing duties are levied not for
revenue, but for protection or prohibition.
Therefore tariff for revenue only would
abolish all countervailing duties levied to
protect the tobacco interests of this coun-
TRY against the effects of the heavy tax iTn-
posed upon them by the internal-revenue
laws. Such tariff would admit foreign
made cigars. cheroots, cigarettes. chew
Ing tobacco, DC, &c, into this country.
Of course the Virginia tobacco manufac-
turers and tobacco handlers could not
pay s. per hundred on the tobacco
they manufacture and at the same time
successfully compete with rivals IN Can
ada or elsewhere, paying no such internal
taxes, but exporting their goods to the
United States free Of duties. In word,
tariff for revenue only would pauperize
Richmond and every Virginia tobacco
town, and ruin Virginia herself. The
counteryailing duties. we repeat, are levied
not 70 raise revenue. but TO prohibit the
Importation Of to articles into this
country.
In word, rash pledges must not and
will not be rashly redeemed. The tariff of
the next Democratic Congress mus, be- a
tarif OF discriminating duties. We be.
iieve the statement &c be true that Mr..
CLEVELAND would have been elected upon
the platform reported by the Chicago con-
vention's Platform Committee.
Our Atlanta contemporary must excuse
US II we say onca more that its tariff
articles seem to US 20 be somewhat like
those Of tho New York Saa-that is 10 say.
intended TO show tho original CLEVELAND
man that Aey have 'put their foot into !
u On tho taria question. Possibly we do |