Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-02
The Tariff Must BE Settled.


The Tariff Must BE Settled.
The Republican charge that the suc-
cess OF the Democratic party in 1872 80
frightened manufacturers as to cause
them TO shut up their factories and
await the action of the present Demo
cratic Congress on the subject OF The
tariff must not be treated as unworthy OF
the consideration of that party.
Such fright may be just as unreason-
able as the panic said to have been caus-
ed by the SHERMAN silver law, but
which Mr. SHERMAN, ex-Speaker REED,
and so many other well-informed per-
sons declare TO be due to other causes,
vet it will do just as much harm as il it
were true unless the Democrats prove
by their action that the Republican con-
tention on this point is not we'll founded.
"a false alarm OF fire in o crowded
building does as much harm as true
one" This saying has been employed
innumerable times during the last few
months.
We call the attention of Demo
Gratis everywhere to the following strong
ly stated propositions, as they appear in
the Cincinnati Commercial"
''The country, irrespective OF party,
urged an early vote on the silver ques-
ton; the same country now urges early
action on the tariff question. The post
ponement of the latter question means
the continuance OF that distrust which
closes factories, depresses capital en-
gagged in industries, stops the wheels and
looms and spindles, and adds daily to
the number OF unemployed wage-earners.
No matter what the weather may be in
Washington, or however anxious men,
bers of Congress may be for recess, it
must be apparent to every intelligent
observer that immediate action IS de-
mauded. For this, responsibility rests
with the Democratic party; it has been,
by the people. placed in full control, and
by the people it will be called upon to
account for its stewardship"
We are rejoiced to know that the
Democratic House of Representatives
has determined to proceed at once with
the work of tariff reform. The defeat
OF the Democrats in the elections of
next year might be a matter Of little
concern to the northern Democrats, but
it would, or rather might, prove to be
the precursor to the election of Repub-
lican President and Republican Con-
gress in 1896, and the enactment of the
force bill into law. Let no southern
man fatter himself that return to re-
construction methods is impossible. or
even improbable. There is nothing
improbable in the expectation or fear
that the party which, in the Fifty-tirst
Congress, proposed and endeavored to
pass bill putting all congressional
elections into the hands of federal
officials. and making it possible for the
Republicans to perpetuate that hateful
rule for generations, if not for ever-we
say there is nothing improbable in the
apprehension that such party will do
anything and everything that lies in its
power to cause the South again to pass
under the reconstruction yoke. The
spirit OF THAD. STEVENS. ZACH CHANDLER
Ben BUTLER and other and notorious
characters lives in the bosoms of Tom
REED, BoUTELLE, and theman who stood
by them few years ago in their effort
to destroy the rights of the minority in
the House OF Representatives.
Let us drop no threads. Tariff reform
must be effected as soon as possible.
Let the tariff be revised at onceor the
public notified that the factories may 20
to work without fear Of being stopped
by unfriendly legislation.