The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-15
AND WHAT Is TO COME =?

Whatever else may De Sald or III me
country can at least congratulate itself
that the contest over tariff is
ended for a time, certainly That is, it is
ended. supposing Mr. Cleveland does not
do the very foolish thing Of vetoing the
bill, and that its validity as an act is
not attacked in the courts Obstinate as
Mr. Clevelauds opposition to the bill has
been. we cannot bring ourselves TO think
that he would veto it. 1t is an industrial
sneasure-a measure Of policy-and of that
Congress. and not the President, Is the
Judge. under our institutions.
There IS undoubtedly force in the argu-
ment which Mr.. Reed made that the
bill was not before the House for its
action. We think, however. that Mr..
Crisp answered 1t satisfactorily, and that
the courts would certainly overrule any
assault that might be made upon the
method by which IT is declared passed.
We apprehend no trouble. therefore. upon
this score, and we look upon the contro-
versy as consequently settled for the
present at least
The determination Of the House to pass
Its separate bills for putting coal, iron ore
and sugar upon the free list. is very
small-sized piece of peanut politics. The
members may think that IL will go some
distance towards indicating their CON
sistency" with their constituents, but 1t
is not by actions of this sort that masses
determine that a public man is a states
man. The masses will much more readily
accord 10 a public man the character of
statesman for confessing error and chang
ing a course than for obstinately adhering
10 foolish position simply because that
position has once been taken.
This doctrine Of free raw materials is
not Democratic doctrine and neither the
President nor members of Congress are
going TO make the masses of the Demo-
cratic party accept 1t as Democratic doc
trine, however much they may iterato
and reiterate their pronunciamentos on
the subject.
II Is true that there is Just enough in
the Democratic platform TO create a cloak
behind which fight for such a PROPOSE
ton can be maintained. But II is cloak,
and nothing more. 1t is a proposition
that is In direct war with the very foun-
dalton OF Democracy-that the laws shall
bear in exactly the same way upon all
and such mention of 1t as the platforms
have made has been secured by manage
ment and tugglery. and not by the consent
of the Democratic voters Of the country,
after the subject had been discussed be-
fore them and understood by them. We
have been constantly asking every Demo
cratic voter we have seen for the past
three weeks If he understood that in
voting for MIR. Cleveland In 1882 he was
voting for free raw materials, and we have
not found a single one who says that he
did. 1t is, therefore, neither more or
less than preposterous nonsense TO say
that free raw materials is Democratic
doctrine. 1t violates the foundation
principle of Democracy. and has only
got such acknowledgment as the plat
form gives IL by trick
All three OF the bills that the House
has passed should be defeated In the Sem
ate. A bin striking out every element Of
protection to the Sugar Trust should pass
the House and should be ratified by the
Senate But sugar Is proper subject Of
taxation and revenue duty should be
imposed upon IT, The bill which the
House has passed puts II upon the free
list. and the only argument for that is
the claim In favor OF 1.-THE poor mans free
breakfast table" This is rothing but
the most contemplate demagogy, that a
decent man should be ashamed Of
There is no more substance in the bill for
taxing imported coal 40 cents a ton. The
only coal that can be imported into this
country Is the Nova Scotia coal. and
the only place where II can compete with
the American coal Is along the New Eng
land coast. AZ we have already shown
whether free or taxed 40 cents n ton n
mas monopoly of that market. Ii can
pay the tax OF 40 cents. and still exclude
west virginia and Maryland coal from
Boston. III free il Will, Of course. then
require the Bostonians to pay all that ex-
Guiding Hampton Roads coal vii, allow 60
mat IL free this 10 cents goes into ,he
pockets OF the stockholders OF the Nova
scoua Coal Company instead of into the
treasury or the United States. which yyiI,
get 1t II the tax Is laid.
But, further. supposing the New Eno,acs
,nAhu' acturers got the benefit OF il. thew
~ouid not. therefore. diminish the nr,ca :, ,
winch they would sell us their man,sao
'ufes- The tariff bill has prescribed
very h'sn rate OF protection To ,ho,,,
ihey wiii ada all OF this TO the nr,c, =.
which they sell their wares wbs,ha. ~. az
xe' cheap or dear coal. Even then. {,
tney got cheap coal. that would NOT h.,,,
M consumers Of u ar wares 10 the small