The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-30
FOR FREIt Trade.
A Reply to tho Proposition for Tarifi
Com scion.
Richmond. Va. Dec. %. 1895.


Richmond. Va, Dec. %. 1875.
TO the shipping and comm sIciai List
Po-t-ofiicc Box l1S, New York city,
Gcujlcmer,-n response TO Your Clicu-
lar headed. "Our Taun Laws. what
DO our Business Men Want" and address
ed TO the BUSINESS men of the United
States" and asking for our views On
this subject, We beg 10 say, III response,
that We voice only our own opinions ana
sentiments. but We think We represent
the interests of our people, for II there
is any one subject about which exists
great diversity of opinion, based IN some
Instances upon self interests, but chiefly
upon ignorance. II Is the question Of
tariff and its workings General Han
cocks aphOrism. that the tarlu Is
local issue is unQueSuOnably true, ana
being true 10 is obvious that the various
local interests of this vast country are
irrocOncilable and cannot be sub erNel
and protected except by The diSGr1catul
dickcrnC, trading and swapping OF votes
that has characterized congressional
legislation for the past two decades the
interests of the northern, southern. east
crn. and western sections OF lnls country
arc diverse and iulnlcdl on TINS SUBJECT
to protect one is to rob the other, the
representative who goes 10 Congress goes
there with the sole and separate object
and purpose Of working for the good OF
his immediate constituency. regardless OF
the interest of any other section or peO-
Pile the scope of his action and thought
does not 20 beyond the foUZon OF ms
state environments and nts, and is II,
quietly confined TO MS own al. let. Now,
il should be apparent TO any patriotic
thinking man possessing the germ or
craftsmanship. that no government can
afford TO dicker with 30 great and impor-
tdut a subject as tlc 'tdTlU, or lcElSlGtc
on the subject upon such narrow minded,
CiTcumsCribed lines as local interests
like "A parcel of boys trading marbles,
each tryinG to get the best OF the bar
gain and OF each other. Broad. uulita-
ridu. statcsmanlikC views and thoughts
should characterize legislation, altruism
founded and based on reason. should be
the basis upon which our laws not only
on this, but on all governmental subjects.
should be enacted, but when We look
at Congress what do We See-a set Of
mere demagogues. dickeriug, trading and
swapping votes on tariff duties!
The fundamental principle of Demo
cratic government Il do not use the word
Democrat here in a partisan sense, but
In its broad. Catholic medninS-DemOS.
the people; kratos, the rule-tbe rule Of
the people, is "a government OF the peO-
pie. by the people, for the people" Now
IT is evident to a thinking. intelligan
mind that the interests of the people
the masses-in Democratic or Republi-
can government should be the paramount
object of the law makers. no special prlVi-
leSeS or advantages should be accorded
TO any class vocation or person; equality
before the law to all men. no taxation
in the way of protection 10 favored in
dustries, no free admission 10 raw ma
teTia!S, unless the manufactured article
also comes in free, except such as may
he absolutely necessary to carry on The
government 10 be administered I'm an
economic manner. We regard absolute
free trade as the great desideratum. the
DanaCea for many of our ills. the great
hope of the masses, adopt II and you will
have no use for a tariff commission 80
All these questions will settle themselves
as naturally water seeks and finds
its own level. The Hon. Secretary Of the
United states Treasury in his report for
1885. on the subject Of protection, saws:
Population Of the United States In
gdinful occupations not subject to for
eign competition, l6.lt404. those subject
10 foreign competition 81 lSl." So that il
appears that all the others of the Is 900 900
engaged in gainful occupations are taxed
for the tnc1t Of tn, 10000 Ia fact. the
whole population of the country, 10000 OO
are taxed Tor this privileged 10000. Is
there any justice or reason I'm this? Is
this Republican or Democratic govern
ment? Has not this perncious system
built up the mighty hydra-headed trusts
That threaten the liberties Of the people
by debauching their representatives I'm
Congress and by contributing TO and con-
trolling state elections? Protection is a
danSerous feature and should be eliIni-
mated from our system,
In response 10 your first question. do
YOU favor the creation of a United States
TariH Commission TO take full charge
OF arranging the rate OF duties on our
lmportauons?' We beg 10 say that IN
replying TO this we necessarily answer
the second also We do not approve OF
the creation Of UNITED States Commits
slon," which. If created. will De naught
else than another almshouse, an e,,ee-
mosynard institution for political healerS
and dead-beats 10 rob the public treasury
and increase the burdens OF. the people.
without one sc!ntilla Of good results. ~
Commission >" 10 tell the people OF this
country that II they had free coal, free
shoes. free clothing. everything free ex-
cept such tax as may be necessary ior
would be better off, as Is stated by the
Secretary OF the Treasury In his rcp3rt.