Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-01-22
MONDAY EVENING. JAN. %, 1891

MONDAY EVENING. JAN %, 1891
The VOTE on tn provision OF the
Wilson biz putting soft coal on tbe free
list will b taken in the [. ;. House o.
Representatives tomorrow. The South
is for free trade. and should BE-, and
when the South was the storm-cradled
nation tina: TEL, its constitution pro
vided tor free trade. And at no time
has she been fora unjust and unequal
tariff. q tariff that puts high protec-
tive duty on the products OF New Eng
land. but removes all OF even that little
which mas been allowed 10 remain upon
her own. She Is democratic. and the
cardinal principle OF democracy is
equality. bu. no reasonable creature can
cons.rue 8 forty per cent. protection on
New England mountaineering by
burning Virginia coal, and the removal
Of every yestige OF protection from that
ooal. into any thing that bears the
flntest resemblance 10 equality. |lr-
qiu;. co2l now goes only TO the north
EN- Atlantic States and 10 Cuba. From
all the rest Of the world II Is completely
cut of bv competition which il is impos-
sible 10 withstand. Owing to reciprocity
with Cuba. that which goes there can
not be increased by removing the duty
on coal. but j: i probable would be
diminished, by reason OF other provi-
sions OF the bill. That which now goes
70 the North would be etirctually cut
of from that market If the duty on
Nova Scotia coal were removed, for the
latter coal Is nearer 70 the sea by hun
dreds OF miles. Is mined at cheaper
rates. and Is no farther from the north
err markets then. TOO, freights are
cheaper by vessels engaged in foreign,
than il domestic trade, because there
j. 40 tariff On the materials Of which
the former are composed. With
the market Tor Virginia coal
thus restricted. Of course the produc-
ton OF such coal would be reduced 70 q
minimum, and the present price there
% 70 Virginia consumers. therefore, be
az least retained. Il not increased, for
not enough of: Is used at home 10 in
duce the owners Of the Nova Scotia
mines 70 compete with il on It's
native heath. For these and many
other reasons il il hoped that
the representatives OF the South in
Congress may demand fair, square
and equal deal on the tariff bill, and
shall MAKE il plain that while they are
for free trade, a. the platform OF their
party mas declared for a revenue tariff.
they, being party men, will insist upon
such q tariff, and viii oppose one that
reduces rsyenue by imposing an almost
prohibitory duty on sucn arti-
cles az are manufactured in New
England. and By entirely remov-
iny that on such as are producs3
in Virginia. Besides this, they should
not forget that Mr. W c. Whitney is
director in the largest coal consuming
and carrying railroad in New England,
and that ehis brother with other rich
northern men have recently, under the
belief that the duty On coal would be
removed by this Congress. secured
ninety-nine years lease on coal mine
in Noya Scotia, and that many other
millions will be added to those they al
ready hold if that belief prove true.
Why should southern congressman vote
70 increase the wealth Of northern mil
honaires at the expense OF their own
poor constituencies: And why, while
free traders for the products Of their
own impoverished people, should they
be protectionists for those OF the rich
and prosperous North