Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-14
Tndemocratic Democracy.
RICHMOND. VA. January II, l@

RICHMOND VA, January II, lS9h
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Several weeks before the Wilson tariff
bill was promulgated this writer. over
his initials. presented a short article IN
your paper in which II was contended u
that the rank and file OF the Democratic
party are not In sympathy with the ralI-
cal tariff plank OF the national PLATFORM
and further that tariff for revenue
only Is the embodiment or actual ire
trade. | was glad 10 read your comments
in endorsement Of my position since inc
lightning has begun to strike J nouee
quite a number of Democrats are evln -lnS
their aversion TO the fne-spun' hls"-
sounding theories OF the doctrlnalres.
II would be amusing If II was not SuCh
a serious matter 10 note the various III
consistencles into which the free-trade
alias revenuc-only tariffites have onmeshed
themselves. Proceeding upon tn avowei
rernises that the governm ntal revenue
nssessities furnish the only justillAbie
5atounJs for INV tariff duties, ana toe'
"pr1uciultf tYtark the WordD or pro-
lection is subversive OF the fnudament u
doctrines of Democracy. they argue that
in,suuch as said revenue n-cessiu-H
actually demand tariff duties ;hcy must
he levied and yet I'm discriminating man
ncr 10 afford whatever measure ~ lh'l-
dental protection" IS proper N reason
able and arrive at the conclusion tnat our
great coal and iron interests can wen
afford TO be- Disseminated igdins: IN
tha interest Cf other sections ana nations.
which are given a bonus in the great
Democratic tariff-rcform, protcctlon-anni-
ilator pan9ora-box. In diagnosing tin
disease our doctors have come 70 the con-
clusion that the patient Is very ILL., and are
determined to prepare medicthe OF me
herioc kill-or-curc type. II II ion'L iisdra-
lively speaking, kill the doctors ana IN II
school / am much mistaken.
This great hue and cry about protection
feing robbery. and frec-trade the panlc'a
for all our political and commercial ills
is n delusi0n. But ] have Sr it2r RESI- 'ct
FOR the position Of thosc-1 minority
who openly avow the principle of FREQ
trade than FOR that larger class who.
while ostenslbly fayoring a "rag nue-onlr'
tariff. yet under all manner OK prcteVts
contend for the principle OF protection
under "inciGental' and like glists. The
truth is the principle Of protection per 80
is not ;ndemocratic. and I. IS only the
= rversion OF the principle I'm ,ts being
carried 20 INJURIOUS extremes against
which the masses rebel To so circum scribe
Democratic fealty as % preclude
from loyal brotherhood In It's ranks rl
those who believe In the doctrine Of pro
lection Is monstrous. such UNI -m1cr1ic
Democracy, II openly avowed you'll doci-
mate the ranks 10 an alarming extent
IL is not my purpose IN this rote 10 90
into an argument in support Of protac-
ton. (your columns are teem.ng with
them from able pens). but to ~mphasize
the point hitherto made. that the repulsive
tariff plank OF the national plltfOrm does
not reflect the views OF very large nLIn-
Der OF persons who are as essentially and
really Democrats as it is possible TO find
and who are ready TO say. "If protection
b. treason, make the most OF it."
Truly yours W. VI. 8ICKERS.