Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-13
RICHMOND. VA, June


you have stated truth tersely ana Tor
chilly. congratulate you that In the race
az continuous fire from SO many organs
Of the theorists who circumscribe loyaIly
to Democracy within the visionary soup
of ostensibe opposition To the prlhclpIe
of protection, you have the courage "a
your conviction to maintain that IL IL the
perversion of this principle OF protection
rather than the principle itself that Is
wrong This Is a distinction the theorlss
seem unable TO appreciate, and yet win
perfect consistency you can enunciate
such sentiments as the above ana still OPP
pose the prostitution of principle In IL
self right TO ignoble aims and ENDS. Inc
wholesale charge that any and all prlhcl-
pies of protection Is highway robbery,
'legalized theft" or species OF paternai-
ism giving rise to the idea and iniuslns
into the masses the sentiment or lndiNld-
ual dependence upon the government lot
aid or support. is the extreme OF radical
ism. II the extreme theorists believe IN
good truth that all protection Is inevita-
bly, based upon the principle or fostering
monopolies or is class-beneficial or sec
tion-benehcial legislation, either enacted
for the purpose or else logically resulting
In the benefit of a class or section at the
expense of and to the detriment OF other
classes or sections, then they should
themselves be consistent and eliminate
from their creed the last vestige OF pro-
lection, under whatever guse. They
should favor a tariff for revenue only and
insist upon levying duties equally upon all
imports and with an absolute and entire
disregard OF all considerations of Incl
dental protection" Even then they might
concede sincerity of opinion TO those who
hold that the principle OF protection is not
unconstitutional but may be judiciously.
rightly, and advantageously employed
without a perversion OF II TO unjust dis
elimination between our own people. But
the rank and file OF the party are not in
accord with the tariff enunciation OF the
Democratic platform. No party could
hope for victory If that enuncation was
in its fulness and entirety upheld by its
speakers and press Its absurdity in
wolves the theorists who endeavor to up
hold 1t in amusing contradictions. The
extremes to which they 20 put them
in an attitude OF 81 am holier than
thou" II they will never learn the diff
ference between favoring a principle and
opposing the peryersion Of a principle,
and If they are ever to impute practical
treason to Democracy TO those who Will
not subscribe to their paradox that pro-
lection is robbery. etc. and yet practical
ly favor IL in incidental protective dis
only @ may we not at least hope they
may yet realize ''in truths clear. strong
light" that they have no monopoly of the
intelligence and patriotism OF any Of the
| grand divisions of this country. would
| be glad to see n cessation Of their boom
erang" knock-downs for their own sakes.
Yes, the plain truth Is a man may favor
the principle OF protection on the high
ground Of "a just and equitable duty on
| imports 10 enable home production TO sue
| cessfully compete with rather than be de-
stroyed by foreign competition and still
be unalterably and Enthusiastically opposed
| to a plan OF protection to enable one in
| terest 10 be built up and maintained at
| the expense OF other interests of his own
country. Possibly the theorists may
never grasp this truth. but il is a truth
| nevertheless and will remain truth
| when their pet theories have vanished
into thin air. w. NJ. b.