Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-27
INTERNAL GOYER'MT.
ctIsl Is Responsible for CuIsy's
4 COmmunEsalars.
gtR PARTIES ARB TO BLAME.
NaDOnai Liquidation . Log. Rolling, Dicke-
e ring Buain~,s--Remedy for Existing
COnditI0ns-Lessons to Look To.

T6tthe Editor OF the Dispatch:
Whilst :, Is true that the Coxey-Brown
m1fement OF the "Commonweals" seems
"a have come to farcical termination.
and no immediate good results seems to
hate accrued to them. and no ill-effects
tokhe national veal. stu we very much
qntSlion if the newspapers and the peo-
jpI# generally have viewed and character
iG& this movement with that degree of
ii6bortance that 1t really deserves. 1t Is
frte, II was but a cloud the size Of
1h's hand on the horizon, but 1t only
I3l,ked a little wind. and the impetus OF
aslsader of the Napoleonic order to have
ultde Il a storm that might have shook
tl8 very foundations OF the republic 1t
~. That there Is a widespread feeling
ofkunrest, disgust. dissatisfaction, and
s46ering amidst the unemployed OF our
lerfd Is an undeniable fact. The various
ara maltitudinous causes OF this are too
1tIperous to mention; but let us ask our
sesyes seriously the questions. Have the
C'abeys the Browns, the masses the
flsfft TO expect the General Government
Usgiye them employment; to relieve them.
0,Yced them. IL necessary? Are not both
IHiiucal parties TO blame for this condi-
an OF affairs? Have they not caused
ttkse people to take up the idea that the
etsferfment Is paternal In its character
HAs not the legislation Of the last two or
tlree decades in fostering protection.
b,ch is the father of "paternalism,'
N,s,erf the masses right and reason
i6r looking to the government for aid IN
tfeir distress?
Let us look at facts through their spec
takIes.' They see the government throwing
~ protecting arms around the. various
tpnsts. syndicates. and combines that are
: HbbinR the people out of millions In the
tv2y OF Indirect taxes They doubtless
Hason that II it Is the duty OF the gov
ethnlant to protect" at their expense
tEe sugar trusts, the coal harons, the
lion and railroad combines. when they
n.alIy need no protection. that It is
ehually the duty of the government to
f5ad them employment; and who dare say
there IL not reason, IL not method, IN
their madness? Has not national legisla-
ton degenerated into regular log-roiiing,
6.ckering, trading business? Are not the
raterests of one section ignored and set
"a naught for the benefit and behoof OF
another? 1t has come to such pass that
n Is impossible, II II ever was, to mar
nonize the conflicting interests OF this
freat country. And 1t all grows out OF
fhe fact that neither party has laid down
eny great principle Of political economy
DOR its guidance and direction. This SEN
tior wants the particular product OF his
faate protected; that senator wants the
Maternal hand Of the government to
hhield the industry of his section; an
nther senator wants a bounty on his
Atate's chief staple, and still another
wants the chief articles imported to his
Sorts free &C., &c, until there Is con
Fusion worse confounded" and chaos
feigus supreme.
II TO CUT LOOSE.
4 Now, according to our apprehension,
there is only one way out Of this d.fl-
,culty; only one way TO undo the Gordian
I! knot, and that Is TO cut loose from all
4 protection that our ports from the ST,
to the Rio Grande be open, as
free "a the winds OF Heaven, to all ma
bsions: let the people be no longer taxed
\ fDr the benefit of trusts and monopolies.
go lleatesl good Tor The greatest num-
her should be the rule OF action. and the
g.npelling motive II We have protection
4 for none then no one can RrumDe, tot
all will be on an equal footing and every
tub will stand on its own bottom Ine
moor man will be enabled then TO get DIS
clothing. his fuel his boots, and SHOES
. 10 20 per cent cheaper than now, ana
as our imports Increase, our exports VIII
also increase In The same or In greater
ratio. But even admitting, for the SAKE
of argument, that certain industries wouiu
decline. aye, even go out or existence
we contend upon principle, upon rIsh.'
me N
ethical. no moral right TO tax the mil
i,ons for the benefit and maintainance Of
The few, and that IL Is an Iniquitous
system of legalized robbery These feei-
ines to a great extent permeate the peo-
nle and i'm a great measure originated
the Coxey movement, and. like "old John
Rrovn's spirit, is still marching on
mentally, il not physically, and may
he that this army may yet prove the
nucleus of a movement that may cause
future trouble.
THE VITAL ISSUE.
Tn very thoughtful letter from frieno
~ mine in New York on this subject, ne
writes: ''The degree of levity and the per-
sistent tone of ridicule adopted by the
newspapers OF the country may only pe
indulged In with the secret purpose ana
efrort to divert any serious apprehension
and temporarily sidetrack the real vital
issue involved In this movement. Ihe
oratory, the utterances OF the present
Coxeyite leaders may be simply mere va
poring, and bombast, but, after all, there
IS a very serious side to the matter, that
will vet demand sober reflection ana
careful treatment. There are some Things
that may be laughed down. and there are
others, like the ghost OF Demcan, that
will not down at any idle bidding"
ONLY ONE PATRIOT.
II occurs to us that the whole senatorial
discussion is one OF policy. selfish policy
the only member of Congress, In our Judg-
ment, who has shown any broad. utin-
tartan views, any degree OF patriot
ism. any fealty 10 party, platform, ana
principle is the author of the wilson
bill. 1t was against the interests OF MS
people, his State. his constituency TO
have free coal, but when he saw the
good OF the country. the supremacy OF
his party at stake, he did not hesi-
tate. like Curtius Of old, TO leap into the
gulf. and. il necessary, end his poliucai
career for the good OF his country ana
for the interests of the masses-all praise
to this noble Roman!
While we axe not pessimistic In our
by the lessons of experience which are
written upon the pages Of history ana
the fail OF the great Republic OF Rome
may have a few instructive lessons Tor
US, and nothing contributed more to her
decadence than very many OF the same
conditions that environ US. She attempted
to amalgamate the people OF her various
conquests and to weld them into one
homogeneous mass. and as long as she
employed them in wars OF conquest sae
succeeded, but when peace settled over
her vast provinces and their people from
the many nations of the earth were given
the franchise, internal dissensions and
tumults arose, ruler succeeded ruler, gov
ernment followed government, misruie
followed fast. and followed faster" until
imperial Rome. the once mistress OF the
world, was actually sold at public auc-
ton by the Praetorian guards.
RESTRICTION NEEDED.
And in this connection may We not se-
riously and solemnly ask ourselves the
question. How much longer can this coun-
try AFFORD to be the dumping ground for