Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-31

n premium III NAeNi W
The Democrats, the Tariff, Etc.
Mr.. wattergon quotes from the DIS
patch n paragraph stating that 'he nc
publican leaders can always brihs 'he"
followers UP to the support OF any meA-
sure for which they deem It proper 70
declare. and cen make such drafts upon
the allegiance OF the Republican masses
as the Democratic leaders would be afraid
10 make upon the allegiance Of the Demo
cratic masses, and then comments as
follows:
"rho Rcpublcans are very well suited
with the tariff situation. IL the Demo
cratic scheme OF tariff reform can be
beaten. and the Mckinley act retained
why. they have rcgaincd all that they
lost I'm 1892. II the makeshift which
the Democrats are trying 10 pass IL
finally passed. the protective system has
r0thlnI, 20 fear. having obtained from
Congress elected on a tarifffor-revenEe-
only platform all that It requires, mean
while giving a staggering blow at the
cause Of free trade In America. In any
event. the Republican dogma Of protec-
ton viii be served by the delay, which
hIlhf an IL OhfIs bilA Ntll tF''s ~ N''N
Republicans, no prOtCctionist VIII nave
any reason 90 complain Of
Mr. Watter3on seems TO consider the
tariff question more important than any
other lie advocates "a tariff for revenue
only"--a policy which has been repudiated
I'm the United States Senate by the lead
ing Democrats OF that body Indeed,
some hot-headod -protoctionists charge
that the Senate tariff bill Is as decidedly
a protcctiye-tariff bill as the Mckinley
law itself is. "
This being the case, II docs not be-
come the Democratic leaders 10 sulk in
their tents and refuse to allow their
faithful myrmdons" 10 take part in the
battles now going on, as well as others
which will soon be begun.
Mr.. Wattcrson gives the true reason"
why the Republican masses stick to the
Republican Ieaders-that is. because the
Republican leaders stick to the Republi-
can masses, doing all that they promise
whenever they get the chance" This IS
n charge that the Democratic leaders do
not keep their pledges. But the fact IS
'lithh ~ ~ AillI'H0lhlN ~ lItlllt Il farm
for revenue only" A tariff levied for
that purpose only might work irreparable
wrong TO many of the most important
interests OF the country. Congress will
never be brought up 10 the support of
such measure We would ask our
Louisville contemporary II a tariff levied
for revenue only, whilst the internal tax
upon tobacco and its manufactures CON
tinues 10 be collected, would not destroy
every tobacco factory in Virginia? To tax
chcroots, cigars, cigarettes, and Cavendish
tobacco as these articles are now taxed
at home, and then admit the same articles
from other countries free OF duty. or AZ
the rate that would produce the most
revenue, would be 10 impoveriSh Virginia.
The tariff question is not the only i'm
portant question before Congress. The
State-Dank question Is also before that
body, and such distinguished Democrats
as Mr.. Springer chairman Of the House
Committee on Banking and Currency
stated in that body a few days ago that
he would not support the proposition to
abolish the tax upon the circulating notes
OF state banks, although its abolition is
recommended In the Chicago platform
What viii Mr.. Wattcrson do with Mr.
Springer Mr.. Jason j. Brown. and the
numerous other leading Democrats who
thus refuse, so our Louisville contcm-
porary thinks, "to do all they promised?"
Again: The silveritcs char &c Mr.. Wat
tCrson and his followers with ncglecting
to do what they promised to do in regard
TO silver. The Chicago platform, so the
silveritcs say, declared for the free coin
age of silver and yet the Democratic
President, backed by Congress, refuse TO
keep that promise. However, we are
bound TO admit that the silver plank of
the Chicago platform is double-tonHed.
1t speaks upon both sides Of the question.
But this fact ought to give Mr.. Wat
terson pause when he comes to the dis
cusalon OF the faithfulucss Of the Demo
Gratis IN the two houses of the present
Congress.
II thus appears that the Democratic
party has "a hard road to lrayer'-a
road bcsct by Republican highwdymen.
| Just what is to Zoe the main issue IN the
approaching congressional elections no
| body can forczec. one thing however,
Is certain and this S. ihat the Rcpubli-
| cans are not afraid to 50 before the
| the people upon the Issue Of opposition
20 "a tariff for revenue only" But this
| fact by no means argues that the Demo
Gratis in Congress ought to drop he whole