Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-13

on April 20, 1884: II have changed my
vows ] have changed my views because
I am Democrat who believes that the
welfare OF the people In 10 be considered
before the welfare Of any single interest
or man."
COULD NOT CHANGE.
| But although Mr.. Hewitt had changed
| his views. he had not and could not
| change that habit OF thought which had
| Incorporated itself into his political char
acter-lnio his nature. To foster and
| protect manufacturers was stiil his lead
| ing idea in the framing Of revenue
| bill, and 10 this end the first step which
presented itself to his mind was free raw
| material" Upon this subject he became
an enthusiast, almost n crank. 1t was
| the burden of his song. He supported
| his views by precisely the same argu-
menis which Henry Clay had used half
q century before In favor OF the "Ameri- |
can system" lie urged upon the farm
| ers the argument now grown stale and
| worn threadbarc by Republican orators.
| that what they needed was n home mar
| ket." and In order 10 secure this they
must forcgo all benefit OF custom duties |
and sell their products in the market Of
| the world. while at the same time every |
manufactured article which they con-
sumed was 10 be protected by specific |
duty Lest there should be some misap- |
prehension about this / will here quote |
Mr. Hewitt:
Moreover, the experience OF all com
mercial nations has grown that moderate |
specific duties afford the only safeguard |
against frauds In the revenue. az well |
from smuggling "a from differentiation |
of the invoices The blind adherence to |
L., axta 4tv.y tsfN hQa
served 20 throw the importing trade into |
the hands OF foreigners and TO drive out |
reputable American houses from this |
business. I would begin with the raw
materials Gentlemen on the other SIDE |
are fond Of repeating that phrase. Let |
me tell them that they have constitu- |
ency behind them that wants raw ma |
fcriaIs Just as much rs do. Let me tell |
them that the manufacturers OF New En-. |
gland are to-day perishing for want OF |
raw material And I know what mean |
bv raw material. Gentlemen have chosen |
20 pervert my definition Of that phrase |
have defined IT, and ! will define II
again. For the purpose Of tariff reform, L
mean by raw material those articles to |
which no process Of manufacture has been
applied
A COMPARISON.
How like Henry Clay. the father OF pro-
lection, this sounds. Compare them:
"If there is a diminution In the ability |
OF foreign nations TO consume our raw
produce. in the proportion Of our d.
minished consumption Of theirs, under this |
system 0protectlon). that will be COM
pensated by the substitution of a home |
for a foreign market"
Again: IF the experience OF all other
countries be not utterly faliacious. II the |
promises OF the manufacturing system be |
not absolutely nlusory. by the competition |
which will be ELECTED by your parental |
care. prices will be ultimately brought |
down 10 a level with that of the foreign |
commodity" Speech Of Henry Clay. on |
Protection To Home Industry. House OF |
Representatives Of the United States. |
1921
1t will thus be seen that while Mr.. |
Hewitt was theoretically. or professedly. |
a tariff refOrner. practically he was an |
old-fashioned HenryClay protec.ionist. |
who believed that the parental care of |
the Federal Government should be eX-
tended TO foster manufacturers, and that |
to this end raw material should be ad- |
mitted free.
1t IS for this reason that Hewitt de- |
nOunces the South. Having outlived his |
usefulness and his political aspiration, he |
throws aside the mask and savagely ar |
raigns and denounces that portion OF the |
Democratic party-constituting an over |
whelming majority--which desires a tariff |
for revenue only, without specific duties |
or discrimination against the farmers pro-
ducers, and unskiled laborers of the |
Union.
In regard TO the pending Bland bill. II |
is pertinent 10 inquire how Mr. Hewitt |
stood in relation TO the Bland bill of
1873. If opposed. then he stood in rank |
with the Republicans ,as he stands to-
day.. and in opposition to an overwh helm |
ing majority of the Democratic party, |
led on 10 victory by the present Secretary |
OF the Treasury, whose seat at the BAN
quet Hewitt was called on TO OCCUPY If !
in favor then his present criticism of |
southern representatives places him in the |
ridiculous attitude of advising the gov |
eminent 10 coin. as constitutional cur |
rency, in 1873, what in 1894 he describes
as Vacuum"
HE FORGETS.
MIR. Hewitt refers to southern statesmen
or the past. and draws an odious COMPARE
son between them and the present south
ern representatives. He Overlooks the
fact' however. that when these same |
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Hunter |
&C. were in control of affairs, he was on