The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-22
- THERE NO DEMOCRACY WITHOUT
FREE RAW MATERIALS?

The Times has already said that Con-
gress had better pass the Senate tariff
bill than to pass no bill at all, and The
Times reaflrms that statement. All in
fertsts in the country are paralyzed by
the failure of Congress TO act In the mat
ter. The Senate bill is not what the poo
ple demand. and, II 1t is enacted into
Saw there will certainly be further agita-
fion for further reduction OF duties. But
the country will secure a rest that is now
indispensable. and before the new agita-
tion has assumed form that can offer
serious impediments to business the coun-
Try v1li have steadied itself and will be
in o condition TO withstand the strain 10
which II may be subjected. If the Sem
ate bill is passed the business of the
country will know that resting place
bas been reached on which II can rely
Cor some time TO come. II Congress adj
oourns without passing any BILL the bust
ness Of the country will continue In a
state Of nervousness. in apprehension of
an immediate renewal OF the agitation.
Mn Cleyeland's letter to Mr.. Wilson was
well calculated 20 rally the dispensing
Democrats upon lines of Democratic prin-
ciple, and so will revive dropping party
Spirit. but we do not agree that failure
TO incorporate into the bill the principle
pf universal free raw materials is a suft-
Client reason for defeating the bill. We
cannot agree TO the position that free
raw materials is primary Democratic
canon. In the first place. we do not know
what raw materials" are-that is, we
gre utterly unable to draw line between
what is raw material and what is
FINISHED product"
AS we have already said by way Of illus
fration, iron ore is raw material for the
furnace and pig iron is the finished
product of the furnace. But pig iron is
nothing but raw material for the foun-
dry and the rolling mill Wheat is raw
material for the miller. and -four is his
finished product. But flour is only raw
material for the cook. and, while bread
Is her finished product, that is only raw
material for the pudding maker. SO. we
are unable TO say what is raw material
and what finished product. All finished
product is raw material for whatever It
can be converted into. When, therefore.
Mr.. Cleveland says that the particular
raw materials. iron ore. coal. wool and
lumber. are 10 be admitted free Of duty.
he IA simply relieving some importations
from duty by an arbitrary ipse dlxlt that
they should be duty free. but not upon
AMY principle which we can admit TO be
one of Democracys. Democracy means
essentially that burdens shall be equally
and ratably distributed. and that principle
Is violated when some articles that can
pay duty are admitted free and others
ARE taxed.
since Mr.. Cleveland and Senator Hin |
have been so emphatic In declaring that |
ahere can be no Democracy unless the |
sdea OF free raw materials is included IL
IS just as well 10 look into the question
how far the history OF the party justiies
that statement.
The present agitation for reform OF
she tarir may be considered 70 have com.
menced. 70 far az the Democratic Marty
ms a party Is concerned. with the Mat
form adopted In 1876 when MIR. ,rilaen
was nominated That platform declares
nnequivocally for q tariff for revapuo
only. but does not say one word ahout
gree raw materials
The platform OF 1880. ON which Genera,
s'ancoes was nominated. declares, as the
u''c VI 1910 did, for tariff for revenue
S""' Out does not say one word about
fSee raw materials.
Inc Platform Of 1884 on which Mr.
E'cve'snd was first nominated. declares
sna. all tarin taxation shall be Limited
~ the requirements OF economical gov
s'ninent II contains the term raw ma.
1''ais. but only In this connection. In
announcing the Republican party for its
nnouit'es II says; 1T processes the nro-
tscuon OF American manufacturers. n
~ subjected them to an Increasing aood
~ manufactured goods aud a bone,e.s
composition with manufacturing nations
30 ons OF which taxes raw materiaIs."