Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-04-01
THURSDAY, APRIL l, 1897.
PROTECTION SENTIMENT GROWING.

n very SnreWu poHtlclfin once Iellstiheu
to the writer that ''every man is q protec-
ZIONIST who has anything to protect.
That is very brief but forcible way of ex-
pressing the truth. We will extend the
thought by saying that nearly every man
in the United States has something to pro-
tect. The farmer, the manufacturer, the
miner, the laborer, the capitalist, in fact,
all classes of citizens are in measure
largely interested in the application of the
doctrine of protection. AS result we find
the old Democratic idea of free trade, or
tariff for revenue, constantly growing
weaker, the protective idea being used in
localities or spots by Democrats fol party
interests, and to that extent consequent
abandonment Of free trade doctrines. III
support of the truth of this assertion, wit
ness the changed attitude Of the Demo
cratic press of the South, and the record
that is made by many representatives from.
this section in the two houses of Congress.
We published in the REPUBLICAN last week
an article from the Jacksonville, Florida
Citizen which told in strong language of
the changing sentiment at the South
Florida wants her orange and tobacco in
dustries protected, Louisiana calls for pro-
lection to her sugar industry, Texas de-
mands that wool shall not be placed On the
free list, Mississippi wants protective duty
on lumber, Alabama, Georgia and Tennes-
see claim protection for their coal and
iron, South Carolina protests against cotton
remaining as free raw material, West Vir
ginia will not consent for its coal and lum
Der to 60 unprotected, while old Virginia
wants her iron, coal and tobacco industries
properly guarded.
This growing, pronounced sentiment for
protection throughout the Union, and es
recially at the South, has produced CONT
sion in the ranks of the Democratic Repre-
sentatives in Congress, and caused them
to forsake the principle Of 'free raw ma
l.. bf,1 Il Il lol Inv.
the Democracy rs an economic truth. Free
raw materials was the foundation princi-
pie of the Wilson bill. Mr. Bryan, late
candidate of the Democratic party for the
Presidency, in his speech advocating the
passage of that bill in the House of Repre-
sentatives, contended for free raw mate
rails as an essential Democratic principle;
and the abandonment of that principle an
admission of the correctness of The doctrine
of protection.
The Republican members of the Ways
and Means Committee have united upon
tariff policy and reported it promptly to
the House of Representatives. We find
that the Democrats on that committee
have made no report, and the reason is
that they have been unable to agree
among themselves. When the Demo
cratic members of the committee met to
prepare report McLaurin, of South Car
DINA, made motion to place duty on
imported raw cotton, and the motion re-
ceived the votes of four of the six Demo
Gratis on the committee. Mr.. Mcmillan,
of Tennessee, thea proposed to keep wool
on the free list, and two Democrats voted
against it, one of those opposing the prop
osition was Mr.. Bailey, of Texas. He is
the man who was nominated for Speaker
of the House by the Democratic caucus
AS we have said, the Democratic members
of the Ways and Means Committee have
made no minority report on the tariff, be-
cause they were unable to agree. The
party has drifted away from the free raw
material idea that was so prominent in the
Wilson bill, and proclaimed by Mr. Bryan
to be the shibboleth of Democratic fifth.
Straws show which way the wind blows;
and what better evidence do we want of
the change that is taking place in regard
to protection than the divided Democracy
on the free raw material issue? To say
that there shall be no free raw materials is
to admit the truth of the entire principle
of protection TIE fact is, that all the civ
ilized world, except England, has drifted
away from free trade as a correct economic
policy; and the sentiment is growing and
becoming more intensified against it in
this country. The people will hail with
delight tariff law that will afford ample
protection to all.