The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-10
SATURDAY. JULY 10. 1897.
sun JOk T..

1t Is our duty 10 report thdt tnc s'V"'
Democratic doctrine Of tarlH Ior reNe-
nue. only has gone 10y the board al the
hands of two defenders That IN theI tliiie
have exhibited a devotion 10 TINS primer
ple which promised TO endure even al'er
all other support of it had been WITH
drawn.
The first is the Richmond Times, the
leading anti-Bryan Democratic JouIhal ul
Virginia. our contemporary, caught III
the Socialistic gushing of the day, un-
conscious of the strength of its yearninS
for reunion with the Democratic party
of Chicago, and at last touching the bot
tom of its own mind on the tariff ques-
ton. sides up to Organism in company
with Senator Caffery. and. like him, de-
clares for a tariff for revenue only, 80
adjusted as to bear heaviest on articles
of luxury. which are consumed by the
rich alone. and lightest on articles OF ne
cessity. which are consumed by the rich
and the poor" The Richmond Times
holds IL to be constitutional, therefore, TO
regulate tariff duties not in truth for
revenue only, but for the more efficient
squeezing of the rich and for the specia!
benefit of the poor. Its idea Is actually 10
employ the tariff for the equalization of
the fortunes of the American rich and
poor all citizens Of the United States. 1t
would protect the poor against the rich
on the principle used by the Republicans
for protecting the laborers Of America
against the cheaper labor of foreign coun-
tries Even the sacred American princi-
pie Of free trade and equal rights
throughout the States of the Union is re-
pudiated by the new school Of Democratic
protectiOnists.- New York Sun.
mn. Ill.
at the expense of fairness. In advocating
"a tariff so adjusted as to bear heaviest
upon articles Of luxury, and lightest upon
articles of necessity" We used an old
time Democratic expression, which was
once incorporated into a national Demo-
cratic platform. 1t means simply, as we
understand it. certainly as we used it, a
tariff that will tax each and every article
according to its value. We would not
make the poor man pay as much tax on
a yard Of calico as the rich man pays
ON a yard Of silk. That is all there is in
this borrowed expression which has
thrown our New York contemporary in
10 connipuons.
If The Times has contended for any
thing. IL has been for system of taxa
ton and a system of laws generally that
will discrimii ate against no class and in
favor Of no class. II the sun will read
the article from which it quotes, it will
see that We took a most decided stand
against the proposed graduated income
was to make the rich man pay more
than his proportionate part Of the tax
burden. while exempting men whose in
comes fen below fixed limit
The idea Of taxing any one class OF
citizens. rich or poor. for the benefit OF
any other class. is utterly abhorrent to
our sense of justice. and TO our under
standing Of the principles of Democracy,
and there is nothing whatever in the
expression which the sun criticiscs in
eontrovention Of that position.
As to the charge that we have been
caught by the socialistic gushing of the
day. and that we are yearning for reunion
with the Chicago party. that is too alb
Iurd to be seriously considered. The
Times understands the political situation
In Virginia very much better than does
he Sun which shines in the North. A
Iplit in the Democratic party in Virginia
8 most serious matter involving as it
foes questions OF local concern that the
sun does not comprehend. With a view 10
healing the differences that now exist
N the party by reason Of the Chicago
platform. The Times has honestly en-
aeavored TO convince party leaders in
Virginia that harmony may be restored.
al least in local contests. by combining
the issue Of the State campaign 10 ques-
lions OF local interest. eliminating ma
.lonal questions, which have no part in
State affairs. All our interests. and all
are with the Democratic party OF Vir-
Einia, and II IS our earnest desire TO con-
tinue TO cooperate with that party. TO
that end we have urged that the party
In Virginia would adopt platform upon
which The Times and others who agree
with us in opposing the Chicago platform
may stand, without doing violence 10 our
convictions, and without compelling us
seemingly to approve by our vote what