The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-07
CLASS IEGISLAIION,

The Brunswick Gazette which is fair
and able contemporary. and which has an
opinion Of its own, and the courage TO
express it. reproduces what The Times
recently had to say about the proposed
Farmers Convention, and adds:
We are glad to note that The Times has
relented, and is now willing that the
farmers shall discuss tarin and free silver,
sub-Treasury, and al questions OF Gov
eminent" We thought 1t strange pass
ing strange" that The Times, when on
ali occasions has strenuOusly advocated
"eoual rights to ALL with special prvi-
leeos TO none, and which defines true
Democracy. to be the largest liberty TO
tho citizen, 10 do as It may Please him.
so long as his acts are not IN Violation
Of law and 10 DO with his own as may
best suit his purposes, provided only thal
what he may choose TO do is not done foI
the purpose of injuring another, shouid
feel called upon to restrict the proposed
FARMERS Convention to a discussion OF
the hest methods Of cultivating corn,
cotton and tobacco" when 1t approyingly
rermitted the Convention of Bankers ana
brokers. Chambers Of Commerce, ana
Poards OF Trade that recently met at
indianapolis to take the widest range LOT
their discussions, and "the world ana the
fullness thereof" as a matter ior con-
s!deration.
II tho Gazette had observed closely 1t
would have seen that our principal Cd
lection to the convention OF Bankers and
brokers'" TO which it alludes, was that
tho farmers Of the country were not rep
resented. We contended that such con-
vention should embrace representatives
from all classes of people, and especially
that farmers should have representatives.
because they were so deeply interested ia
the question of local currency.
We do not see how any man who Is
as fair and discriminating as the editor
Of the Brunswick Gazette. could have
conceived the idea that The Times does
not believe that the farmer should take
an interest in the political affairs Of the
country. 1t is not only his privilege, but
his duty. to do so. At the same time We
vould disabuse the mind Of the farmer
NJ the workingman, of the mechanic, ana
Of all classes of peope that their fortune
is to be made by legislative enactment
rather than by judicial work and attention
TO business. The Times believes IN
manly citizenship, independent OF the
guardianship Of government. 1t believes
that the greatest good and the highest
order Of manhood are to be attained by
throwing all citizens upon their own re-
sources. and 10y making them depend upon
their own exertions for livelihood rather
than TO look TO the Government for sup
mort. Therefore we believe in the least
possible Jaw, and in the greatest possible
liberty TO citizens, consistent with good
Government
Again. we object to a Farmers Conyen-
ton for political purposes, and not only
because we can see no good in II Tor
the farmer. but because we are opposed
TO class legislation. What interest can
the farmers have in law that does not APP
ply 40 all classes Of citizens. unless the
farmer is trying 10 secure some peculiar
beneht for himself from government?
And if he does succeed in having such
legislation enacted, it must necessarily
be at the expense Of some other class Of
people. and TO this The Times Will never
consent.
But what we say IN this connection
is not meant TO apply particularly TO
farmers. We are equally opposed to laws
intended 10 benefit other classes. and.
therefore. we are opposed to the princi-
pie OF protection. We have time and
again declared, and, we think have con-
oiusively proved that a high protective
tariff benefits the manufacturer at the
expense OF the farmer and others who
have TO purchase his product at a higher
price than would be the case without
such protective tarin. II our Brunswick
contemporary has followed us. ne has
noted that one of the chiefest objections
to the protective tariff is that the farmer
is made to suffer perhaps more than any
other class because protection cannot
possibly benefit the industry in which he
Ia engaged.
Hear the substance of the whole matter.
The Times would see every citizen take
the keenest interest in public affairs and
In politics to the end that we may have
the highest type Of popular Government.
! But we are utterly and unalterably op-
posed TO paternalism, TO laws that infringe
upon the God-givcn rights OF the indi-
vidual citizen, and to all species OF legis-
lation intended to benefit one class at the
expense OF other classes OF American
| citizens.
ISTHEEE TO ZEE EUROPEAN WAR?
The Greeks certainly hold on man
fully. so far as words so, 10 the posi-
ton they have taken. II remains TO be
seen whether they will hold on with
| equal tenacity II It comes to blows. We