The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-04
NO SAILING UNDER FALSE coLogs.


NO SAILING UNDER FALSE COLOBS.
The Times has repeatedly called atten-
ton to the fact. for fact It is, that the
trend OF the silver wing OF the Democra-
tic party is toward protection. The
Chicago Convention in It's remarkable
platform repudiated the Democratic doc
trine OF tariff for revenue only and
when Mr.. Vest and some others discov-
cred that the word only" had been omit
ted for the purpose Of catching the Silver
Republicans. they expressed great indig-
nation. Since then a vigorous effort has
been made TO explain away the protec-
ton plank Of that platform and the fol-
lowing from The Atlanta Constitution is
sample product. We quote:
The platform Of 1892 denounces "Repub-
iican protection as a fraud" q robbery
Of the people for the benefit Of the few.
II declares that the Federal government
has no constitutional power 10 impose
and collect tariG duty except for the pur-
pose OF revenue only" and demands that
its collection be limited TO that purpose.
The tariff Of l696 just as explicitly declares
that tariff duties should be levied for
purposes Of revenue" To this one and
single purpose is the party committed,
going on 20 explain, in the language OF the
Democratic platform Of 1896, that its bur
den should be adjusted equally and that
1t should not discriminate between class
and section" and that taxation should
! be limited by the needs OF the govern
ment" As 10 the expression "a tariff
for revenue" and q tariff Tor revenue
only" there is and can be no real differ
ence, because a tariff revenue IS tariff
for revenue only, since no other purpose
IS mentioned, and especially when. in the
same sentence it is declared that this
tariff for revenue should DO limited by
the needs of the government" OF course,
there are people who Will haggle over
words simply because they want to, and
II would be useless 10 argue with them
The Costitutions explanation doesn't
explain. The word "only' was omitted
for a purpose and no amount Of explana-
ton can change the simple fact. Not
only so, but, as we have minated the
protection plank is pleasing TO many
Of the silver Democrats.
For example. Captain Camm Patteson. of
buckingham, has recently made public
the draft of a platform which he COM
mends TO the Roanoke Convention for
adoption. The first plank in Captain
Pattesons platform is as follows:
Resolved /, That this convention en-
| dorses as a whole and in all its parts the
noble platform Of principles adopted by
the National Democratic Convention as
sembled at Chicago I'm July, 1896, with spe-
cial emphasis on the free silver plank Of
the said platform"
And then as if to emphasize the protec-
ton plank Of the Chicago platform, he
| adds:
Resolved G. That inasmuch as ii is
manifest that a great part OF the revenue
Of the Federal government is and always
must be raised by a duty on imports. II
is not only commOn-sense but true, sound
Democratic doctrine TO 50 frame tariff
as TO give the strongest possible inciden-
tai protection 10 American Industries.
| especially the farmers, and landholders,
and producers OF raw material; tnat the
effort of the late Grover Cleveland admin
istration to let in raw material free, and
| to give abnormal, OdiOus, and unJustiilable
protection to New England manufacturers
| is only equalled I'm injustice and oppres-
| sion by the sugar schedule Of the present
Dingley tariff BILL which Of itself proves
! that the Republican Is trust-ridden
party, wholly unworthy TO be trusted with
| power.
There YOU are with frank and manly
statement. Captain Patteson is honest
enough to speak plainly and to declare
with emphasis that in his opinion the
Democratic party should commit itself
upequivocaly to the doctrine of protec-
| ton.
lie wants not only the strongest protec-
ton, but he wants tariff that will espe-
cially protect farmers and landholders
and producers Of raw materials. He wants
a tariff not for revenue only, but for pro-
lection and for the especial protection Of
| certain classes.
| We commend Captain Patteson for his
candor. If the silver Democrats are In
favor OF protection. and the proof IS
indisputable that many Of them are, let
them come out boldly and unequivocally
and say so. Let us have no subterfuges,
such as that Of the Chicago platform
which may be construed by one class as
demand for a revenue tariff and by anoth-
or class as demand for a protective
tarif. Let us have the exact truth. No
| sailing under false colors.