Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-12-19
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 10. 1901.
A POLICY OF DESTRUCTION.

Again theeDemocracy has begun to adj
voc tie its policy of destruction, and to ed
ucate the people up to support OF Its im-
practical theories OIL the tariff. The Dem
ocratic press, with almost practical una
niuaity, is now denouncing protection, Is
advocating what it calls reciprocity, and
clanoring for the reintroductiOn OF the
DISASTROUS policy Of tariff for revenue only
After the experience which this county
endured for the four years Of Mr.. Cleve'
land's second administration it looks like
brszen impotence for any public man to
advocate tariff reform on "the tariff for
revenue" lines, and it would certainly re-
ouire petritied stupidity on The part of the
people to sanction or raliiy such policy.
Tie Democratic party for the past nifty
years has been party Of destruction, and
on economic questions has shown itself
thoroughly incapable. In recent years,
according to a declaration made some
time ago by the Richmond Times, the
mission of the Democratic party is to OPP
pose or antagonize whatever the Republic
can party advocates. A careful review Of
the political field for the past twenty
years will convince any reasonable man
that the Richmond Times is correct as to
the mission of the Democracy. Thus we
have seen, even in the past ten years, that
Democracy occupied and Persistently up
held views on the tariff, on finance and
expansion that were the direct opposite OF
those held and enforced by the Republic
can party. Time and experience have
proved most conclusively that the Democ-
racy was wrong and the Republicans right
ON these questions.
Democracy has been forced to abandon
free silver as an issue, and it sees that the
people will not be mi-led on expansion 80,
there is nothing left for the Democracy
but TO return to its old and fallacious doc.
trine Of free trade or tariff for revenue
only. And it is getting there as rapidly
as possible. The Democratic press is con-
stantly filed with assaults upon the Ding
ley bill and the Republican policy of pro-
lection. In public speed es and inter
views the panty leaders are doing the same
thing. There can be no mistake about
the purpose of the Democracy to make
the tariff The leading issue III coming ma
tional elections.
Is there eny necessity for changing the
economic policy of our Government; and
il there is such necessity, what party
should be trusted with the duty of reform
Ing the tariff?
The Decestily for change Of policy is
purely imaginary. Present industrial con-
ditions make no such demand, and the
injection Of such an issue into the politics
of the country IL result Of the absolute
inability of the Democracy to find any
other question to make It's next stand up.
on. Present business and industrial con.
ditions are Of such character as to refute
every clamor the Democrats may present
for change. Labor is more generally
and more Iro6tably employed than it has
ever been IN this country; our agricultural
interests are more flOurishing than they
have ever been before; while manufactur.
ing and mining have assumed such vast
proportions that the outside commercial
world has become alarmed at our progress
If any class of our citizens has been in.
jured by the Republican policy of protec-
ton that class has not been pointed out.
1t is not the present but future evils that
Democracy holds up to the people. By
this time, it strikes us, the people ought
to be thoroughly familiar with the calami-
ty Lowlers of the Democracy. There might
be some excuse for ;he masses being de-
ceived in 1896 by the howls of the Bryan
ties, for then our country was shrouded in
q gloom, resultant from return 10 free
trade. But now, when we are basking in |
the sunshine of the most wonderful pros
perity any nation has ever enjoyed, to be
misled by the policy of free trade would
be inexcusable, criminal folly ON the part
of the people.
THE VOICE OF VIRGINIA.