The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-14
FALLACIoUs REASONING.

In a recent issue of The Washington
Post there was an editorial of which the
following is part:
The Democratic party seems determined
to repeat the mistake of attacking the
doctrine of protection instead of confin.
ing its assaults to the abuses of protec-
ton. The party has no chance of re-
gaining control of the government on the
former plan of campaign, while 1t would
on the latter. This nation is not ready
to usher in free trade. although we have
no doubt that majority of the people
would gladly welcome revision of the
tariff on protective lines. That would
make large additions to the free list.
The reasoning of The Post is fallacious
in two respects. In the first place, no per-
ceptible number of intelligent Democrats
now advocate free trade. There have in
times past been prominent men in this
country, and they were not always Dem
ocrats, who were advocates Of absolute
free trade. but we know of none now. We
are unable to understand how our gov
eminent could be kept going without the
money derived from revenue duties, both
internal and on imports. and as long as
it is necessary to get money in that way
in order to keep up the expenses of the
government just that long will there be
duties levied. Absolute free trade is the
dream of the Utopian in politics. but no
one with proper understanding of our
system of government will try to defend
the theory that we must have no tariff
The idea is absurd.
Another fallacy of The Post is it's evil
dent belief that the Democratic party
should make no war on the policy of pro-
lection. The theory and practice of pro-
lection is either right or 1t Is wrong. If
it is right the Democratic party can have
no excuse for making war on it. and If
it Is wrong the party will be inexcusable
II it fails to fight it. That is the condi-
ton in a nutshell, and Democrats ought
to understand 1t. 1t may not be sound
policy to make the fight now on the dis
tinctive issue of a tariff for revenue only.
We rather incline to the opinion that the
Democrats ought first to make the Re-
publicans take a position On the question
of tariff revision and modification. Some
of the strongest and most intelligent mem
bers of that party admit that the tariff
should be reduced on some articles and
proba bly, be removed entirely from 9TH
ers. but the leaders of the party are evil
IDENTIFY afraid to touch it in any place for
fear they would have the whole structure
tumbling about their ears.
The Democrats in Congress should unite
and force the fighting on this issue. BY
this course they can divide the Republi-
can party or they can force 1t to defend
the present tariff as a whole. Either will
be a distinct gain for Democracy. Either
will open the way for Democratic victory
If the Republicans divide they can easily
be defeated. If they make the fight in
stands they can be defeated. This Is
probably as far as Democrats should go
at present. but they should not depart
from the well settled Democratic theory
of a tariff for revenue only, nor should
they cease to combat the protective tariff
system which Is the parent and the nurse
of the trusts which are devouring the
people. To oppose that system is Democ-
racy and it should never be abandoned
lat the behest of opportunsm." as The
New Orleans Times-Democrat expresses
it. That would be cowardice as well as
bad politics.