Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-05-12
THURSDAY. MAY II, 1904.
A DELUSION.

make these questions leading issues in the
coming Presidential election, it has al
lowed its fancy to cheat it into the delu-
sion that the Republican party is unwlli-
ing to meet the Democrats on such
issues.
. Our Richmond contemporary seems to
think that the Democratic leaders in Con-
gress, curing the last days of the recent
session, scored great victory by compel
ling the Republican leaders las it sup
poses) to take issue with the Democrats on
tariff and currency reform. 1t says;
GAS it was in the house, so it will be be-
fore the people if the Democratic leaders
and speakers will press this issue and give
out no uncertain, confusing or compromls-
ing sound regarding it. X The Re
publican house bell wethers we're forced to
accept the challenge or present q spectacle
of isnominious funking. Let the Demo-
Gratis see that they do not wricgle out of It,
That and forcing them to show their hand
on banking and currency reform is good
politics, and duty to the party and the
highest interests OF the country, for there
in lies the best and surest guarantee of
Democratic victory"
Can it be possible that the News Leader,
which Is 80 intelligent on many questions,
can truly believe that the Republican par
ty is afraid to stand by it's tariff and cur
rency views as held In 1896 aud 1902
After the two magnificent victories won
from the Democrats, who were then as
now shouting for tariff and currency re-
form, it is absurd to think that the Repub-
licans are reluctant to meet the Democ-
racy on the same issues in 1904. Such a
fear would be especially ridiculous in view
OF the fact that the victories obtained In
1896 and 1900 we're followed by mort Won
deriul business prosperity. The Repub-
licans would be as silly and cowardIy il
they lodged these issues as the Demo-
Gratis are foolish and reckless in presenting
them. The Nezs Leader may rest as
sured that Admiral Togo was not more ca
ger to entice Admiral Makarof with his
ships from the barbor at Port Arthur than
the Republicans were to have the Demo
Gratis challenge them tor a struggle over
the tariff and currency questions. And
the Democrats are about as certain to run
their rotten old ship on a destructive
mine as did Makarof his flagship.
The country has tested Democratic tar
if reform and has learned what the cur
rency reform heretofore suggested by that
party meant. The tests and knowledge
obtained are more than enough to make
p the conservative men of all classes take no
>-chances for suffering from such reforms as
may now be offered by the Democracy.
OF course the South will remain solid for
anything or any candidate the party pre-
cents. For the past twenty-five years this
section has profted more than any other
from the economic policy of the Repub-
lcan party; but the men who direct the
political thought here have been trained
TO oppose everything that the Republicans
advocate, and the masses continue to
blindly follow the leaders. The News
Leader may consider that good politics,
but it is hardly good sense.
Under the head, ga Sign OF The
Times" the Richmond Times of the 9th
inst. gave some very interesting figures
showing how the wealth of the South has
increased between the years 1880 and
1903. Those figures are as follows:
"The value of pig iron increased from
1897 ,OOO, 600 to S., 300, 900, 900.
"Coal increased from 100000 tons to
100000 tons.
"Capital invested in cotton mills in
creased from $2l 900, 900 to 5000, 100000.
"Capital invested in manufacturing in
creased from $257 900, 900 to $1,000, OOO,-
600.
"Value of manufactured products in
creased from $457, OOO,O 900 to 81 900, OOO,-
600.
"The value of cotton crops increased
from 1913 1000 900 to 1926, 900, 900.
'Value of all agricultural products in
creased from $500, 100000 to 81 100 OOO,-
OO0."
In the face of such facts as these the
News Leader proceeds to assail the protect
i've tariff as ''robber protection" and to
c!amor against the sound currency policy of
metropolitan party and fol theState bank
policy of the Democratic party. Is it
strange that our contemporary, holding
such views as these on the tariff and cur
rency, is deluded into the belief that the
Republicans are afraid to stand by their
policy and defeat the Democracy once
more upon the issues that were fought out
in the last two national elections2
There will be nothing doubtful or I'M
certain in the declarations Of the Republi-
o.n National Platform. Ii will uphold |