The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-08-05
What They Stand Pat On.

An esteemed contributor whose COM
munication appeared in the Post OF the
4th instant enthusiastically applauds
the stand-pat policy OF the republican
party. We have no intention OF chars-
ing him or any those who share his
views on this subject, with dishonesty.
Doubtless he and they find means OF
tustifying their course n their moral
judgement. Nevertheless. all Of them
are standing pat on a palpabie and
great fraud, on a c~unninely devised de-
ception an dthat has been there attI-
tude for six years or more.
IL the tariff on which they stand were
the tariff tina Nelson Dinghy and HIS
associates intended, and which the re-
publican party has solemnly pledged
to give the country, they would DO
biameless although by this time many
Of ITS schedules would be obsoletea
That tariff as Ii passed was an incom-
plete measure. It contains the details
OF an elaborate scheme for reduction
by reciprocity treaties. Many Of its
schedules had, in pursuance OF sound
business policy been made too high
for the sole purpose OF leaving room
for reciprocity negotiations. The re-
o1klOa PhAIy "d5 40 &AbCA a. @oAAA
mitted to reciprocity as 1t was to pro-
lection. The two were linked together.
one the complement OF the other. The
Dingley act in its incompleted form was
to be made into h real Dingiey tariff
by reciprocity treaties. President Nc
Kinley, duly mindful Of his duty IN the
premises and clearly seeing what fair
dealing with the people demanded. set
about the task Of finishing h act. To
this end, he caused treaties To be fFe-
gotiated with many countries, whereby
those too high" schedules. bur
densome taxes might be brought down
to the intended attitude. But he IN
terests that were fattening on the
schedules objected to surrendersng any
part of the enormous profits that were
coming to them, IND they had so much
influence with the republican leaders IN
congress, especially in the senate. that
they were able TO bring about h de-
ton and OF reciprocity,
the whilom handmade Of protection"
OF course, this was a palmer
case existed. It was not only a
fraud ON the consuming asses but
On the name and fame Of Nelson Ding,
ley. And to call the tariff as &c stands
with its too high" schedules unreduc-
ed and with Its elaborate reciprocity
section dead n d~ishonored. the
"Dfngfey tariff" IL an insult 10 his
name.
Not one Of the leaders who have led
their party into this disreputabfe bug
ness would dream Of practicIng sucn
deception In private affairs or would
tolerate II in others. But Ii often hap
pens that men who are individually
honest r collectively dishonest. We
shall not stop to speculate on this
strange phase OF human conduct or to
attempt to explain It, but state IL as
a fact, a fact hat Is depiorabse and
not readily durable. And 70 that fact
In due the spectacle OF men VINO are re-
garded as models of personal integrity
proudly perpetrating and boldly de-
lending a gigantic fraud and standing
pat on a foxy scheme for taking he
money Of the masses and putting It
| into the Golfers Of a comparatively few
men already fattened to plethora on
that kind Of s~poflation. We can recall
no other episode IN American politics
at an comparable with this for viola
ton OF pledges and breaking faith With
the publc--WaShingHon Post