Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1904-05-26
THURSDAY. MAY 26, 1904.
DIVIDED ON ALL QUESTIONS.

made the paramount issue in 1896 many
thousand Democrats repudiated the candi-
date and platform and either voted for
Mckinley or the ticket of Palmer and
Buckner, put up by the Gold Democrats.
This division on the money question also
prevailed in the Presidential election of
1900, and made the breach in the Demo-
cratic ranks which is drawn between the
two factions known as the Bryanites and
Clevelandites.
The Democratic leaders have been hop
ing that by treating the free silver ques-
ton as a dead issue the party could be
brought together this year on some other
issue and be made to present a united
front in the Presidential election. This
hope has been especially INDUCED in by
that wing OF the party known as the re-
formers or reorganizers. In carrying out
their plans the tariff has been selected as
the most reasonable issue upon which
Democracy can be harmonized. This
plan, however, promises to be as unsuc-
cessful as was that to unite on the money
question in 1896. The California Demo-
Gratis held a State convention last week
and in their platform they express views
on the tariff that are not in harmony with
those held by the reorganizers who are
struggling to make the tariff paramount
issue in 1904. In speaking Of the question
the California Democrats say: 1.-THE diff
ference between parties is one Of the de-
gree of protection" Speaking OF this
declaration the Richmond Times Dispatch
says: IF that is Democratic doctrine, the
party has departed radically from its
declaration of 1892" The Times-Dispatch
to prove its position then quotes from the
Democratic platform of 1892 as follows:
"We denounce Republican protection as
fraud, robbery of the great majority OF
the American people for the benefit of the
few. We declare it to be a fundamental
principle of the Democratic party that the
IL ND
power to impose and collect tariff duties
except for the purposes of revenue only"
That may have been Democratic doc
trine in 1892, but it was not the same doc
trine that was pronounced by the Democ-
racy a short tine previous when they de-
clared for tariff for revenue with Incidental
protection. Nor did Mr.. German and
others of the party leaders consider it
sound Democratic doctrine in 1898, when
the Wilson German tariff law was enacted
and was considered such departure from
the platform declarations of 1892 that Mr..
Cleveland pronounced it infamous and dis
graceful and refused to sign the bill.
The Times. Dispatch is now very en-
thusiastic supporter of Judge Parker and
wants him made the candidate of the
party for President 1t is said that Judge
Parker wrote the National Democratic
platform of 1884 on which Mr. Cleveland
was first elected President. Now here is
what that platform said about the tariff
KNOWING full well that legislation az
fecting the occupations Of the people
should be cautious and conservative in
method, not it advance of public opinion,
but responsive to its demands, the Demo-
cratic party is pledged to revise the tariff
in spirit of fairness to all interests. But
in making reduction in taxes 1t is not
proposed to iDjure any domestic indus
tries, but rather to promote their healthy
growth. Many industries haye come to
uance, 60 that every change of law must
be, at every step, regardful of the capital
and labor thus involved. The
necessary reduction in taxation can and
must be effected without deprivlDg Amer
lean labor of the ability to compete sue
ceesfully with foreign labor and without
imposing lower rates of duty than will be
ample to cover any increased cost Of pro-
duction which may exist in consequence OF
higher rates of wages prevailing in this
country"
How does this sound for protection
Was it sound Democratic doctrine then?
What does the es-Dispatch think Of
itY Does it not uphold the California
Democrats in their assertion that: "The
difference between parties is one of the
degree of protection to be afordedP"
1t is evident that the Democratic party
for the past twenty-five or more years has
bad no decided, honest convictions on the
tariff or other important national ques-
lions. 1t has constantly been hunting for
what it calls new Issues, meaning some
plausible idea or policy that appears to
antagonize the position held by the Re-
publican party on a given question, with
the hope of winning control of the govern
inent. When its positions on the tariff t
have been go various and variable how is c
-. o.,o ero;no 70 toll whit nositinn the