The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1908-02-14

| Position and views Of Both far-
ties on Political and Economic
Questions-Country Needed Re
form But it Should BE Deliberate
and Not Sensational.
Washington, d. c.. February IL
| The attitude OF the republican party
on the tariff question. and the presi-
dents recent special message to
congress, In which he called atten-
ton to the necessity for certain legis-
lation were the themes OF a lengthy
speech in the house OF representatives
today by Mr.. Richar0.on Of Alaba-
ma. He congratulated the demo-
Gratis OF the house and the country
/ on the joint debate in congress dur
ing the last fortnight and said that
| 1t had in a remarkable manner clear
| ed up the political atmosphere and
| forcibly defined the position and the
| views of both the great political par
| ties on vital political and economic
| questions.
Tariff reform, sgd Mr.. Richard
| son, Is the issue that would clarity
| the political atmosphere. Let us
stand for free raw material" he ex-
| planned, land the victory Is ours"
He charged that on that point the re-
publican party was weak and stood
discredited with the people by it's
| broken pledges. He did not hesitate
| to say that the tariff was an issue
| that appealed to the people more
than the Panama canal, the rail-
roads, the currency, the freedom OF
the Philippines, Imperialism, or the
question of unharmed malefactors so
soundly denounced by the president
in his last messages
The debate of the past week. he
said, had demonstrated the weak
ness and utter inefficiency OF our
boasted gold-standard financial sys-
tenn" He spoke of the multiplica-
ton Of soup-houses. failing banks.
and other adversities, and reminded
the republicans Of their exclamation
during the panic of 1898 when a
bank failure was reported that an
other bank has gone democratic"
He charged that the banks that
failed last fall had gone republican.
The stand pat leaders who die
tated the policies of the republican
party, he asserted, declared with
great earnestness and solemnity that
not a single schedule of the Dingley
tariff should be considered until af-
ter the presidential election, and
then only by its friends"
No sound, sane man, he declared.
pretended to believe that, and he did
not think that the leaders who made
such declarations could expect the
country to take them seriously. The
great trusts OF the country, he as
serted, had fattened under the pres
ent tariff system, and these friends"
were now engaged in a hide and seek
game to extend the friendly powers
OF arrogant combinations and cor
porations "by seeking to allay the
fears of the CONSUMERS by promises
so often disregarded in the past few
days"
The whole situation was, he said.
that the republican leaders did not
believe IL to be the interests of the
republican party to have revision OF
the tariff at this time, although. he
charged. public opinion. supplement-
ed by republican dissatisfaction has
forced a reluctant consent to hammer
into the next republican platform n
promise to revise after the election"
Regarding the presidents message
Mr. Richardson said IL was In re-
sponse to the criticism that the news-
papers had freely passed upon him
and the policies of his administra-
, tion. Many OF the recommendation
OF that message. he declared. III car
ried out at once by his party. would
undoubtedly be OF benefit to the
country. Mr.. Williams. the minority
leader, he said. had pointed out very
clearly the portions OF the message
that democrats could and did cheer
fully endorse, but he alleged, "the
| message undoubtedly seeks TO make
the control OF the trusts the para
mount issue In the present cam
paign.' IL. he inquired. the presi-
dent was truly sincere I'm the vigor
and real OF the rights expressed in
| his message or the protection of the
/ Individual rights Of the citizen
against the rapacity of the trusts.
"why did he not recommend TO his
party that a guarantee be given To
| every American citizen the right TO
buy at home thu products OF Amer
| lean manufacture as cheap ~ these
| products are sold In foreign coun-
] tries!"
| "If that was doae." he said the
trust problem would be solved. The
message. however," he said. was q
strong plea for the continuance OF
the repu blican party in power and