The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-01
MIR. TArTs APOLOGIES.

MIR. TATTvs APOLOGIES.
Candidate Taft begins his campaign
administration on the defensive. His
speech before the Merchants aud
Manufacturers Association, OF Boston
from beginning to end was apologize
That is bad start for Mr.. Taft and
the Republican party. and great OPP
portunity for the Democrats. 1t Is
bad enough for man In official life
to be forced to explain his own politi.
cal conduct, but when Candidate Taft
sets out Il explain and defend the Of
fetal conduct OF President Roosevelt
he takes upon himself a burden that
is too heavy even for his broad
shoulders. ~
But Mr.. Taft's speech is more nota-
bic for what 1t does not contain. There
is nothing new in his defense Of the
President. He has proven to his sat
isfaction that Mr.. Roosevelt was not
responsible for the panic Of 1907, and
he has attempted to point out tho real
causes. But in all that he said there
was no reference whatsoever to the
tariff and what 1t did to bring on the
trouble, and what it failed to do. Mr..
Taft lodged the whole question, and,
naturally, Mr.. Taft is not n nimble
dodger.
For many years the Republicans have
been saying that the protective tar
III was the tonic of prosperity and
preventive of panic and hard times.
and they have as invariably proclaim-
ed that the panic of 1884 and the
panic of 1893 were due to tariff tink-
ering, or the fear of it, on the part of
Democrats.
In 1883 the Mills bill" was "dc-
nounccd" as obstructive to the gem
eral business, the labor and the farm
Ing interests of the country
In 1892 they maintained" that the
prosperous condition of the country
was largely due to the wise revenue
legislation uhe TARIFF of the Re-
publican Congress- and asserted" that
the prices of manufactured articles of
general consumption had been reduced
under the operations of the Republic
can tariff act of 1890.
Later on they said: 1--WE renew and
emphasize our allegiance to the policy
of protection as the bulwarls of Amer
lean Independence and the foundation
pf ,a,,t, n1r,,, al,
perty. This true American policy
taxes foreign products and encourages
home industry; it puts the burden OF
revenue on foreign goods; it ,diffuses
general thrift. and POUNDS the strength
of all on the strength of each. In its
reasonable application it is Just. fair
and impartial, equally opposed to for
eign control and domestic monopoly
to sectional discrimination and indi.
vidual favoritism. We denounce the
Democratic tariff as sectional. injuri.
Gus to public credit and destructive
to business enterprise"
The Republican tariff has now beer
in effect for nearly ten years. and WE
have had a season OF prosperity
tion, bumper crops from season to sea
son. and other favorable conditions
But we have had also a season OF
labnormally high prices increasing
month by month. until men in moderate
circumstances are barely able to meet
their household expenses; until thu
cost of doing business has strained
credit wel-nigh to the bursting point
Graft has nourished as never before
since the republic was formed. Trusts
and monopoles have waxed fat nnt
arrogant, and according to the Presi.
dents own confession, the malefactors
of great wealth have multiplied in the
land
Is not the protective tariff respon.
sible in part at least. for these evils;
Does 1t not raise prices by choking
off competition? Is not the protective
tariff law a legalized graft, and does
it not of necessity suggest, encourage
and promote graft? Is it not. as IL
has been so often called, the mother
of trusts and monopoly? And is II
strange that men who have grown
1iNn VII Sidlt Shculu DC luulelaCtOTS I
The country took the Republican
nostrum, and under its artificial slim
ulation trade was invigorated. Blu
the nostrum has proven to be vilt
fntoxicant, stimulating for the time
but demoralizing in its effects.
That is the issue Mr.. Taft and hi!
associates will be forced to face il
the campaign of 1908. They will hav,
TO defend this system OF graft, which
has debauched both men and trade
and to explain how this "bulwark o
prosperity" failed to exert its savin.
grace In the crisis OF 1907.
THE STORM or 1907.
The year 1907 will 60 down to his
tory as a year of agitation. But witt