Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-04-08
Roanoke Convention and tbs TsrIlI


We trust that the State Demo
cratic Convtniion soon 10 meet Mt
Roanoke viii give some considera-
tion 70, and put itself on record with
very decided expression OF opin-
ion relative to the tariff and tariff
revision or reform.
With the exception of safeguard
inc the constitutional rights of the
States. there is no public question
that approaches this in importance,
and none upon which the Demo-
cratic party has more emphaiically
and persistentIy declared itself.
and through all turns of veal and
woe. religiously adhered to.
Instead of being the party of
Rum, Romani~nn, and Rebellion. :"
"a the late ridiculous DIR. Burchard
proclaimed. it is, and from its
foundation has been. essentially
the party of States rights. and low
tariff.
There may, indeed. be individ-
nals calling themselves Democrats
who repudicaie these articles of
party faith; but anyone who has
any knowledge nf party history,
and intelligence enough Ia supply
that knowledge. knows that one
might as well rc:e 4 tire Apostles
Greed and raji himself Christian.
as To rerudiate these two articles
of Democratic faith and call himself
4 Democrat.
He may llea most cstimable citi-
zen. He may even vote with the
Democrats and participate in their
councils: but lie j. not, and cannot
be one of them Until he accepts
these Fundamental principles upon
which the party rests.
The abandonm, at OF ih" doctrine
of low tariff or tariff for revenue
enIy, andJhe adoption h, the party
in power Of the principlr of pro-
lection anil the results ,hst have
hpwed from Il. constitute the best
possible vindication OF the truth
and soundness of our Democratic
faith.
StunendouS economic faces have
brought about vast development
of the wealth and resources of the
country; but the tendency under
the protective system has been to
concentrate and accumulate them
in few hands. and the vast power
SO accumulated has been utilized
by its bossessors To establish mo-
nopolics to levy still further tribute
upon the people.
The wealth of the country under
the protective system has not been
distributed. 1t has been concen-
trated.
The gross income of the steel
trust, that Is a creature OF the
protective tariff, amounted last
year to $3.50, 200, 900. More than
80 per cent of this vast sum was
collected from the consumers of
steel and iron and their products
by reason of the protective tariff.
Virginia comprises outone-for-
tieth of the country. Her con-
tribution last year TO the income of
this trust alone amounted to about
one-fortieth of one-half of the
$3.50, 100000, or something more
than 80. 900, 900, which is directly
chargeable to the tariff. The
entire taxes paid by our people Tor
the support of the State, govern
ment is little over So, 5,000,000.
This is but one illustration of the
working of the tariff in the creation
of trusts or monopolies; but there
are many others. 1t is idle for us
to hope to curb the trusts until we
remove or cut off the source of
their strength and power.
1t is the protective tariff that is
the root of the trust evil, and Vir-
ginia Democrats should not fail to
proclaim his.-Richmond Journal.