The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-03

made IN the appointed way we viii
stand shoulder to shoulder for the
R<puhiican candidates, and In this
Nplrit I appeal to every Republican
M the state 60 give hts voice and
his vote to every candidate on the
ticket. whether national or state.
Doctrine OF Protection.
There is not a Republican anywhere
who does not yield 20 the protective
system unrescrved and unwavering al
legiance. Aiarich. Lodge, Hall, Can
i uux Payne and Dalzell may be its
sincere and earnest advocates, but in
zeal for its perpetuation. and in the
eluauence of its defense they cannot
surpass Nelson. Clapp. Beveridge. La
Toilette. Deliver and Bristow.
There has been no controversy. and
there can be none. between Repuhli-
cans as to the soundness or value OF
this doctrine. The divergence ap-
pears when we come to apply II TO
International trade, and TO a consid-
GRAFTON of that divergence ] now ask
your fair minded and disPasstonate
attention.
So leng as there WAS full and free
competition in our own country II
riaftered little how excessive the du-
ties were. because the rivalry among
domestic producers could be depended
can level We did not, therefore. Sc
rieusly concern ourselves about q sell
enfific adjustment Of the tariff. Our
manufacturers were protected against
competition from abroad, and oUr
consumers were protected by the nat
ural laws or business at home. II the
duties were higher than they should
have been, and undoubtedly they We're
In many Instances there was no com
piaiat, Tor no injury resulted TO the
great body of the people who bought
and used datiahie commodities
As time passed on, however. there
appeared new factor in the indus
trial and CONNER siaI life Of the Unit
ed States, and the era OF consolida-
tion and monopoly began With a ra-
pIdity that e,sn now II is hsrd to
comprehend, business of all kinds
rushed into close union. and scatter
ed capital was drawn into the strong
embrace OF trusts and consultations.
Safe from tbs competition of other
countries 1t became the chief object
of our manufacturers to destroy COM
petition In their own country. They
accomplished their purpose so effec-
tualiy that years ago in nearly every
important field Of production prices
ceased To he the result OF the time
shonored lave or trade. and the power
oF determining profits fell into the
hands either Of monopoly or an
acknowledge master IN protected in
fiustry.
Revision Wanted.
Then came demand for revision
OF the tariff. 1t originated In the ne
cessities OF the people, and was found
ed mpon the fundamental instinct for
Justice. Deprived of the safeguards
which competition at home had fur
rished them, the people knew. with
out reasoning upon it, that they had
right 10 an intelligent readiustment
OF the tariff. They felt the duties
should be SO modified that the con-
tinned insistence upon unfair prices
would expese our manufacturers TO
the correction Of foreign pompeti-
ton.
In this demand there vas no dis
loyalty 10 the doctrine AZ protection,
although for a short period the beno-
hciarjes Of excessive duties succeeded
in confusing the issue.
The bill made many reductions ard
many increasas~~but the reductions
were OF little or ne avail. for they
left the duties still far above the diff
ference In cost of production, and
therefore permits the protected man
ufactaIrerH not only to charge exist
Ing prices but to lift them still higher
and the sfacrAas SEES were. In nearly ev-
cry instance. not only without reason
In fact. but without defense IN de-
bate.
Some Republicans, having done all
they could n make the bill what il
should have been. finally voted for it,
and / have no word of censure for
them, for they did what they believed
to he their duty. Some Of us voted
against the bill, and we make no apoi-
agv for our votes.
If there had been an honest at
teynpt TO fix duties according to the
~oxt of production. ! might have
welded nv view on the question OF
fact: but there was no such attempt.
end I. for one, refused to follow. and
would refuse again to follow Aid
rich. Hale. Lodge, Cannon. Payne and
Daizell into q sneering contempta
Gus, open Reputation OF my party
platform.
1t is not republican measure al
though passed by republican votes,
for the men who are chiefly respon-
sible for Ii thought more of swelling
the overgrown fortunes OF their intl-
mate friends than they thought of the
party principles the party pledge or
the welfare of a long suffering peo-
pie
Correct Error.
The logical sensible thing TO do
IN 10 correct our rnistake--none hut
reusah iican can correct tt---and under