Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-10-04
WILSON IN NEW ENGLAND.

and honorable Sandpatters still supposed to find
harbor. the Democratic leader vigorously champoned
program Of political progress Significantly enough,
he found HIS hearers as responsive were those
of the West, a fact which would indicate that the
popular thought of New England, far from being
turned backward is like that of the whole nation
facing the light and answering the call of day.
Nor is it difficult to understand why those tenn
predetermined people respond earnestly to the
doctrines of political progress set forth by Wood
row Wilson. They recognize in him and in his pol
icies an influence which is above all constructive and
which will accomplish needed changes not through
violent disturbances, but through thoughtful ana
workmany process of reimbursement 1t is this char
acterstic of Governor Wilson himself and of the
poses for which he stands that appeals with equal
force all openminded citizens whether they be OF
a conservative or an aggressive temper. He is dis
tinguished from the Republican candidate on the
one hand by the fact that he recognizes and is pre-
pared to effect certain sorey needed changes in the
Government; and from the candidate of the Third
Term party, the other hand by the fact that he
proposes to accomplish those changes through or
derby and constitutional means.
Especially interesting and effective Governor
Wilson's discussion of the tariff before his Connecti
cut audiences. He completely routed the old bug
aboo conceived and fostered by reactionary Repub-
licans that the Democratic party stands for abso-
luteIy free trade Whenever change in the existing
tariff schedules is suggested the Standpatters nva-
rably cry that the Democrats trying to ruin in
dustraI interests and mean to wipe out the federal
governments main of revenue. Neither
Governor Wilson nor his party has ever advocated
any such silly proposition. What he said in this
connection to his audience at Hartford he has said
in effect time and time again. In addressing the
National Democratic Club at New York on last jan
uary the third, Governor Wilson declared:
What are zoe going to doG Are zoe going to
turn reUoIutionistsP Are zoe going to act as free
traders! tOish might hope that grand
children could indulge in free trade, but am
afraid they cannot, because they haze to pay the
bills Of the federal government. We haze fed
eraI system of government out 1t is toise it is
good housekeeping it is good management to
leGUe direct tares for the most part to the State
government, because they hare current bills to
pay. 1t is likely that for an indefinite period zoe
shall hare to pay our national bills by duties
collected at the ports Therefore lohGt zoe hGUe
to ask ourselves is not the principle upon a0hich
zoe are to act, for that is plain. We to act
upon the fundamental principle of the Democratic
party not free trGde, but tariff for revenue;
and zee must approach that By such GVenWeS, by
such stages and at such pace aotH be
sisteHt t0ith the stability and the safety of the
business Of the country"
Such an attitude as this can give no reasonable
apprehension to any legitimate industry to any
ton of the country, whether it be the West, the
South or New England with its teeming manufac
tories.
1t matters little where they live or what their
inherited opinions may be, the rank and file OF the
people of this country have at last awakened to the
monstrous stupidity of the claim that in order for
them to prosper particular group of interests must
have the Governments nursing and patronage. New
Enganders realizing this fact no less keenly than
Americans at large; and in their State and Con-
gressional elections within the past two years they
have given ample proof of their conviction.
The sort of tariff that has grown up under Repub
lican administrations is protection but patron
age 1t is not levied for the support Of the Govern
ment, but for the aid of giant monopolies; not for
the benefit of the workingman but for the profit of
narrow group of financiers. Far from safeguarding
extending prosperity, it pinches and starves the
people as whole by placing extortionate tax
upon the necessaries of life Far from strengthening
American industries it weakens them by barring the
wholesome stimulus of competition.
1t is this sort of tari-the sort which both Presi
dent Taft and Mr.. Roosevelt and their respective
parties would perpetuatethat the Democratic party
under Woodrow Wilson's leadership purposes to re-
form. The workngmen, the farmers and the general
PuSiiC u NE" England are To-Day bearing the burden
of such tariff in common with the American people
as whole 1t is to the Democratic party alone that
they may look for any of intelligent or efec
tive relief this great issue; and not until this
issue is settled it should be is there any hope of
trust reform or of economic and social Justice
The ThirdTermer has talked one plan of tariff in
the East and an entirely different plan in the West
To him. the cloud is first like camel and then like
a weasel and then indeed very like whale; in
truth he has proved himself the pratng Polonius OF
American politics. DR.. Eliot aptly described Mr.
Roosevelt when he said: HE has never shoacn ann
acquaintance 0ith the tariff questions ann interest
IN them, or any comprehension of the disastrous
eVects Of the tariff on the prices of the mecessa-
mes OF fye to consumers His present utterances on
this subject are contradictory and vague"
In sharp contrast to the Third-Termer's dilatorv
and really demagogic treatment Of this vital issue
stands the clear-cut.