The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-04-09
SHOULD BE ACCEPTED UNIVERSALLY.

SHOULD BE ACCEPTED UNTVERSALLy.
Probably the most striking feature Of presf-
dent wilson's first message to congress aside
from the hTeyity and terseuess with which much
II said, is the fact that although Its preach
ments on the tariff are based on sound Demo
cratic doctrine the protecttonist as we'll as the
tarirforrevenue Democrat can accept almost
every word and every suggestion of it.
II may not 80 far enough for the fdeaIistic
free trader, Of whom there are few. and it prob
ably does not entirely please the hidebound pro.
tectionist, who believes in a prohibitiye tariff,
but It should please the protectonist' Of the
type who believes only in government protection
for those industries which cannot now compete
with foreign industries. But which win when
well established, and it should please the be.
lever In tariff for revenue, VINO knows that
a too sudden reduction would unsettle business
and even ruin many industries. which have
been constructed on protection as a basis.
Mr Wilson points out that We have passed
beyond the modest notion of protecting the
industries of the country and moved boldly
forward to the idea that they were entitled TO
those holding the old Democratic idea Of the
purposes OF the tariff should agree with that
opinion is bus natural. but they are not alone
Thousands and hundreds Of thousands Of pro,
tectionists have long since discovered that we
have carried protection too far that have
imposed rates which aided certain industries
more than needed even under the theory of pro-
lection that we have imposed rates which trans
ferred money from the pockets Of the taxpayers
To privileged industries. without any resultant
profit to laborer or consumer. Those men who
are protecuonists from principle, because they
believe that this eountry's resources should be
developed until they could stand competition and
because they believed that this nation should
be independent of all others know that in many,
many cases the tariff duties have accomplished
that work and should be gradually reduced 10
a revenue basis 1t was this knowredg. that
drove The entering wedge into the Republican
party finally ending in a complete split 1t was
the men who believed and stu believe Just what
Mr. Wilson said in his message that originated
the present progressive party even though Theo-
dore Roosevelt having absolutely no interest in
tariff revision sought afterward TO use that
new party for his own ends. Those progress
sives and many stiH In the Republican party,
who believe with them IN this particular but
who refused TO follow MIR. Roosevelt. can applaud
practically everything Mr. Wilson says in his
message. Even though they may not be willing
later to follow him further they can follow him
as far as he now asks congress TO go. They
can do nothing else without rcpudiating their
own earlier expressions.
Democrats Of all shades Of views on the tariff
question, save the frankly high protection types
can accept every word Of the message. Those
who believe in absolute free trade can work in
harmony with It. accepting it as a step toward
their ideal Democrats who wish to see the
the tariff eventually lowered 70 a revenue basis
can accept il for rho same reason Democrats
who wish the tariff schedules now operative
TO he lowered 10 the point generally suggested
nv Mr.. Wilson can work for such a tariff while
reserving the privilege Of opposing any further
reduction later. and all-ranging in view from
free traders 10 prohibitiye tariff advocates can
and do heartily agree with tho statement that
the sooner the thing is done without needless
haste the better for the nation.