Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-07-18
IMPORTANT.
Mr. PoIk's late anli.Tariff letter
reviewed, and his position
defined,

defined.
The following clear and distinct view
of the position Of the two presidential
candidates on the Tariff question, was
presented by the Hon. Mr.. STEWART,
NJ. C. from Pennsylvania, in discus
sion which recently occurred in Union
town, in that State. We copy it from
the "Democrat" of that place.
Mr.. Stewart commenced by saying
that to understand the subject, it was
necessary in the first place to ascertain
what the PRESENT views and opinions
of Mr.. Clay and Mr. Polk were upon
the tariff; and then to see what would
be the practical operation and effect OF
their principles upon the interests OF the
country, if carried out in the admins
lration of the government.
Mr.. Clay's position, he said, was wei
understandable is for the Wing tariff
Of 1912, he has so declared himself re-
peatedly; in proof it is only necessary
to refer to his Harrisburg letter of the
| llth Of May, 1874, in which he says:
"The Tariff act of 1912 has been
| bitterly denounced, and gross epithets
applied to it. Its repeal was pronoun
ced to be favorite bject of our poltl'
cal opponents. They have majority
of some fifty or sixty in the House. A
bill to repeal that Tariff has been pend
ing great part Of the present session
of Congress. And yet, yesterday, or
a test vote, majority Of the House
decided against the repeating bill, lean
ing THE TARIFF OF l842 in fill
and SALUTARY operaiion' This de-
cision was an involuntary concession o
our political opponents to the WIS.
DOM and BENEFICENCE Of Whia
policy, produced by the returning pros
perity Of the country, and the enigh hit
ened opinion Of the people"
Thus you see Mr.. Clay declares him.
self unequivocalIy and decidedly ioI
the Wing tariff of 1912. Fortunately
within the last hour, said Mr.. s., !
have been furnished with Mr. Polk S
late letter 10 Mr.. Kane, Of Philadel-
! pulu, VII tliC SuDlCtt VI tiiO -"
pronounced it by far the most important
document that had appeared since the
! Presidential nominations important,
because it defines and fres MIR. Polk's
position, heretofore SO equivocal, on
the tariff question-it fixes him noio and
at all times distinctly for the repeal o!
the tariff Of 1912 and for the adoption
Of a horizontal tariff Of 20 per cent. ad
valorem, discriminating below that
amount for revenue. In public dis
cusslon in Tennessee, as late us April,
1913, Mr.. Polk says:
81 am in favor Of repeating tho act
Of the last Congress, (the act Of 1912 J
and restoring the compromise tariff act
Of March 9, 1888"
Which Mr.. Polk says, "will afford
sufficient protection TO the manuiac-
lures, and is all .hey ought TO desire,
or to which they are entiled'-thus 90
per cent is what Mr.. Polk in the Ian
sidcrs "FAIR AND JUST PROTECTION TO
ALL TIE GREAT INTERESTS of the WHOLE
UNION, embracing agriculture, manu-
features and the mechanic arts, com
merce and navigation" In this letter
Mr. Polk says expressly "my opinions
upon the tariff have often been given
to the public, they are to be fouad in my
PUBLIC ACTS and the PUBLIC DISCUS
sloNs in which ! hayo par,icipated''-
and here they are. 81 am an taror Of
thc repeat Of the tariff Of 1912, and Of
restoring The Crompromise act Of Cd
.Narch, 1888" This is Mr.. Polk's
present position as defined by himself
there can be no dispute abouSit. This
letter settles the matter. Mr.. CLAY Is
for The TariD Of l842. Mr.. Polk de-
nounces i. as ruinous, and says he is
for restoring the compromise act Of 90
per cent. as the highest rate Of duty.
| To remove all doubt as to Mr.. Folks
position, here is his letter, word for
word The loose and unmeaning slang
in the concluding paragraph, about
"lust and fair protection" :" can humbug
no-body-the first paragraph referring
to his public acts and public discussions,
for his present opinions, settles the ques-
tion--hear him.
COLUMBIA, Tennessee,
/ June 10Th, 1914.
DEAR SIR:-I have received recently sew.
eral letters III reference 10 my opinions on
the subject of the tariff, and among Others
yours of the 30lh ultlmo. My opinions on
this subject have been often given to the
public. They are to be found in my public
acts, and IN the public discussions IN which
have participated.
am in favor of q tariff for revenue such
a one as will yield a sufficient amount to the
Treasury to deirny the expenses Of the Gov
crnmcnt economically administered. In ad-
/ lustng the details of a revenue tariff, have
heretofore sanctioned such moderate dis.
eliminating duties, as would produce the
amount OF revenue needed, aud at the same
time afford reasonable incidental protection
to our home Industry. J am opposed to a
tariff for protection merely, and not for rcve.
nue.
Acting upon these general principles, it
is well known that gave my support to the
policy Of General Juckson's administration
on this subject. voted against the tariff
act Of lS26. | voted for the act of 1882,
which contained notifications of some of the
objectionable provisions Of The act Of 1923.
/ AS n member Of the Committee of WAYS
aud Means of the House Of Representative.
gave my assent to bill reported by that
Committee in December, 1892, making for
-