The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-09-04
W A S HIN G I @ N .
WEDNESDAY EVENING, sEPTR 4, 1914
WHAT WOULD THE LoCoFoCos DO 2

WEDNESDAY EVENING", SEPIR a, 1914
WHAT WOULD THE LOCOFOCOS DO?
We should be glad to see the Locofoco plat
form, upon which the party, from Maine to Louis
lana, are willing to stand in the approaching con-
test for the Presidency. But the truth is, there
is no such platform A principle is avowed in
one quarter and disavowed in another and if the
party agree in the support of given measure
they rest their defence of it upon antagonist
grounds There is no such thing as holding them
to any question. Even the great questions OF pro-
lection and free trade, involving the dearest in
terests of the people, are sported with, lodged,
and dubbed about, with as little regard to truth
and fairness as pettifogging attorney would dis
play in the management; of dirty lawsuit. In
all the Southern country James X. Polk is pro-
claimed to be the incorporating advocate OF free
trade. Whatever reputation he has acquired has
been chiefly as the defender Of free trade. In
canvassing the State of Tennessee as the candl-
date of his party for Governor, he has invariably
arraigned his Wing opponents before the people
as the advocates of protection. So late as the
29th of May, l643, just twelve months to day
before his nomination to the Presidency, he de-
clared: 81 had steadily, during the period was
representative in Congress, been opposed to
protective policy, as my recorded votes and pub
lshed speeches prove. Since | returned from
Congress had held the same opinion"
Mr.. Polk in 1913, likewise declared himself
opposed to the present tariff and would SO declare
now if he dared to open his mouth upon the SUBJ
ject but we presume, for the sake of countenan-
cling the miserable fabricatons that are being cir
culated in Pennsylvania, asserting that he is the
friend of the tariff, he will be as silent possible
upon the subject His Locofoco friends at the
South will not press him to declare the contrary,
and he has treated respectful inquiry from the
Wings of East Tennessee, in relation to that
matter, with contempt.
The most despicable falsehoods are circulated
in Pennsylvania and New York in reference to
Mr.. Folks views upon the tariff 1t is openly and
boldly declared that Polk is the friend of the tariff
and as we learn from highly intelligent gentle
man, who has recently visited the Northern
States, the Locofocos boldly place upon their ban
ners, "Pok and the tariff" as the watchwords
of the party Is James K. Polk puppet? Can
he be made to say, like man of Ruckram, what
ever is put into his mouth In word, is not the
Locofoco candidate allowed to "defne his posi-
tom for himself! If he is, then, he is the un-
compromising enemy of protection He always
went against protection in every shape. He was
one Of the few ultras who thought the Compro-
mise Act too high, and voted for DR.. Halls reso-
luton to reduce the duties still lower.
We designed in the outset to have made further
comments upon the intangible nature of Loco
foco principles, in general, but want of room will
compel US to pass by several topics of interest.
We cannot, however, forego the opportunity OF
exposing the hypocrisy and inconsistency of The
Locofocos in relation to internal improvements by
the Federal Government.
1t is standing theme of defamation with Lo-
cofoco demagogues that the Wings place no limit
to the extent to which the Constitution may be
stretched, while the Locofocos claim to be strict
constructlonlsts" They deny the constitution
atty of carrying on internal improvements by
the Federal Government, and yet there never has
been a work of that sort projected which has not
received the hearty support of the Locofocos in
the vicinity of the improvement Take, for in
stance, the case of the National Road Was ever
Locofoco, resident in any of the States through
which that road passes, known to vote against an
appropriation for it! Never, we venture to say !;
and the same is true of appropriations to improve
the Western rivers. Their scruples abafe or
are IN nubibus, whenever theirlpockets are to be
affected by the violation of the Constitution.
1t is by such hollow professions of principle,
and such fathless departures from their creed.
that the Locofoco demagogues wheedle, cheat, and
rob the people.
Now, we would be glad to know if The Loco
focos intend, in the event of coming into power,
to continue appropriations for the Cumberland
Road, and for the Improvement of the Western