The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-18
From the Boston Times

The wing papers, particularly those which are
directly interested in the question, as advocates of
moneyed capitalists and of protection, have begun
TO give forth signs Of quaking the subject of the
tariff Already they perceive the presage of COM
ing storm, which is destined TO shake, if not utterly
to sweep away, the unjust underground upon
which very small proportion of our citizens are
elevated, pecuniarily far above their fellows. The
facilities for enormously augmehtng the receipts Of
capitalists, by heavily taxing the whole consuming
population Of the country, are seriously menaced.
1t is time (say the faithful organs of these capital
sts) to sound the alarm.
The democratic journals have not made much stir
in this matter. Since the victory of 1874 they have
rested their arms, fortified the field of battle
though they have lost sight of the great question
at issue between parties. Whence, then, do the pro-
tcctive journals take the keynote of alarm They
find the herald of the tempest in the memory of the
last great national struggle for political supremacy
they read it in the character and principles of the
President and the talented men he has rallied round
him in the cabinet at Washington. They fear the
patriotism and energy of James X. Polk; they dread
the searching analysis, the foresight and practical
knowledge Of Robert ]. Walker, who has fearlessly
thrown down the gauntlet by declaring that "the
Tariff must be reduced TO standard" They
know that Mr.. Bancroft's views upon this question
are Numerically inimical to their own, though in
accordance with the views of the nation. They have
heard that his creed is briefly expressed in the dec
laration that "alL duties fares the purchaser"
and they dread the ability and influence with which
these views will be enforced. IL they turn from Mr..
Polk, from Walker, and from Bancroft, they see no
sign of hope in Judge Mason, who is emphaticaly
anti-tariff man. they encouraged to inves-
tigate the views of Buchanan and of Marcy. Such
is the aspect which meets them on the side Of the
administration.
But it is less from the character of the national
administration, from the views of the leading men
and presses of the democratic party, that the whig
journals take the alarm. They derive il from the
tone Of the people themselves, gathered in the
streets, in the workshops, in the busy marts, in
the quiet country towns There, are murmurings
not to be mistaken. There, has this question Of
the tariff been discussed and sifted, till all its details
are familiar as "household words" There, too
among the people, is found that practical know-
edge of the operation of the tariff laws the Masses
which is better than all the speculative theories of
the scholastic study.
When they cry out for ''protection-protection
to American indusry'-there is scarcely school
boy but will answer, that the tariff is lightweight
upon the industry of the nation. "f the tariff Of
1912 protects some persons, aud enables them 10 get rich
easier than they could by their unaded labor, IL is be-
cause they get rich al the expense Of the labor Of the
TOM
1t is to enrich few persons that the poor man
pays for the necessares of life-for the very salt
which seasons his hard-earned bread, a most enor-
nous tax; while the rich man revels in imported
Injuries, without 1.-THE of the disbursement of the
revenue. One interest is protected at the expense Of
all the othersof the great agricultural interest par
ticularly. The farmers-the men without whose
tolls existence itself would come speedy close
do well, even in these times Of prosperity, if they
can make profit of or per cent; while the man
ufactories reaping the fruit Of a most unjust and
partial policy, are clearing their 90 &c. 40, and SO
per cent. upon invested capital. They are growing
| rich upon their easy terms
The democratic party and the democratic princi-
| pie do not denounce the accumulation of wealth.
The difference this point between us and our adj
versaries is this: while aim at national wealth.
they would foster individual wealth. We would
have u community where all were prosperous:
they handful Of miiionares, and nation of
paupers. And no scheme is better fitted to bring
about the speedy building up of u moneyed aristoc-
racy than this abominabe scheme of a high protec-
tive tariff.
But, thanks to the intelligence of the American
people, and the benefcent spirit of political in
stitutions, this scheme cannot be riveted upon us.
The people thoroughly understand the dangers
which menace them. They have declared that they
will not submit to wholesale and grinding taxation,
and have displayed this determination in the stern
testimony Of an overwhelming political majority.
Their views declared, il remains now for their SER
wants and representatives to carry out those views
Let those representatives be true their constituent
cy-true to the great interests of the nation.
We are glad that the whig papers hive early
sounded the alarm about the tariff. We would have
them draw out all their forces-all their arguments
Democracy neither shrinks from the light nor gozes
| over its views with spscious sophstry. The fuller,
the freer the holder the discussion of the tariff ques-
ton, the more complete will he the humiliation of
the arguments of the supporters of the act of lS42
The advocates of high protective policy have had
fair warning and full time for preparations; they
must now be resigned to certain defeat and the es.
tabshment of more impartial and enligh tened sys-
tenn of policy on the subject of imports.