Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-21
The Democracy and The Tariff.


one OF the resolutions of the Democratic plat
form asserts that ustice and sound policy forbid
the Federal Government to foster one branch of
INDUSTRY to the detriment of another to cher
Ism the interests of one portion to the injury of
another portion of our common country
Ihs is the Tariff platform of the Democratic
party the party that arrogates itself all the pin
cple IN the land and pretends to avow its opinions
boldly and fearlessly before the nation upon all
great questions of public policy. The foregoing
resolution processes to be an exposition of the
Democratic creed in respect to the subject of
protection, but sensible can fail to perceive
that 1t wholly fails to meet the true question at
issue and thatit is susceptible of almost any con-
struction which the reader may choose to place
upon it. Who ever commended that Justice and
sound policy required the Federal Government to
foster one branch ofindustry to the deiment of a.
mother! Whowas ever in favor of cherishing the in
terests ofone portion to the injury of
OF our common country? There lives not man
within the wide limits of our confederacy whether
Whigor Democrat protectionist OF anti-protec-
zionist, who does not concur in the sentiments of
the Baltimore resolution. The true question
however, is this: Do protective duties foster one
branch OF Industry to the detriment of another
and cherish the interest of one portion of the
country to the injury of another? This impor
tant question the Democratic platform wholly
evades. 1t leaves in utter darkness in rene cts
THE doctrine OF the party the question of pro-
tection-a question that has agitated the country
from the foundations the government down TO
the Dresent dav and which ;c s+;lI I;,:,
tical issue. The men who framed and adopted
this resolution dared not openly denounce the
policy protecting home industry, for fear of of
tending the tariff Democrats of PENNSYLVANIA. But
ltw necessary to satisfy the free trade wing of
the party by some declaration on the subject that
should seem to favor their views. Hence this
shuffiing, equiyocating, double-dealing resolu-
tlon this paltry piece of political imposture this
lame and lmpotent attempt to throw dust in the
eyes of the people. The Southern trader
who holds that protective duties do foster one
branch OF industry to the detriment of another,
CONSTITUTES this article of the Democratic faith as
denunciation of the protective policy; whilst the
pennsylvania Democrat who takes an entirely diff
ferent view OF the operation of the restrictive
system, OF course sees nothing in the platform to
conflict with his own peculiar views on the sub
ject Protection, in his opinion, has no tendon
cy to foster one branch of industry to the injury
of others, and therefore the resolution under con-
sideration has no application whatever to that
system.
The history of this famous article of the Iocofo-
CO creed will sustain us in the averment that it
asserts principle in relation to the protective
system In the year 1914, this resolution, which
has now become part of the Democratic plat
form, was introduced in the House of Represen-
tatives by Mr.. Campbell, member from South
Carolina. The yeas and nays were called upon
its passage, and it was adopted by vote of 166
to 4; Wings and Democrats, Protectionists and
Free-trade mon of every grade and school voting
in the affirmative And yet this resolution thus
endorsed by all parties and factions in Congress
few years ago, is palmed off on the country by
the self-styled Democracy as adeclaration of their
principles upon our tariff policy With all their
Wanted devotion to principles, and their pretend
ed willingness to proclaim them to the people,
they cannot be prevailed on to give us any more
distinctive exposition of their tariff creed, than is
embodied in resolution in which the strongest
advocates of protection and the most furious zeaots
Of free-trade could find nothing to dispute about