Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1858-09-24
GAZETTE OK THE TARIFF,

Our article of week before LIST, on the Tar
iti, and the Bedford Comfy Democratic Plat
form, seems TO have riled our down-street
Tsaic dfsregard FOR the facts, he charges the au
thorship of the article on somebody else than
ourself, and then deliberately tries to show that
Henry Clay was never in favor of protection to
american industry. Having done this, no
dout. to his own satisfaction, he undertakes
the still more difficult task Of convincing bis
readers that the Free Trade resolution of the
Cincinnati Platform does not mean Free Trade.
Tue resolution, as heretofore published, and
admitted 10 DO correctly published, is as fol-
lows:
"Resofved, Thut .herel are questions con-
uec;ed with the foreign policy of the country,
which are inferior to no domestic question
whatever. The time has come for tho people of
the United States to declare themselves in fa-
Vor Of free seas, and progressipe FREE TRAnr
throughout the world, and by solemn NANTES.
sations to place their moral influence at the
side of their successful example"
This is as anti protection, and free-trade
resolution as could possibly be drawn, and we
have seen it SO treated BY the press of the
'oolntry' OF both parties, and heard it again
sud again spoken of by intelligent persons,
aod We have the first paper yet to see, tbefore
the last Issue of the Gazette and the first in
4elligent man yet TO hear, who considers tho
above quoted resolution as anything else than
an open avowsl Of free. trade sentiments. We
think dr. Meyers ought to be permitted to
piss.
"PrgressiUs Free 7rade,' are the words of
this resolution of tho Cincinnati Platform, and
they mean just what they say; and it is good
deal too barsfuced a falsehood to say or pre-
tend, that progressive free trade" does not
mean progressive free trade. Great progress
was made Ill the direction of free-trade when
the tariff of 1916 vas substituted for that of
1912, and the democratic Secretary Of the
Treasury, at a!mostif not quite every session
OF Congress since that time, has recommended
further reduction of duties, and consequent
ly further progress towards tina. free trade Of
che democratic party, proclaimed by the fore
going resolution of the Cincinnati Platform
Free-trade and diyect tar1tion, are the doc
trines Of the party; the latter not 80 clearly
expressed IN any platform, but necessarily fol-
lowing the other, and openly avowed by lead
ing men of the party in their speeches in Con-
gross. They have been endeavorine to educate
the people into the acceptance of these doc
trines, and 10 the silly attempt the whole thing
has broken down, business has been prostrated,
and the country almost ruined; and now in
stead of having tho honesty to admit their err
rors, they persist in the wrong, and even deny
that they were ever in favor of frse-irade nj
ali If the people can be again humbuceed
by such denials, they are more easily deceived
than We ever supposed, and deserve to suffer a
while longer under these democratic times.
which are now upon us md which are tho re-
cult of the progressive free-trade doctrines and
practices Of modern sham democracy.