The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1872-05-16

As great deal has been said by the news
papers of all parties, since the meeting c
the Cincinnati Convention, about th
"Greeley Tariff PLATFORM" We reproduc
below, from the Tribune, the article whicl
contained the original Greeley proposition
which has since ELECTED SO much remark
As the document bears unmistakable inter
nal evidence of being Mr.. Greeley's own pro
ductions, and as the Cincinnati platform wa
constructed in accordance with the sugges
tions therein made, it has become paper o.
more than ordinary interest. The following
is the article entire:
PLATFORM on THE TARIFF.
So much has been said-much of it mis-.
tskenly-with regard to differences at Gin
cinnati respecting the tariff, that we are i'm.
PEELED to elucidate the matter fully.
In the early days of our Union the ques.
ton of protection as against free trade did
not enter into party politics; bu. the federal.
lists having on their side nearly all the great
merchants, with the importing and shipping
interest, were most inclined to free trade.
Washington, as President, recommended
protection; John Adams did not; Jefferson
did; while Madison ably virdicated that
policy in successive messages; Monroe fol-
lowed in the same strain; 40 did John Quin-
cy Adams; 80, at first, did Jackson. OF our
Governors, George and Dewitt Clinton ad-
vocated protection; John Jay did not; Dan
iel ID. Tompkins did.
The Wing party, when first organized,
made no platform; but when it had elected a
President and Congress, in 1910, it preceded
to enact a protective tariff in ~, and stood
by it in the Presidential election of'44. The
Democrats declined to make a direct issue
on this question, but declared themselves,
through Folks letter to Kane, in favor of
''equal protection to agriculture, manufac-
lures, &c and carried Pennsylvania on q
party-cr of "Polk, Dallas and the tariff Of
A." Yet the Congress they then elected
repealed that identical tarif-every Pennsyl-
vania member but one voting with the
Wings in the negative. Free trade was
thenceforth in the ascendant till 1861.
The Republican party, formed by fusion
of anti.slavery Wings and Democrats with
the original Free-Soilers, was organized in
lS54-5, hut held no National Convention till
1856, when it held two, hut said nothing in
either on the tariff question. In 1860 it held
at Chicago its third, when the following tariff
plank was imbedded in its platform:
"That while providing revenue for the
support of the general Government, by du
ties upon imports, sound policy requires
such an adjustment of these imposts a. to en-
courage the development of the industrial in
.<.f L. Ill and
mend that policy of national exchange
which secures TO the workingmen liberal
wages, TO agriculture remunerative pri-
ces, TO mechanics and manufacturers an ade-
qua.e reward for their skill, labor and enter
prise, and to the nation commercial prosper
ity and independence"
We understand this TO mean protection
The E,en;ng Post interpreted it in an oppo-
site sense: so it was swallowed by men OF
the most diverse economic convictions. And
the Republican National Conventions Of
1864 and 1868 were wisely silent on the sub
jed. Practically, entire freedom of opinion
has prevailed with regard to it, ard well
known protec.ionists and free traders have
alike polled for Congress the entire Republic
can vote Of their respective districts. Thus
Mesrs. Buchsrd and Finkelnburg, free
traders, we're chosen to the present House, as
were Messrs. Dawes, Maynard, Kelly and
Roberts. Who confront them in the Commit
tee of WAYS and Means. giving the balance Of
poxer therein to Messrs. Brooks, Beck, and
Marshall, Democrats.
We have steadfastly insisted that the lib
ertv to differ on this question always hitherto
epioyed and exercised BY Republicans shall
not be denied to these who sympathize with
the Liberal movement. We have not asked
nor wished that Protection shall be accepted
or indor.ed BY Liberals who see fit to be
Free Traders; We have denied the right Of
any Convention or Committee to make those
Liberals who are Protectionists profess or
seem to be what they are not. We are not
of one mind on this question: then why not
frankly say just that? We would not ex-
clude or repel Free Traders from the move
ment If We could: Why should they seek to
exclude or repel rs? Do they apprehend
that the party will be too numerous?
ia free trade declaration at Cincinnati
would win over all the free traders in the
adverse camp, We could comprehend its pol
icy, though We should still protest against its
justice. But here are scores Of the most ex-
trsme free traders in the country-George
w. Curtis, George Opdyke, Charlton +.
Lewis. Gerrit Smith, VIM. Lloyd Garrison,
Isaac H. Bailey, &c, &c.-all obstreperous
for Grant, and not to be lured aboard the
other ship By any plank you may throw
them, Here are the n. Y. 7fmcs, Cincin-
natl Gs,sfte, Ohio Safe Jossnal, Indianapo-
~. Z .f.v.Sxo ditto end sroros morn