New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-30
EXPLAINING AW1Y THE PLATFORM.


Among the speakers at the Democratic rati-
fcaton meeting on "Wednesday evening was
Samuel J. Randall. He comes from city ana
State vtally interested i'll maintaining the sys-
tenn OF protection to American Industries es-
tablished 10y the Republican party, ana ne
made great effort to put gloss upon the
revenue thrift plank of the Cincinnati plat
form which would render it less obnoxious 10
the people of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania
Conveniently forgetting to quote the plank ne
talked about RENTING the whole question OF
the tariff to a commission of experts, III ac-
cordance with a bill which passed the Senate
lately, and is now on the Speakers table OF
the House This bill he put forward as
Democratic measure, representing the p0lcy
of the Democratic party. Then he talked
about the necessity of raising money to pay
the principal and interest of the public debt
being a sufficient safeguard Tor our industries
and said that the Wood Tariff bill did not pro-
pose to injure the iron interest OF Pennsyl-
yania.
This is a piece Of special pleading unworthy
of man whose position as Speaker OF the
House ought to imply the possession OF some
statesmanlike qualities. If the policy OF the
Democratic party is to leave the tariff to
commission of experts, why did not the party
say so in the platform of It's National Conven-
ton 1t lodged a great many questions, but
it spoke ont blunty and explicitly on that OF
the tariff. What did it say ? It's position is
expressed in five words" tariff for revenue
"ouy" There is not word in the platform
about a tariff fixed up by a commission OF ex-
perts not a word about protecting the iron
interests of Pennsylvania. A tariff for rev.
"epue only" is the sum and substance of the
Democratic law and gospel on this important sub
iect. 1t cannot be explained away. Ii means
that the duties on imports are to be gauged
with the sole purpose of producing a revenue
for the Treasury. No regard is to be had to
the claims of American industries for protec-
ton against ruinOus foreign competition.
The whole system of protective duties under
which our manufactures have sprung up ana
fourshed is to be abandoned, and a new sched-
ule arranged with view to yielding as much
money as possible.
A revenue tariff IS a tariff which stimulates
the importation of foreign goods. The more
goods imported, the more reyenue-that Is
plain enough. The more goods imported the
less manufactured in this country-that is
equally PLAIN. A revenue tariff means lower
wages. crippled industries, workmen out OF
employment. When Speaker Randall lodges
the question and talks about commission he
deceiyes nobody. The manufacturers, mechanics
and operatives OF this country know perfectly
well the difference between n protective tariff
and a revenue tariff. They will not allow Mr.
Randall or anybody else to obscure the issue
raised by the Democrats in their platform, and
they will not vote to place Il party i'll power
which is ready to sacrifice their interests at
the demand of the cotton planters and to-
bacco growers of the South The South wants
to sell its products to Europe and import
European manufactures at low rate OF duty
or no duty at all. 1t controls the Democratic
party, and has dictated it's platform and given
fair notice of IFS policy toward the great
manufacturing interests Of the North. Mr.
Randall and other protectionist Democrats
may as well take back seats. The South is run
ming the Democratic machine, and 1t will take
great delight in stopping the looms and put
ting out the furnace-fires in the Northern