The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-10-27
The Democracy, Tariff and the
LabOrer.

The Democracy, Tariff and the
Laborer.
In all its recent national platforms, except
that of 1872, when its candidate, Mr.. Gree
ley, declined to stand on free-trade plank,
the Democratic party has declared against a
high tariff designed to protect American in
dustry, and has professed to be in favor of
tariff for revenue only. Its practice, in
this respect and singularly, has been in ac-
cordance with its professions. Whenever
called to power from banishment it has re-
pealed protective tariff if one was to be
found on the statute book. Whenever in
opposition it has denounced protection and
clamored for free-trade In nearly ev-
cry Presidential campaign in whichit has en-
gagged "free-trade" has been blazoned on it's
banners and was the war cry with which its
hosts rushed into battle. This year, in its
convention at Cincinnati it reaffirms the old
dogma which has figured in its creed from
the beginning, and pledges itself anew to
the maintenance of the doctrine of rev.
enue tariff
For once the country is minded to take
the Democracy at its word, to accept its own
valuation of itself, to hold it to its profess
sions for free trade. And not liking free
trade, not fancying that purely British pro-
duct, not caring to damp its furnace fires or
divert the stream from the wheels of its
water-mills, the country turns its hesitating
face from the Democratic party and to the
party whose wise and patriotic legislation
has built up and broadened and now sus-
tains American il dustry. Seeing this dislike
to the dogma of free trade which the Amer
lean people entertain, what does the Democ-
racy do? 1t pleads the baby act. 1t urges
that it is not res ponsible for it's words or it's
deeds. 1t asks that it shall not be held to
the letter of its declaration of principles. 1t
asserts that its resolutions are only make
believe. 1t claims that the Cincinnati plat
form was but bit of sportiveness, and asks
joke. 1t even goes further. In its frantic
fear it loses altogether what little head it
had and, affecting the sneer of its enemies,
asks what man ever did believe in the decla-
rations of Democratic platform, and rea-
sons from that query and the inevitable an
swer that no man now should. The argu-
ment is plausible certainly. But the tariff
for revenue only is the one political doctrine
to which the Demo cratic party has been
faithful in practice as well as profession. 1t
has turned against hard money. 1t
has ignored State rights when it controlled
the Federal administration. But it has nev-
er neglected to strike down protective tar
if whenever it has had an opportunity. Free
trade is the one thing in which it has been
consistent. And free trade it longs for in
its heart to-day. The reason for its affec-
tion is not far 10 seek. The South believes
that free trade is necessary to the material
prosperity of that section of the country,
and the South rules the Democracy in not
only camp and court, but in caucus and
Congress. Its will is law to that party. 1t
has no interest in sustaining and
strengthening the vast industrial es-
Establishments of the North. II has
an interest in sending its cotton over
sea in free exchange for English manufac-
lures. It.cares no more for the laborer now
than it cared when it held him in slavery.
Indeed it cares less for the Northern artisan
or farmer than it does for the tiller of
Southern fields, whatever his color may be.
The one is looked upon as an alert and
aggressive enemy, the other as valuable
though sometimes troublesome drudge.
The declaration of its Confederate Constitu-
ton, ''nor shall any duties or taxes on i'm
portations from foreign countries be laid
to promote or foster any branch of indus
try" is the expression of its opinion to-day
an opinion concisely worded at Cincinna-
ii by the representatives of the national
Democracy in the phrase ga tariff for reve-
nue. only" That is the doctrine held by
the major and governing portion of the
Democratic party-and it was acquiesced in
and even defended by the minor and gov
erned portion until frightened into evasion
and falsehood by the result of the October
elections. That is the doctrine which will
find practical operation in law should the
Democrats retain control of Congress and
secure the Executive. Whether they shall
succeed OF fail is at the option of the Amer
lean laboring man, the artisan, the farmer.
the journeyman. He has the decisionin his
hands. Will he decide for OF against him
self?
THE Argus has gone into the business of
uttering forged notes. 1t gives much space
to copy of the mispelled and ungrammati-
cal Morey letter gotten up by agents of the
Democratic National Committee, and first