New-York tribune., 1880-06-28
ONE or THEIR BLUNDERS.

In their platform just auOpleud6 NlhClhuaoi
the Democrats demand "a tariff for revenue
"only.n They do not modify their demand by
any qualifying phrase about incidental prOtec-
tiOn. There is no sugar in the pill they have
prepared for tho manufacturing interests OF
the country. A tariff for revenue only means
tariff that will produce large revenue. A
large revenue from tariff duties can only be
obtained by such duties as will stimulate heavy
importations of foreign goods, and enable for
eigne1s to undersell our own manufacturers
in our home markets What the Democrats
declare to be their purpose is, therefore, To
break down American manufactures by en-
couragipg ruinOus foreign competition.
This sort of doctrine is popular i'll the South,
where manufacturing industries do not thrive,
and where there still survives something OF the
old envious dislike of the busy, prosperous com
munities of the North, but it is repugnant to
the common sense and self-interest of the
Northern people. Even tie farmers OF the faE
Western prairies, who used to favor free trade,
were long ago convinced of the folly of a
policy that would turn out upon the soil hun
dreds of thousands of food consumers in the
manufacturing towns and make them COM
petitive food-producers. Most of all is this re-
yived Democratic policy of revenue tariff OBJ
nOxious to the very States which tho Democrats
hone to win this year. They have taken their
candidate from Pennsylvania, with the expec-
tation that he may develop personal popularity
enough in his own State to overcome the Re
publican majority there; but no matter how
popular he may be, the iron-workers will not
vote to take the bread ont of their own mouths
by indorsing the Cincinnati platform. They
hone to carry the close State of NewJersey, hut
the leather-workers of Newark, the silk
weayers Of Paterson, and the potters of Tren-
ton will repudiate them and vote for the party
which protects their industries. Connecticut is
another close State. 1t is full OF thriving man
ufactories. and will be swift to condemn the
attempt 10 break down the present tariff
system. New-York Is not generally ranked as
a manufacturing State, because 1t has no single
great paramount industry, but its aggregate
manufacturing interests are enormous and the
Democratic design to destroy them will turn
mapy thousands of voters into the Republican
ranks who have never been there before. Even
in Indiana the revenue tariff plank will drive
AWAY votes from the Democratic ticket, and
helm the Republicans to carry tho State at the
critical contest in October for Indiana has fur
naces rolling mills glass factories, wagon fac
tories. and many other forms of prosperous pro-
tected industries.
In every way it can be regarded, the revenue
tariff plank of the Democrats is serious blum
der. 1t is fresh proof Of their servility to the
South, which demanded its adoption. 1t will
help them only in the section which is already
solid for them, and it will cost them many votes
which they cannot spare in the doubtful States.
American wOrkingmen, looking at the cOnse-
ouences of the policy the Democrats propose to
carry out, and then looking at the splendid re-
suits of the antagonistic Republican policy, will
have no difficulty in deciding which party is the
friend of American industry. And when they
contrast the career of Garfield, the sturdy work
ingman, who gained the means for his education
by the labor Of his hands, and whose record as
legislators cOnspicuOusly and consistently on
the side of fair, intelligent, moderate protection
with that of the handsome soldier Hancock,
who has been supported by the Government
since he was boy, they will have no more
trouble in making up their minds which candl-
date would DO the more likely to sympathizc
with them and befriend their interests if elected
to the Presidency.