Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-08
Garfield's Tariff Record.

speeches ana MS recorded votes a.
member of Congress, to say the least
of them, place him in an extremely
eqpivocal position, and make his real
opinions upon the tariff issue matter
of grave doubt. He declared in Con-
gress in 1870 that the large majority
of the great thinkers of the present
day are leading in the direction of
what is called free trade :" and at the
last election for Speaker Of the House,
four Republican members from Penn
sylvania, viz: Judge Kelley, of Phila-
delphia, Russell Errett and Colonel
Bayne, of Pittsburg, and J. w. Kill
niger, of the Dauphin, Lebanon and
Northumberland district, refused TO
vote for him, when the Republican eau
Gus made him the candidate of the par
ty for that place against the Mr. Ran
dali, because they had a suspicion,
based upon his previous utterances
and votes, that he was free trader,
or at least unsound upon the question
according to their ideas of protection.
After sitting together for sixteen years
in Congress, it will appear strange to
most persons that Garfeld's views
upon a matter that was discussed at
every session during that period of
time, should have been so uncertain
that Judge Kelley could not trust him.
Upon this subject of Mr.. Garfeld's
record, the Harrisburg Patriot presents
one chapter. That journal remarks
that "on the 18th of March, 1871,
the following joint resolution was
passed by the House of Representa-
ties:
/ e BE enacted, etc., That from and
otter the passage of this joint resolution
no tax or duty shall be levied or col.
leoted on foreign coal"
On the passage of this resolution
Mr.. Garfield voted Aye. See C6ngres-
sionaL Globe, Part /, 42d Congress,
page SO.
During the debate in the House ON
the above bill, March 10, 1871, Gen.
Garfield said
"But / desire TO ask gentlemen
whether. considering the odium that
the whole tariff has TO bear in conse.
/ quence of this duty on coal, they think
1t wise To perpetuate this tax, which is
Of so little value either TO the country
or the treasury. | think it unwise to
continue this duty on coal and am
therefore in faror of IT, repeal" Congres.
sionat Globe, Part !, First .Scssion i2i Con.
gress, Page 50.
For his votes and speeches in this
session of Congress General Garfield
was made an honorary member of the
Golden club. He certainly deserved
the compliment on the part of the
friends of free trade. Had a Demo.
crat received such a distinction in
England he would have been subject.
ed to the usual taunt about British
gold from the organs of protection.
A leading protectionist organ re-
marked the other day that a tax on
tea and coffee is zone of the hobbies
Of the free traders" On the 18th of
March, 1871, the following bill passed
the House of Representatives:
BE il enacted, That from and after
the passage of this act tea and coffee
shall be placed on the free list and no
further import duties shall be collected
on the same"
On the passage of this bill Mr..
Garfield voted No. See Congressional
Globe, Part 1, AID Congress, page 80.
Thus it appears that Gen. Garfield
occasionally rides hobby OF the free
traders. The object of his vote was
to retain the duties on tea and coffee
so that they might be taken off some
protected articles. We are not COM
planning of these votes of Gen. Gar
field, but present this chapter from his
record to show how false is the pre-
tense of the protectionist organs of
Pennsylvania that he belongs to their
school of political economy. When
they have digested this tariff record
of their candidate for President there
is more of the same to be administered
to them. II will not do to give them
too strong dose at one time"
i