National Republican., 1883-09-29
The Democratic calhoun Tariff Doctrine.

The Democratic Calhoun Tariff Doctrine.
Says our morning contemporary Sup
posing IL to be true, as asserted by TIE Re-
PUBLICAN, that John c. Calhoun advocated
tariff for revenue only, what of it? % %
What application to the living present have
these "reminiscences Of the dead past2" To
VIII ich We reply that as tariff for revenue
only is a rominiscence of the dead past, and
as it is dogma clearly defined by the subtle
and analytical mind Of Calhoun, by whom it
was first promulgated, wo know of no more
intelligent mode of discussing it than by in
voking the authority of its author to define
its meaning. The application which this
rominisccnco of tho dead past has TO the
living present is that the democratic party of
the living present declared for tariff for
revenue only in its latest national platform,
and it is living, burning issue whether this
Calhoun dogma shall be revitalized, and tho
country plunged into distress and panic by
democratic triumph in 1854. If the managers
of tho democratic party deny that they are
for tariff for revenue only, they make a'falso
prctense, just as they did in 1911. They then
shouted for "Polk and Dallas and tho tariff
of lSi2," which was protective tariff and
as soon as they obtained power they betrayed
the people, repudiated their pledges, and Gu
acted the tariff of 1916 for revenue only.
1t is degrading in tho Post to profess gno-
rance and maintain that history furnishes no
lesson for tho future. What is any human
knowledge but tho result of experience? As
we'll sneer at the mention of Copernicus in
q description of tho solar system as to
pretend that tho policy of a tariff for
revenue only can be discussed without going
to its author for its meaning and to the his
tory Of his time for the reasons on which it
was based. Mr.. Calhoun was great leader
Of opinion in his day, and whoever
sure to be carried away by his
conclusions. He was the avowed enemy
Of all opposition to tho supremacy of south
Carolina and cotton her king, This great
genius brought other states to the feet of his
own, and finally his views became those of
tho dominant party of the county. But demo-
cratic power died of the disease of Calhoun
ism, and in its mighty throes almost destroyed
the union. The party which thus SO nearly
wrecked the country comes to the fore and
asks the people to serve foreign manufac-
l,,.
such policy would build up the south.
There is now 40 portion Of the
country, no interest in the country,
which would not suffer under a tariff for
revenue only. Such tariff, said Calhoun,
and all others of its advocates in the heyday
of democratic rule, means the lowest rate that
will bring the most money-the smallest
duty on the largest amount of importations.
Increase the volume of foreign articles to be
| consumed in the United States, and admit
everything free from which no revenue is
needed. That is tariff for revenue only,
and that is what the democratic party is for,
no matter what they pretend. They never
toil tno uuth IL ~ SosoS bheun u NoIcJ anu
they never keep promise which was made
for political effect. Their idea is that all
Americans should be growers of corn and
wheat or raisers Of cattle and pork. Then
like the Irish we could but feed miseraby
ourselves, and buy everything else of for
eigners. Our neighbor will hear good deal
about Calhoun and the tariff to protect Eng
| land before another year is gone.