Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-05-31
ed the hopes of the democracy of the
Il


ed the hopes of the democracy of the
Union, in the noble impulse given to
the cause Of free-trade by the repeal
of the tariff in 1912, and the creation
Of the more equal, honest and protee-
tive tariff Of 1916; and that in oIr
opinion it would be fatal error to
weaken the bands of a political or
ganization by which these great re-
forms have been achieved and risk
them in the hands of their known ad-'
versaries, with whatever deiusive ap-
peals they may solicit our surrender
Of that vigilance which is the only
safeguard of liberty. -
1852.
The democratic convention Of 1852.
RESOLVED that it is the duty of every
branch Of the government to enforce
and practice the most rigid economy
in conducting our public affairs, and
that no more revenue ought to be
raised than is required to defray the
necessary expenses of the govern
ment and for the gradual but certain
extinction of the public debt.
Resolced that, in view OF the condi-
ton of popular institutions in the Old
World. high and. sacred duty is de-
volved with increased responsibility
upon the democracy of this country.
as the party Of the people, to uphold
and maintain the rights of every state,
and thereby the union of states, and
to sustain and advance among them
constitutional liberty by continuing
to resist all monopolies and exclusive
Legislation for the benefit of the few
at the expense of the many. 3
1856.
In 1856 the democratic national
convention s.zz-ss.5s -sf.-
Resoloed that justice and sound
policy forbid the federal government
to foster one branch of industry to
the detriment of another or &c cher
ish the interests of one portion of our
common country. :t1t -
tits also repeated verbatim the first
resolution quoted above of the con-
vention of 1852, and then it q
Resoived, finally, that there are
questions connected with the foreign
policy of this country which are in
ferior to no domestic questions what
ever. The time has come for the
people of the United States to declare
themselves in favor of free seas and
progressive free-trade throughout the
world, and, by solemn manifestations,
to place their moral influence at the
side of this successful example.
sa 1860. =zz 49, go tis'
In 1860 both the Douglas and
Breckenridge platforms reaffirmed
the resolutions of 1856, quoted above.
@s 1864. # q
| In 1864 the continuation of the
civil war, which made imprudently
high duties necessary to raise suffici-
ent revenue, precluded the necessity
of discussing the extraordinary and
willingly endured burdens imposed by
it on the people Of the northern
states; and nothing was said about
the tariff. 'l.@a fiai 5'-s
The democratic convention of 1868
demanded .=---.
8. Payment of all the public debt
of the United States as rapidly as
} practicable-and all money drawn
from the people by taxation, except
so much as is requisite for the neces-
sites Of the government, economically
! administered, being honestly applied
to such payment.
6. A tariff for revenue
upon foreign imports and such equal
taxation under the internal revenue
laws as will afford incidental protee.
ton to domestic manufactures, ard
as will without impairing the revenue,
impose the least burden upon the
best. promote and encourage the
great industrial interests Of the conn.
try. @ -s'ser
In 1872 the democratic convention
ESQ called) at Baltimore-which was,
, in fact, Greeley and not demo-
cratic convention at all-did not ad.
opt any democratic resolutions, but
endorsed the platform of the liberia
republican convention held at Cincin.
natl, which contained the following
curious declaration making the tariff
"a local issue:''
We remit the discussion of the sub
Iject protection and free-trade e
S the people in their Congressional dis
> tricts and the decision of congress
g thereon, wholly free from executive
interference Of dictatien. ri
n This is the only hiatus in the chai'
Of assertions by the democratic part
Of the doctrine of tariff for revenu'
only. 1t resulted in the shameful
s defeat Of candidate SUPPORTED b.
i the party in defiance alike Of princi
h pie and of policy.
1876. =.
In 1876 the Democratic convention
It spoke with no uncertain voice:
20 We denounce the present tariff
h levid upon nearly four thousand art
l. cles, as masterpiece OF injustice
l- inequality and false pretense. !
yields dwindIing, not yearly ri
" sing revenue. 1t has impoyerishe
e many industries to subsidize few
~ 1t prohibits imports that might pul
ID chase the products of American labol
E. 1t has degraded American commerce
< from the first to an inferior rank Q
the high seas. 1t has cut down u
sales Of American manufactures :
4. home and abroad and depleted I'll
returns of American agriculture
u industry followed by half our peopl'
IL costs the people five times mol
than it produces to the treasury, ol
"a structs the processes Of produchs
and wastes the fruits of labor.
- promotes fraud, fosters smugelin,