The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-14
Half u Century Of Democratic 1"riT
DecIAFRilouS,

A very pretty tariff fight is going on be-
tween those high preists OF the Democratic
party, Mr.. Dana, OF the New York Sun,
and Mr.. Watterson, Of tho Louisville
C,uris, Journal. Mr.. Dana insists that tho
e'e,lion Of Mr.. Carlisle to the Speakership
emphasizes a new departure on the tariff
question, and that the new departure does
not mean the election OF Democratic
President Mr.. Watterson protests that
the Democratic party has taken no new
stand, and that it isn't going 10 push its
policy so far as to Brighten the country.
Let us briefly trace the tariff declarations
Of the Democratic party through half a
century. In 1882 it boldly declared that
ian adequate protection to American in
dasuy is indispensable to the prosPerity oil
the country, and that an abandonment OF
the policy at this period would be attended
with consequences ruinous to the best in
terests Of the nation"-An utteranCe strong
enough for US in 1854. We ask nothing
better Of the Republican convention. In
1910 the Democratic party resolved that
$40 more revenue ought to be raised than
ia required to delray the necessary ex.
peusss Of the communicating said
about discrimination in favor Of American
industry. This resolution was reaitirmed
in the platform Of 1874 and again in lS4S
aud 1852.
In 1856 the platform on which Buch-
ausn stood contained tariff plank which
Mr.. WatteFson himself might have written:
"Justice and sound policy forbid the
Fe leral Government to foster one branch
Of industry to the detriment OF another,
or to cherish tho interests Of one portion Of
our common country" meaning that the
Democratic party opposed the protective
policy, which does not, however, "ioster
ole branch Of industry to the detriment Of
another" Both the Douglas and the
Breckenridge Democratic platforms Of 1860
reailirmed the tariff plank OF the platform
OF 1856.
In 1864 the Democratic party was too
busy denounCing "the four years OF failure
to restore the Union by the experiment OF
war" to pay attention to the tariff which
was raising revenue and calling into &C.
tivity the industrial energy Of the nation.
When the Democrats came to make their
platform Of 1858, in the face Of a war debt
which seemed overwhelming, Of the largest
customs revenues we had ever known, OF a
condition OF general prosperity marvellous
so soon after the greatest civil war in his
tory, they cautiously confined themselves
TO tariff for revenue with incidental pro-
lection, and gave it local application &C
cording to the necessities Of the case. This
is the tariff plank Of 1868: "a tariff Tor
revenue upon foreign imports, and such
equal taxation under tho internal revenue
laws, as will afford Incidental protection
10 domestic manufactures, and as will, i'm
pairing the revenue, impose the least bur-
den upon, and best promote and encour-
age, the great industrial interests Of the
country"
In 1872 the Democrats recognized "hon.
est but irreconcilable differences OF opinion |
with regard 10 the respective sys!ems Of
protection and free trade" and they re.
soved to "remit the discussion Of the sub.
jsct TO the people in their Congressional
districts and the decision Of Congress
thereon, wholly free from Executive in.
ecutiye interference or diCtation"-the
blind stagger Of free trade party carry
ing protectionist nominee. In 1876 they |
demanded that "sll custom.house taxation |
shall be only for revenue" In 1850 they |
wanted "a tariff for revenue only, with
the accent onthe "only," and the country
once more did not agree with them.
From all this it appears that Mr.. Dana
and Mr.. Watterson are both right-the re-
cent break in the House is, and ia not, a
new departure. It depends upon the page
we choose for a starting point in the Dem.
oCratic tariff record, which, though as
whole repulsive record, contains some.