Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-06-30
THE OHIO TARIFF PLANK.


DIST.
THE OHIO TARIFF PLANK.
We have all the time contended
that there was no real division in
the Democratic ranks on the tariff
issue. We believed that the Demo
cratic view of the tariff was a mod
crate one and that all apparent di-
VergencieS came from reaching the
point through different channels of
thought. The well expressed tariff
clause in the Ohio Platform has
proved that opinion correct and
now those members of the party
who have represented the supposed
extremes, hasten to unite in praise
of that utterance SO happily chosen.
Mr.. Watter5on is we'll pleased and
says it is an improvement on his
own pet expression while Mr.. Col
var, with equal grace and good.feel-
ing, pronounces himself entirely
satisfied. There is now no more
cause for pickering, and the paper
or politician that seeks to stir up
further strife in the Democratic
ranks is opposed to the interest of
the party and seeks to destroy it by
underhand means.
The Ohio Democrats begin their
tariff clause with the assertion that
they favor tariff for revenue. That
is matter of form. Congress has
no power to lay tariff for any
other purpose than for revenue and
the imposition of duties for any
other expressed purpose would be
unconstitutional. They further say
that it should be "limited to the
necessities of the government eco
nOmically administered" That is
correct policy and fittingly rebukes
the corrupt Republican party that
has maintained high war tariff in
times OF profound peace, hindering
revenue and fostering monopolIes.
Then comes the blow straight from
the shoulder that strikes the free
traders, and tells those cranks that
they must seek quarters outside of
the Democratic party. The clause
continues, land so adjusted in its
application to prevent unequal bur-
dens, encourage productive indus
tries at home, afford just cOmpen-
satiOn to labor, but not to create or
foster mOnOpolles."
This has all the time been the po-
sition of the CHRONICLE. We have
argued that the tariff should be so
adjusted as TO encourage home in
dustries and keep up the wages of
labOrers. That senseless phraze "a
tariff for revenue only" initiates
against the idea of such an adjust
ment and we have therefore opposed
its adoption by the Democracy. 1t
has now been laid away in the
tomb along with the resumption
plank in the national platform of
1876 and other laundering express
siOns that snatched victory from
the hands of an almost triumphant
Democracy. We rejoice that it is
dead and we feel that the DemOcra-
cy is safe in having avoided the issue
it entailed.
The expression of the Ohio De-
mOcracy on this subject is complete
and to the point. 1t can have but
one meaning and that meaning is
fully set out; ii is no equivOcal
phraZe of questionable intent that
can be tortured into numerous CON
structiOns; it says all that is intend
ed and leaves nothing to be. eX-
planned afterwards it expresses a
moderate and sensible view of the
tariff issue and nicely avoids both of
the radical extremes. We predict
that it will be incorporated into the
platform of the National Democracy
and become the "organic law" of
the party.
When the tariff has been "limited
to the necessities of the government,
economically administered" no
demagogue can urge that it Cypress
es the tax payer. When it is so adj
justed rs to encourage industries at
home and afford compensation to
labor, then ample protection will be
afforded and a necessary burden
turned into a national blessing. The
Trainer of the Ohio platform is an
artist and said exactly what the
Democrats have been blunderingly
trying TO say for eight years. He
pitched the tune on the correct note
and the Democratic chorus sings in
cadence of harmony. Another
"Ohio man" has gone head. Hur-
rah, for the gifted Buckeye!