The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-04
SENATOR VOORHEES, AND TARIFF

EtOHm.
Recent differences of Senator Voorhees, are |
caught up by the Republican press of the |
country and published with such comments |
as are thought to be best calculated to divide
and defeat the Democratic party IN 1884.
The New York Tribune in a recent issue
says:
Mr.. VOORHEES, makes some estimates of What free
trade would do for the country which are not
likely to be published as a Democratic cam
paign document He says: Free trade
would do away with the Custom Houses.
abolish the duties imports, and
levy direct tax upon the people for the support
of the Government. In other words, it would in
crease general taxes $500 00O COO. people would
have less TO nay taxes with than they have now,
for labor would be cheapened aud ind ustry dis
couraged." He declares that the great material
prosperity OF the country has been secured by pro-
lection, and saws the want OF the present and
future is tariff system for revenue
laid with the idea OF protecting home
industry and advancing to the higher planes OF
wealth and prosperity" These, be it remembered,
are the uttersnces Of former free trade Democrat.
We do not quote them because we have the slight
est idea that Mr.. Voorhees, is sincere in making
them. He is anxious for Democratic success, and
he sees that the only way to win il is to profess
Gratis, would shout for free trade the minute the
party got possession OF the Government. His ut
terances are valuable as showing the faith of an
overwhelming majority of the people in protective
principles. and their determination to trust no
party which is hostile to those principles. voor-
hees is merely trying to steal the strongest Repub
lcan issue for the temporary OF the Democratic
party.
The Tribune overshoots the mark. Mr..
Voorhees, prudently estimates the conse-
| quences that would follow the adoption of
free trade policy, but the Democratic party
is not free trade party. 1t never advocated
| doing away with Custom Houses or the abol-
ishment of duties on imports, or the levying
of direct tax for the support of the Govern
ment. Nothing OF the kind can be found in
the records. Hence, whatever Mr.. Voorhees,
may say against free trade does not apply TO
the Democratic party. Ii there are in
dividuals scattered here and there who
advocate free trade Mr. Voorhees, decla-
rations apply to them. At any rate, SPEAK
ing for Indiana, it is not conceivable
that Mr.. Voorhees, intended that the remarks
with which he is credited by the Tribune
should apply TO the Democratic party of
this State. Tie Democracy of Indiana is not
in favor of doing away with Custom Houses,
nor would it abolish Custom duties, nor
would it frame tariff for the avowed pur-
pose of taxing one class of citizens to make
another class rich. The Cincinnati News
Journal SAYS:
The Democratic party will have an eye to the
preservation and growth OF American industry:
hut it will have an explanation to where and
how bounties preserve or uphold American indus
try in these occupations where continual fuctus-
tons are the rule, where flush times and large
profits for capital alternate with periods Of depres
sion strikes and lowering of wages, and turning
out OF laboring men from their living. The pub
lie demands candid examination into these mat
tiers. Democracy proposes to deal conservatlvely
and cautiously with existing evils. Il is
foolish policy to pluck up ulcer by the roots,
killing the patient with the remedy. Democracy
proposes to disturb no existing good in any system
where it is public good. 1t opposes bounties for
monopolies and duties which Cypress labor and
the public under the specious guise OF protection
Perhaps the News-J ournal puts the matter
in light that those who read may under
stand the position of the Democratic party,
but extreme caution of speech is not re-
quired. Outspoken denunciation of q tariff
WHICH CI6dlcS duu AOSlcIS AuOLOpOlcs Is III
order. A spool of thread which in Canada
costs three cents, in the United States costs
five cents. Under the monopoly tariff the
thread manufacturers are able to make enor-
nous profits. The Democratic party does
not favor such piracy. 1t would give the
| thread monopolists less protection and the
people cheaper thread; and thread may be
| taken an illustration of the Democratic
| policy throughout Mr.. Voorhees, is on
record saying that the Republican
| tariff which has cursed The country
for years is burden OF iniquities." That
| will do. The purpose of the Democratic
party is to extract the iniquities, and if
| quired throw the burden of iniouities to the
| winds and construct a tariff that shall do
equal justice TO all the people. Mr.. Voor-
hees, as the Tribune charges, was never a
| free trade Democrat. He has been distin-
| guished as the champion OF the interests of
the people and the foe OF monopoly. A
| tariff laid for revenue will afford incidental
protection and all that is required. Mr..
VOORHEES, is not in the habit of stealing Re-
| publican issues to advance the interests of
the Democratic party, nor is he likely to do
it now or in the future. The policy of the
| Democratic party on the tariff was sharply
del ned in the discussions of tariff questions
in the FOrty-seventh Congress, and there
/ Will be no departure from it in the azure.
|