The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-02
DEMOCRATIC TARIFF.

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There is no semblance of harmony among
the Democratic wisdom cleaners as to what
the party attitude and platform shall be
upon the tariff question. Mr.. Henry Wat
terson the reputed author of the tariff for
revenue only" plank in 1880, which Mr.
Voorhees, and other able Democrats believe
turned the tide of the campaign against
General Hancock, still adheres TO his deter
mination to fix his free-trade notions upon
the party. The Courier-Journal says many
things beat the Democracy in 1880, among
them the fight against Tilden, which had
weakened the party; Hancocks telegram to
Governor Plaisted; Hancocks effusion about
the tariff; and, finally, Mr.. Watterson asserts
that 'the national committee ran away from
every issue pressed by the Republicans" He
says:
1.-THE tariff question is now the leading is
sue of the time. Shall the party stand upon
its record or reverse that record? Shall we
boldly reassert our principles, or quail and
| fly as soon as we and they are put to the
| test? Shall we, in word, turn tail, and
bubble and qualify, and play second fiddle
to the Republicans in the old tune of pro-
lection, or march out like men who are not
afraid to go down for conscience sake and
give battle to the Vandal and the Goth?
Mr.. Watterson is a very picturesque writer.
He writes in the moresque style, so to speak,
and there is flavor of fine writing about
going out ito give battle to the Goth and
Vandal." But campaigns are not won upon
froth and fustian, and when he leaves the
field of fancy for that of fact, and asserts
that the tariff for revenue only" plank won
the Democracy many votes right in the
neighborhood of Louisville, and specially in
the district of Indiana contiguous to His
Greatness, he calls upon himself the less
stilted but more forcible pen of the New
Albany Ledger, which replies to the assertion
by saying
"Cains were made in this county and in
the county of Clarke by an exactly opposite
doctrine being advocated. If Mr. WatteEson
does not believe this let him come here and
consult with the chairman and other officers
and members of the central committee; with
the man elected joint senator and with the
man elected to Congress. Let him consult
was invited to come here and discuss
the doctrine of a 'iudicious tariff for
revenue with incidental protection
Let him come to this State and consult with
the officers of the State central committee,
and learn if they were not in receipt of let
tiers from officers and members of the county
committee lnstructlng them to send no Tree
trade documents to this county, and no free
trade speakers. In the adjoining county of
Harrison, a purely agricultural county,
where the tariff for revenue only doctrine
was advocated the Democrats lost about 800
votes as compared with 1878. If Mr.. Waiter
son will inquire into the facts, he will learn
that the Floyd county central committee adj
vertised meetings and posted speakers favor
ing judicious protective tariff; that several
leading local Democratic speakers-Hon. J.
V. Kelso, Hon. J. B. Winstandley, and 9TH
ers-made speeches favoring that doctrine
and opposing the revenue-only policy. These
are plain facts, and no amount of assertion
or re-asserton to the contrary should be per-
mitted to override them"
The Journal has frequently alluded to the
patent fact that Indiana is not a free-trade
State, and can no longer be used as a tail to
the South in the advocacy of that old slave
will continue TO stand more and more for it
self year by year. Its increasing manufac-
turing industries, its rapidly -developing
mines, its enhancing numbers of mechanics
and artisans the yearly addition to its fur
naces and forges the increasing intelligence
and manliness of its people, are all protests
against the Democratic dogma of free trade
and agricultural labor for America, and in
favor of the true American policy of a proper
protection to industry in the interest of all
the people; not alone the workingman, but
the farmer as we'll, ana all the various grades
of society which profit from diversity of
pursuits.