The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-05-14
The Democracy and the TarifT--An-
aIysis of the Democratic Doctrine.

out Of Its enaCtlng clause simply proved
that not quite four-fifths Of the Demo
Gratis in the House of Representatives
were in favor of it. The bill was pre-
pared somewhat hastily, and no one ever
claimed that it perfect But, for my
part, am glad that it was introduced
and believe the time devoted to the dis
cussion of it was well expended. All
men can now see that the tariff is a sub
iect which cannot be kept out of sight or
disposed Of by resonant platituaes, but is
the one matter which concerns the Amer
lean people most nearly, and around
which political contests will be waged
most fercely. There will be no OppOrtu-
nifty this year for such a ''scare"
as was sprung upon the country just be-
fore the election of 1880. 1t is possible,
! however, for the Democracy to repeat the
mistakes of laying itself open to ruin
Gus misrepresentation and | should be
/ glad>tO believe that the men, who are to
make themselves responsible for the
/ Democratic platform, are duly impressed
with the Importance of precluding that
result When Republicans charge, as
they will do, that the Democracy favors
revolutionary policy which would
cause a universal crash among the indus
! tries of the land let the platform make
it plain that the speakers deliberately
/ lie.
It is impossible to set forth the Demo-
cratic doctrine on the tariff too explicitly.
To say nothing of the immortality and
cowardliness of all evasive utterances.
any lodging or befogging of the tariff is
sue would, as a matter of party expedi-
ency. be the wretchedest of all possible
proceedings. But the subject is an inn
mensely broad one, with manifold bear
ings in all directions. Hence, the doc
trine concerning it cannot be fully stated
in such a phrase as "a tariff for revenue
only" or in the enphOnious antiquities
of the Ohio platform. To indicate line
on which | should like to see the tariff
plank in our platform constructed, [ will
give the results of my analysis of the
Democratic doctrine in the following
propositions:
1. The sole ground of justification for
duties on imports is the need of public
revenue.
?. Protection regardless of revenue is
taxation of the many for the benefit of
the few, and is neither warranted by the
constitution nor favorable to the general
welfare
3. Duties on imports should not be so
high as to swell the public revenue be
yOnd the amount indispensable to the
economical administration of the govern
ment.
4. Excessive duties, stimulating to
production, are uniformly followed
by financial disaster, and by the wide
spread distress of unemployed Iaborers.
). The securing of enormous profits to
American manufacturers is of no benefit
to American labOrers.
6. Protective duties, designed to en-
nance incomes from mines, forests and
manufacturing plants, involve the OPP
preston of the poor for the benefit of the
rich.
Z. The effect of tariff legislation on
wages is less important than its effect on
the purchasing power of wages.
8. As to the incidental protection, neces-
rarily flowing from a tariff for. revenue,
Congress should aim at impartial Justice
toward all the industries of the country.
8. As rule, high duties should be i'm
posed on articles of luxury, and low du-
ties on articles of necessity.
10. Since the cheapness of raw materi-
ais bears a direct relation to the profit
abIeness of manufacturing and, conse-
quently, to the demand for labor, as well
as to the cheapness of manufactured pro-
ducts to the consumer, such materials
should be admitted at low rate of duty.
or be placed on the free list.
II. Great and sudden changes in rates
of duty, tending to operate disastrously
on established industries and violently to
check the employment of labor, should
be carefully avoided.
u. In the adjustment of duties on i'm
ports, their effect on the feasibility OF
marketing American products in foreign
countries, and on the enlargement OF
limitation of opportunities for American
seamen, should be kept constantly in
view.
1t seems to me that we should have an
authoritative statement of our position,
quite as full as the one sketched in the
above proposition, in however improved
a form it may be finally cast. Then it
can be made plain that the Democratic
party is emphaticalIy the party of the
people, and upholds policy which me-
nances only the mOnopolists who demand
that the government shall be an instru-
ment of their inordinate greed, while it
is full of promise to the great body of
American citizens. P. P. BISHOP.
SAN MATEO, May 70, 1894.