National Republican., 1884-09-12


The workingmcn's Party.
The republican national convention
which assembled in Chicago on the 10th
day of May, 1900 and crowned its labors
by the nomination OF the immortal Lin
coin, adopted a. the twelfth section of its
platform tho following:
That while providing revenue for the sup.
port of the general government by duties upon
imports, sound policy requires such an adjust
ment ofthCse imports as to encourage the de-
vclopmont Of tho industrial interests of the
whole country and we commend that policy
of national exchanges which secures to the
workingmen libGrd wages, to agriculture re.
munorGtiye prices, TO mechanics and manu-
iacturors anddequate reward for their skill,
labor, end enterprise, and to the nation com.
mcrcial prosperity and Independence.
With the candidates there nomi mated
and upon the platform of which the fore
going was part, the republican party
came into control Of tho nation. From
that day to this 1t has never swerved
hairs breadth from the doctrine of pro
lection to American industries 30 broadly
laid down in tho resolution quoted.
The party had its origin in hatred of
tho great crime Of human slavery, then
championed by tho democracy, and its
sympathy for FREQ labor and hearty desire
to afford IL protection was the natural
reflex action TO its abhorenco of enslaved
unpaid labor. Republicanism then meant
a firm hostility to slavery and slave abor,
genuine interest in free labor, and au
oponly declared purpose to adjust the
tariff laws so as TO protect the products of
American industry against foreign COM
petition. Democracy then meant de-
termination to maintain slavery at any
hazard and an absolute devotion to the
doctrine of free trade, because the slave
power, having no regard for the interests
of free labor, was hostile to any restric-
tions that interfored with the free OK
change Of the products Of slave labor for
the cheap results of competing foreign
industries.
Even in the days when democracy ruled
the country and slavery ruled democracy,
the necessity for raising means to defray
the expenses of tho government com
PEELED tho party to unwillingly lay duties
upon imports. But the plan Of so adjust.
ing duties AZ to protect American labor
was measure of Wing policy, from whom
it descended to the republicans, and tho
democrats then insisted, as they still do,
that duties should be levied for revenue
only. AS far back rs 1882, when tho
country was prosporing under the opera
tion Of protective tariff the democrats
passed law providing for cutting all
duties down 50 per cent iu nine and half
years. This change was effected by q
reduction of 10 per cent. in 1884, 10 por
cent. in 1885, 10 per cent. in 1886, and 80
| =. "".ii "a mar rant uias takar aG rhs
result was an utter prostration Of COM
merce and industry and the great panic
of 1887. The next result was that an in
dignant people swept the democracy out
of power in lsiO. Tho wings then passed
tho protective tariff of 1912. Commerce
and labor revived, and prosperity speedily
returned. Unable to forego their hostility
to tho protective system. the democrats Of
later period tried the cutting down pro.
cess again, and brought about the disastrous
panic of 1857, At the next presidential
election their power onded, and from that
day to this the republican party has
ruled and the tariff laws have been SO
adjusted as TO afford the amplest protec-
tion to the products of American labor
has pledged itself TO maintain the protec.
tive system.
During the war and tho reconstruction
era that followed, the tremendous issuei
then uppermost forced the tariff question
into the background, aud but little wa.
heard Of the subject from either party
But in 1872 the republican national plat.
form declared that revenue, except &C
much as may be derived from tax upon
tobacco and liquors, should be raised by
duties upon importations, the details oi
which should bo so adjusted as to aid in
securing remunerstive wages of labor and
promote the industries, prosperity, and
growth Of tho whole country"
In 1876 the party declared that dutie.
on imports SHOULD be adjusted to protect
tuC iutCIOot1 VI hhciiCbu ihpuT anu du-
vance the prosperity of the whole ooun-
try" In 1880 tho platform said: "W Q
affirm the belief avowed in 1876 that the
duties levied for tho purpose of revenue
should 80 discriminate ~ to favor Ameri-
can labor" Aud this year the platform
of the party consistently says;
In raising the requisite revenues for the gov
ernment such duties shall be so levied as Il
afford security to our diversified industries
and protection to the rightsand wages Of the
laborer, TO the end that active and intelligent
labor, as well as capital, MAY have its just re
ward, aud the laborinG man his full share In
the national prosperity,
In all this there is consistent ad
herenCe to a sincere purpose, the fulfill
mont Of which means tho highest degree
of good to the lsbofing bone and sinew Of
the land. 1t ia a marked characteristic,
of tho party that its public decl srstion
have been matched by its practical meas
ures for the protection and susie nance o
American labor and industry. The work
ingmen Of the country know this, ant
will show their appreciation of it at tn
ballOt-boX In November.
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Some Very Good Men.