Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-04-18
The Tariff In the Coming Campaign.

trlncs lnculCateu by the democratic party
has interpreted the phrase "iree trade" as
used in the above maxim to mean abso-
lutely free trade without any tariff at all
upon imports or exports, because it has
always been conceded by the Democratic
party that the necessary revenues for the
administration of the govern
ment should be raised by lmpost duties
rather than by direct taxation. The neces-
city of tariff upon imports has, therefore.
always been recognized by the Democratic
party, and. therefore, it cannot properly
be dcnominated free trade par but as
the only justification of such a tariff under
the Democratic theory is the policy of
raising the government revenues by indi-
rect, rather than by direct taxation, and as
the rate of that tariff is to be regulated by
the necessary demands of the government
for revenue, it is properly styled the reve-
nue. tariff or the low tariff party. Neces-
sarily the imposition of any tariff at al
upon foreign manufactured goods that are
imported affords an incidental protection
or advantage to the domestic manufactur-
ers of the same article for the home mar
ket over aud above the natural advantage
resulting from the expense of transporta-
ton from the foreign country to our own
ports. But this protection in Democratic
policy has always been the incident rather
than the object in imposing a tariff.
In this respect the Democratic party
formerly differed from the Wing party,
which claimed the right. under the regu-
lation of commerce clause in the constitu
ton, to levy high tariff on imported ar
ticles, prohibitory if need be. for the so e
purpose of fostering and building up what
was then truly denominated the "infant
manufacturing industries" Of this country.
This was what was known as the "Ameri
can policy" which was so eIoquently ad-
vanced by Mr.. Clay, and which. though
always opposed by the Democratic party
on the ground of its unconstitutionality
and its oppressiveness, was partially re-
cognized and submitted to by the country
for a time, and the Wings during their
lease of power carried it out sub mode
For some time previous to the civil war of
1851, however, the country had been of
opinion that the period Of nurture OF their
healthy and rapidly growing infants
had expired and, consequently, the Demo-
cratic party had been reinsta ted in power
and revenue tariff was then in operation.
The breaking out of the civil war
brought the Republican party into power,
and the large revenues demanded for the
conduct OF the war necessiiated a great
increase in the tariff on imports and, also
certain excise taxes and stamp duties
upon articles Of domes ic manufacture.
such as whiskey, and other liquors, tobac-
CO, &C., which were denominated the in
ternal revenue. All of these increased
taxes we're justified so long as the war
continued and until the war debt began
to be reduced into bounds, and they were
borne without murmur by the people.
Now, however, when two decades have
passed since the termination of the war,
and the war debt is greatly reduced and
funded into long running bonds and
enormous SURPRISES are annually accumula-
ting into the treasury, which theCongress-
es have been tempted to dissipate with a
prodigai hand in so called "river and bar
Dor appropriations" by which pubic mo-
ney is recklessly thrown away for the al,
legged dredging of "tadpole streams. of no
possible value to commerce and other
questionable jobs and unconstitutional ap-
preparations, the people are naturally and
earnestly and firmly demanding that they
be relieved from the burdens of war taxa
ton.
The Republican party since the dimin-
ishing demands OF the Federal revenues
have begun to point to reduction of the
war tariff, have in the interest of the large
manufacturing monopolies that control
it, planted itself upon the cd american
policy" of the Wings, once repudiaied by
the country, and in addition to the pro
lection" to the "infant" industries of a
half century's growth has logged in
american labor" as needing paternsl pro-
lection. Forty millions of consumers are
thus asked to contribute in the shape of
exorbi'ant taxation to a few thousand
people engaged in manuf curing iudus-
tries
Looking then at the past history and
present status Of the tariff question in this
country can it lie in reason said that this
momentous question, this crying political
evil shall not enter at all int the coming
national campaign9 Can the alleged low
tariff party afford to 60 before the people
at this time with a meaningless aud plati-
'udinous platform upon this great issue
Can the Democratic party in Congress af-
ford to dodge this mos important issue at
the presen, session. Such a course can
not be pursued without trampling under
foot the fundamental principle of the par
ty doctrine and turning its back up n the
traditions of the old organization. Tariff
rsform is demanded by the country in no
mistaken tones and if the Democratic par
ty will not effect it, this will probably be
the last opportunity it will have to do SO
The people will find some other agency to
carry out their purpose.
Mr.. Blaine would unquestionably be de-
feated in the State of New York, says the
Rochester Herald, if he should bee. me the
Republican candidate for Presid.n,. Tive