Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-03-16
uIsToRIC CONVENTIONS.

t. ia a matter of considerable interest
lust now to look back at the proceedings
of Democratic National Conventions and
recall the prominent features OF the plat
forms adopted. We doubt if any plank
in the platforms of the two parties Will
have much force in the determination OF
the election this year, except the tariff
plank. The personality of the candidates
will unquestionably be- a ruling issue.
But the tariff is a matter which must
ALWAYS be the subject of Congressional
discussion, and will undoubtedly take q
prominent place in the Presidential cam
paign. In this article we propose TO dis
cuss only the conventions held before
the war, and to begin, we 60 back as far
as lS4S. when Cass and Butler were nom-
mated by the Democratic Convention at
Baltimore. 1t is observable that the tariff
question was then one of small moment
the greater questions being the extern
sion of slavery into the Territories, and
the chartering of a national bank. The
only reference in the platform to the
tariff is in one small section, which says
that "justice and sound policy forbid the
Federal Government to foster one branch
of industry to the detriment OF another,
or to cherish the interests OF one portion
to the injury of another portion,
OF our Common country" In lS4S our
industries were comparatively infantiie.
A little protection was doubtless very
necessary, but it will be seen from this
extract how gingerly, even then, were
the Democrats about the possible foster
ing of monopoly through so-called pro-
lection. The tariff plank in the platform
is in the same words as the two proceed.
ing platforms. The country was still at
peace, prosperous, and needing, no doubt,
a little protection for the industries
which were still comparatively ~iniantile.
There were two conventions in 1860,
when the gathering storm that presaged
civil war had already rent the great
party in twain. The first at Charleston
after failing to make a nomination, ad-
iourned to Baltimore. In the latter
city, Douglass and Fitzpatrick were
nominated, the latter gentleman declin-
ing some time later, and johnson OF
Georgia, being substituted in his place.
There was but little room for any ex-
tended tariff plank then. The great
question of the century overshadowed
everything. The Union itself needed
protection, and her little industries were
of no Importance, when the life OF the
country itself was in danger. Neither
the majority nor the minority's resolu-
tions touched upon the subject. Henry
B. Payne of Ohio and Edwin Croswell
of New York, in a set Of minority reso-
buttons, dissented from the broad state
ment that slavery was legal in the Ter
r~itories, they holding that all such ques-
tions were judicial only. Upon the dis
cussion Of this question began the with
drawal of the delegates, and the rupture
in the party was completed. In these
conventions, New York was represented
by Sanford E. Church, Augustus Schell,
Horatio Seymor, August Belmont and
other great and good men, who labored
faithfully for peace and union. When
the seeding delegations met in Rich
mond and nominated Breckenridge and
Lane, the state Of the country and of the
party was such that the tariff issue was
dead. In the presence of the black
shadow Of disunion and war, purely
financial or economical issues were Of nc
account.
The lessons of these conventions are
worthy Of thought now, if only in the
fact of the uniformity of language rela.
tive to a tariff. Although the question
has grown to comparatively immense
proportions, we doubt if the Issue can
even now be stated more fully than in
the times of the conventions of lS4S,
1852 and 1856. '.Justice and sound
policy forbid the Federal Government to
foster one branch of industry to the det-
riment of another, or to cherish the in
terests of one portion to the injury OF
another portion of our common country.