Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-07-17
Democratic Deliverance on the Tariff
Question.


Below is that part of the Democratic
platform. adopted at Chicago last week,
pertaining to the tariff:
THAT change is necessary is proven
by an existing surplus of more than
500. 100000 which has yearly been coll
lected from suffering people. Unnec
esSaTy taxation is unjust taxation. We
denOunco the Republican party for hav
ing failed to relieve the people from the
crushing war taxes which have paral-
yZed business and crippled industry and
deprived labor of employment and OF
just reward. The Democracy pledges
itself To purify the Administration OF
corruption, TO restore economy, to revive
respect for law and to reduce taxation
to the lowest limit consistent with due
regard to preservation of the faith of
the Nation to its creditors and pension.
ers. Knowing full well, however, that
legislation affecting the occupations of
the people should be cautious aud con.
servatiye in method, not in advance OF
public opinion, but responsive to its de
mands, the Democratic party is pledged
to revise the tariff in spirit of fairness
to all interests. But 10 making a reduc.
JiOn in taxes it is not proposed to injurs
any domestic industries, but rather to
promote their healthy growth. From
the foundation of this Government taxes
collected in the custom house have been
the chief source of Federal revenue,
Such they must continue. Moreover,
many industries have come to RELY upon
legislation for successful continuance,
SO that any change of law must be at
every step regardful of the labor and
capital thus involved. The process of
reform must be subject in the execution
to this plain dictate of justice. All tax
alton shall be limited to the requirement
of economical government. The neces,
sary reduction in taxation can and must
be effected without depriving American
labor of the ability to compete success
fully with foreign labor and without
imposing lower rdLes of duty than will
oe ample to cover any increased cost OF
production which may exist in conse-
quence of the higher rate of wages pre-
yailing in this country. Sufficient reve-
nue. to pay all tue expenses of the Fed
eral G0vernmant, economically admins
tered, including pensions, interest and
principal of the public debt, can be got
under our present system of taxation,
from custom house taxes ON fewer ian.
ported articles, bearing heaviest On arti-
cles of luxury. and bearing lightsst On
articles of necessity. We therefore de
nounce the abuses of the existing tariff
and. subject to the preceding limitations
we demand that Federal taxation shall
be exclusively for public purposes, and
shall not exceed the needs of the Gov
ernment economically administered. The
system of direct taxation. know as the
internal revenue. is a var tax, and SO
long as the law continues all the money
derived therefrom should b. saeredly
devoted to the relief of the people from
the remaining burdens of the war. and
be made fund to defray the expense
Of the care and confert of worthy sol+
diers disabled in the line of duty ia the
wars of the Republic, and for the pay
ment of such pensions as Congress may
from time to time grant to such soldiers,
like fund for the sailors having been
already provided. and any surplus should
be paid into the Treasury"