The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-08-01
THE TWO PLATFORMS.


voted exclusively to the interests of the
iron trade. In its Issue of July 18th,
it discusses the platform of the demo
cratic party, aud compares it with that
of the republicans. The article is wor-
thy of careful perusal, especially by
those who claim that the democrats ia
vor free trade, and we reproduce it be-
low. 1t says:
The platform adopted by the con-
vention is chiefly remarkable for its ar
raignment of the Republican party, its
principal dissimllarity with the Repub
lican platform being found in that di-
rection. The tariff plank is as fol-
lows
The Democratic party is pledged to revise the
tariff In a spirit OF fairness to all interests.
But in making reduction in taxes 1t is not propos-
ed to injure any domestic industries but rather to
promote their healthy growth. From the founda-
tion OF this Government taxes collected at the
custom house have been the chief source Of Feder-
al revenue Such they must continue to be. More
over, many industries have come to rely upon leg
islation for successul 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 taxation shall be lmi-
ted to the requirements Of economical government.
The necessary reduction In taxation can and must
be efrected without deprving American labor OF
the ability to compete successfully with foreign
labor, and without imposing lower rates OF duty
than will be ample to cover any increased cost Of
production which may exist in consequence OF the
higher rate Of wages prevailing In this country
Federal Government economically administered,
including pensions, interest and principal Of the
public debt can be got under our present system
OF taxation from custom-houSe taxes on fewer i'm
ported articles bearing heaviest on articles OF lux
ury and bearing lghtest on articles Of necessity.
We therefore denounce the abuse OF the existing
tariff, and, subject to the preceding limitations,
we demand that Federal taxation shall be exclu-
sively for public purposes and shall not exceed
| the needs OF the Government economically admin
| istered
This declaration of tariff sentiments
is very far removed from support of
free-trade theories. So long as fiscal
Legislation is based on such principles
the doctrines advanced by Hurd, Wat
terson, Morrison and other extremists
have no prospect of being crystallized
into law. The Morrison and Hewitt
"horizontal" plan of reduction is disap-
proved by implication, since no refer
ence is made to the efforts in behalf of
such "tariff REFORM" which occupied
the time of the House Of Representa-
tiyes so long last winter. The advo-
Gates of Stree raw materials have met
with almost as little encouragement
from the Democrats as they did from
the Republicans, the subject being
only slightly alluded to in part of the
platform disconnected with the tariff
plank, liable 20 be overlooked. Essen
tial differences between the tariff ut
terances of the two parties are there
fore wanting. The Republicans de-
mand that "duties shall be so levied
"as to afford security to our diversified
Industries, and protection to the
"rights and wages of the laborer,
while the Democrats disclaim any at
tempt to impose slower rates of duty
"than will be ample to cover any in
'creased cost of production which may
"exist in consequence of the higher
"rate of wages prevailing in this coun'
"try." From such deliverances free
traders can gather but little comfort. Ii
is true that the Democratic platform
pledges the party to "revise the tariff
in spirit of fairness to all interests,
but the Republican platform also pied
ges that party "to correct the Unequal
tiles of the tariff The Democratic
leaders have shown their sagacity in
avoiding tariff policy based on the
destruction OF the protective system
which would undoubtedly have aliena
ted many voters from the support Of
the ticket who are naturally counted
in the Democratic ranks. As many
workingrnen are embraced among them
it was natural that the convention, il
addition to tariff plank, should adop
labor plank, which is as follows
We believe that labor Is oess rewarded where 1
Is freest and most enlightened. II should, there