The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-13

had betrayed 'protectlon IN tne com
promise act in 1888. By this hypocrisy
the Democrats succeeded and were enabled to
pass the Walker tariff act of 1886, which ma
terally reduced the customs duties. That
another panic did not Immediately ensue was
due to exceptional causes. The acquisition OF a
large amount Of territory from Mexico the dis
covery of gold in California; the commissions in
Europe consequent on the revolutions of lS48,
and the Crimean war, which engaged England,
France and Russia checked forein production,
stimulated our own and postponed the crisis.
However, the iron trade suffered disastrously.
Previous to 1885, 500 furnaces had been erected
in Pennsylvania; of these Ut failed or were
closed out by the sheriff 1874 of those occurred
between 1886 and 1850. In 1851 President Fill
more urged in his annual message increased pro-
lection, the ground that the value OF our eX-
ports of breadstuffs and provisions was steadily
declining. The condition of affairs grew worse,
and in 1857 President Buchanan said in mess
age:
In the midst of unsurpassed plenty in all
the productions, and in all the elements of
national wealth. we find our manufactures sus
pended, our public works retarded, private
enterprises of different kinds abandoned, and
thousands of useful laborers thrown out OF en-
ployment and reduced to want. In that same
year duties were further reduced, another panic
followed, and business collapsed. When the
Republican party came into power the prospect
APPALLING. How to revive trade, fill an empty
treasury, qUel gigantic rebellion restore the
credit, were burning questions.
The adoption of the Morrill, tariff smoothed
the way to successful solution The panic of
1873 the tariff could not prevent, but did GER
tanly postpone 1t was the inevitable conse-
quence of the fictitious values-the waste of re-
sources, the redundant currency and the fever
ish spirit of speculation engendered by the war
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND FREE TRADE.
The Democratic party may be said to have
nine principles: The dogma of State sovereignty
free trade, and seven more-fve loaves and two
fishes. That that organization is the malignant
enemy of the protective system is susceptible of
the easiest and clearest demonstration in 1896
they said in their platform, 1.-The time has come
for the people of the United States to declare
themselves in favor of progressive free trade,
and in the next year followed the reduction of
duties before mentioned In 1860 they reaffrmed
this. In 1864 they were so busy declaring the
war failure that they said nothing about it.
In 1868 they favored tariff for revenue with
about as much incidental protection as there is
principle in an English trade policy. In 1872
they pretended to become ashamed of their dis
reputable past sized crocodile tears put on sack
cloth and ashes. Endorsed the policy and achieve
ments of the Republican party, nominated for
the presidency man who had been belaborng
them all his life the arch -protecionist of this
country, Horace Greeley, and relegated the dis
cussion of the protective policy to the congress
ional districts When the devil was sick, the
devil a monk would be, but when the devil
was well, the devil a monk was he.
In 1876 and 1880 they declared unequivocally
for a tariff for revenue only. But this year they
proited by their experience in the last campaign,
and endeavored to carry water on both shoulders.
They appointed committee consisting of Mr..
Burke, of Louisiana, who favors protection in
sugar and nothing else; Mr.. Hewitt, formerly
protectionist, but now free-trader, with Col
onel Watterson the chairman, whose sym
patty for protection is conspicuous for its alb
sence. Their duty was to frame a highly pro
tective free trade plank. These gentlemen
girded up their loius, and after wrestling
with the subject for thirtysix hours, evolved
the following
In making reduction in taxes it is not proposed to
injure any domestic industries but rather to promote
their healthy growth In other words it is desirable
that these undesirable manufactures should CON
tinue and that their healthy growth under bad sys-
tenn should be retarded by precpitate change to
good system. Now follow two sops to the Demo
cratic Cerberus The first is for the protective Demo
crat:
1.-The necessary reduction in taxation can and must
he effected 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 any increased cost of production which
may exist in consequence of the higher rate of wages
prevailing in this country.
The following is for the free trade Democrat:
Instead of the Republican party's discredited
scheme ard false pretense of friendship for American
labor, expressed by imposing taxes we demand in be-
half of the Democracy freedom for American labor by
reducing taxes to the end that these United States
may compete with unhindored powers for the primacy
among nations in all the arts of peace and fruits of
liberty"
England is an ''unhindered power" since it
has no protective duty to speak Of The propo-
sition here made is that labor competition be-
tween the two countries may be untrammeleG
Then comes the old plant for tariff for reve-
nue. only
I'VE therefore denounce the abuses of the existing
tariff; and, subject to the preceding limitations
public purposes and shall not exceed the needs of the
government economically administered"
This is the outcome of shambIng, dishonest
and chaotic tumble.
In Congress the Democrats have emphasized
t1,a;,, fraa 10 Of
1876 Hurd's bill of $780, Mills's bin of 1882, the
resistance by multiplying amendments, speeches
and votes to Kelley's protective measure in the
same year, and Morrison's bill during the late
session, which was defeated by the Republicans,
constitute series of assaults the American
system, and are an earnest of what Democratic
supremacy will involve.
In the South free trade and slavery went hand
in hand. England, the old ally of the Demo
cratic party during the rebellion joins with that
party to-day. The press of Great Britain gives
up the Republican party as hopelessly protect
ive does not like Mr. Blaine with his American
instinct" and looks to the Democratic party as
the salvation of Englands declining trade. And
still we are intensely protective. L have heard
it said and believe it to be true, that that ster-
ling American, James G. Blaine, will not carry,
at the coming election, single European state.
oIvL-sERvIoE REFORM
The Democratic party, headed by Grover
Cleveland, say they are in favor of reform.
am glad to hear it, for do not know of any par
ty or any man that needs it quite so much. But
it is well to inquire what the Democratic party
means by reform Its patron saint, Andrew
Jackson was the father of the spoils system
He incucated by precept aid example the doc
trine ''ro the victor belong the spols;' doctrine
which has infected municipal politics to an
alarming and damaging extent, and which has
become the tradition of the Democratic party; a
doctrine which bred in its noxious womb swarm
of professional dead beats and politicians who
made a prey of municipal treasures and
loaded down cities with debt. among which New
York is conspicuous example; a noisome car
eass that has fed such carrion as Boss Tweed
and Morrissey. Previous to the administration
of Andrew jackson there had been but seventy
two removals from office, and those for cause.
In his inanonral MESSAGE PreSident Jackson