Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-05-01
THE NORTHWEST.
Differences on the Tariff Must be Re-
conciled,
(American Register.)

Differences on the tariff question
smong Democrats can be and must bt
reconciled. The primary and chief OBJ
ject of the Democracy is to accomplish
the end and purpose of civil govern
ment, consisting in the protection o
the people equally in their rights o
life, liberty and the pursuit of happi
ness, through well regulated system
Of popular institutions. This compre
hends vast scheme under our polite.
al system for the protection and bene'
fit of the people and the country. To
sustain our institutions revenue be-
comes necessary, which for the purpos-
q of the federal government under ouI
constitution has been heretofore, and is
now, raised by duties levied upon inn
ports from foreign countries. All DEM
0prats agree that no money should be
raised upon imports, except for purpos-
es of revenue to pay the necessary ex-
penses of the government. But the
Democratic party, under the teachings
Of Jefferson, Madison and Jackson has
from the organization of our govern
ment, made determinations in levying
Hle tariff on the different articles of
import, with a view to encourage and
nd home productive industry and
labor. The great strength of the DEM
epratic party has arisen from the fact
that it has been most especially the
friend to the productive industries and
labor of the country. But this cabalis-
Go phrase, "a tariff for revenue only,"
has enabled the Republican party to
convince the people that the Democrat
10 party is unwilling to afford aid and
encouragement to home industries and
labor and is, therefore, not the friend
Of the laboring man.
The position of the Democratic party
on the tariff cannot be changed safely
from that of Jefferson, Madison and
jackson at this time, at all events
The elements of the Democratic tariff
when that party maintained its ascend
ency, are substantially embodied in
what is termed the Ohio platform, on
which the party carried Ohio and Vir-
ginia last fall, and which is as follows:
tD-wit: "a tariff for revenue limited
to the expenses of the federal govern
ment, economically administered and
adjusted in its details with view to
equality in the public burdens, and also
with a view to aid and encourage home
productive industries and labor" On
this tariff the Democratic party can
elect the next President, but on the
restricted free trade dogma of "tariff
for revenue only" the party will be
inevitably beaten again. 1t would
seem that no true Democrat could wish
to endanger the success of the party on
such a ground. 1t would be manifest
blunder in tactics and in politics.
There is no real occasion for a feud
about the tariff among the Democratic
leaders. The Republican party is for
protective tariff, that is, tariff which
makes protection Its object and revenue
simple incident: while the Democrat
10 party is for revenue tariff, which
makes revenue Its object, but which is
levied with discrimination as to the
different articles of import, with a view
TO encourage home industries and labor.
And the revenues needed to support
the government have become so large
that just and proper determinations in
ievying the tariff will afford all the en-
aDuragment to home industries and
labor which is needful and just.
This tariff revenue, with incidental
encouragement to home industry and
labor is the Democratic tariff of Jeffer-
son, Madison, Jackson, Polk, Silas
Wright and, indeed, all the great lead
eys who maintained the Democracy in
power for many years.