Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-08-22
Additional TmmornIit,.

The Reformer, in its last issue, makes a
wretched exhibition of itself in endeavoring
to reply to our article charging it with an at
tempt TO deceive its readers on the tariff ques
ton by publishing at the head of its editorial
columns the tariff plank of the Democratic
platform with all its fIee-trade features olimi.
mated. We repeat the charge that it is a
Democratic immortality" Had the Reform
or in some manner indicated that certain por-
tons had been omitted, tho wrong would not
have been so great
In its weak and wishy washy defence it is
pleased to say, THE PhOnix knows that the
quotation is made solely to choke down the
lie which the politicians are trying to use
here, that the Democratic platform means
free trade And yet in it's reply it does not
give its readers the benefit of that portion or
tho Democratic platform which We quoted in
our article, and which we charge does mean
free trade and reads as follows IAN taxa.
tion should be limited to tho requirements of
economical government" and further, "toe
dcmGnd that tedeTdI taxation shall be ezcluaUc-
B for public purposes" Wouldn't your read
ers, MIR. Reformer have been able to under
stand what tho position of your party is, on
the tariff question just as well if you had
also published the very important clauses
which you omitted Or wouldn't the omit
ted portions help you to Choke down the
lie Of which you so bitterly complain The
truth is, your party, as party organization,
is irrevocably committed to the English doc
trine Of free trade, and you are wise enough
to know it. The votes of four-ffths of your
representatives in the last Congress prove it.
The Democratic platforms of 1876 and 1880,
as well as that of 1854, prove it. You can
not dodge the issue or controvert the proofs
by crying that's a lie." General Butler.
.Messrs. Hurd, Bookwalter, Watterson, Nor
ton, and hosts of other shining lights in the
Democratic party, do not hesitate to say that
the party is for free trade. Free trade in
America means poverty for our toiling mill.
ions
Again, the Reformer says, The Democrat
io party stands exactly upon the principle
laid down by Mr.. Madison when the first tar
i'll bill was presented to the first Congress OF
Of the United States "Regenue tie object
protection Tho Incident" Here is another in
accuracy Of the Reformer-a Democratic i'm
morality. Why will you continue to deceive
the public What authority have you con-
suited that justifes the assertion that Mr..
Madison and the other members of the first
Congress were guided by the principle OF
revenue the object protection the incident, ri
in the first tariff act?
We Affirm that President Washington was q
protectionist, and so were Madison and all the
early fathers of the republic. The second act
ever passed by an American Congress was a
protective tariff bill. It was recommended
by Washington in his first annual message.
Mr.. Madison was its champion in Congress
the act was approved by the President July
| 4, 1883, and the preamble reads as follows
Sec. l. Whereas it 10 necessary for the
support of government, for the discharge OF
the debta of the United States, aad tie pro.
tottoa amt encouragement Of manufactures,
that duties be laid on goods, ooares and mer.
e'dadisc imported" (see Statutes at Large
Vol. l., page pa
! Need anything further be added to prov,