Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-12
TIE Tariff Plank.

| Tke Tarth Plank.
We hSd feared that the Free-Traders, led
BY WATTIRs0S. might Cause trouble In the
We were confident that ell their efforts
would be unxvailing 10 induce that body
to declare tor 90 tariff for revenue only;
but We have lived to learn that our fears
were ground)ess; that the "horizontal
tariff bill was not esen alluded TO, and ga
| tariff for revenue only" ws advocated In
| public by nobody. With hardly dissent
| ing voice, and with the appreciation OF Mr..
WArrBpsos, the following tariff plank was
80 deity laid down and incorporated into
| the Democratic national platform that no
body can see joint in the whole structure.
The tariff plank Is Is follows:
"Tbe Democratic party Is pledged TO re-
wise the tariff in spirit OF fairness TO all
| interests, but in making reduction In
taxes il L. not proposed TO in1ure any do
nestle industries, but rather to promote
4 their healthy growth. From the founda-
ton OF this Government the taxes collected
st the custom-house have been the chief
source OF Federal revenue. Such they
must COSTUME to be. Moreover, many in
dustries have come TO rely upon legislation
for successful continuance; so that any
change OF law must be at every step regard
ful OF the laDor and capital thus involved.
The process Of reform must be subject in
execution TO this plain dictate OF justice:
that all taxation shalt be limited to the re-
Qurenents Of economical government. The
necessary reduction in taxation can and
must be effected, without depriviny Ameri-
can labor OF the ability TO compete success
fully with foreign labor and without I'M
posing lower rstcs Of duty than will be am
pie TO cover any increased cost OF produc-
ton which may exist In consequence OF the
higher rates Of wages prevailing in this
country. Sufficient revenue to paw all ex-
penses Of the Federal Government, eco
nomicaly administered, including pen
sions, interest and principal OF the public
debt, can be got under our present system
Of taxation from custOm-bouse taxes on
fewer imported articles, bearing the hea-
West on articles OF luxury and bearing the
| highest on articles OF necessity.
1--WE therefore denounce the abuses OF
| the existing tariff. subject to the preceding
| limitations. We declare that Federal tax
alton shall be exclusively for public pur-
poses, and shall not exceed the demands
| Of a Government economically admins
tered"
The reader will notice that these words
are well weighed. They declare in terms
for the celebrated doctrine laid down in
the House Of Representatives two years ago
by Mr.. RANDALL that the customs-duties
ought always to be high enough to cover
the difference between the lower wages
paid TO workmen in Europe and the
higher wages raid to workmen in the
United States. Notice, too, that this decla-
ration Of the Democracy in National Con-
vention assembled brushes away forever,
and estops all good Democrats from repeat
ing it, the statement that in effect higher
wages are paid In free-trade England than
In this country. Read again the explicit
committal OF the Democratic party to the
doctrine that the tariff must protect Amer
lean labor. 1t is in the words following:
"The necessary reduction in taxation
can and must be effected without depriving
American labor OF the ability TO compete
successfully with foreign labor, and with
out imposing Ioaoer rates OF duty than ,oiR
| be AMPLE to couer any increased cost Of
| production uAich may e1iSt in consequence
| Of the higher rates AZ cages preoGlinQ in
thiS country"
We don't know how Mr. WArTERsoN
was converted into an sdvocste OF this doc
| trine. None the less, however, do we re-
! ioice that be has ct least acquiesced in the
- Va hat ELL
ers In Virginia, il any such persons there
be, will initiate bis example.
Everybody viii, Of course, agree that lux.
urles ought to pay high taxes and the ne
eessaries OF life a. low taxes as 10 Is possible
to place upon them, having at the same
time Q proper regard for the needs OF the
Government.
We have said that the phrases "atarif
for revenue only" and horizontal reduc-
ton appear nowhere IN the platform. In
their stead much better phrase 10 employ
ed--nAmely, "Federal taxation shall be ex.
elusively for pso'ic Purposes" We for
get what stats Convention invented
this formula, but 1t has to us q familiar
look and . familiar sound. Every
Democrat can subscribe it. All OF US. Free
Traders and Protectionists, demand that
oil taxation, State and Federal, shall be
"exclusively for public purposes" But
many Of the best Democrats In the land
nsy, we would now confidently say, o large
majority OF them-sre opposed to ga tariff
Cor revenue only" What "public pur-
pose" can DO subserved which Il more
worthy OF our attention than the laying Of
customsduties not for revenue only" but
soas to "cover any increased cost Of pro-
duction which may exist In consequence Of
the higher rates Of wages prevailing In this
country"s
We have said that we were confident be-
fore the National Convention assembled
that the Free Traders, though they might
cause trouble In that body, would not be
able TO accomplish their obiect--their one
darling object Of inducing the Convention
10 declare for . txriff for revenue only.
We did not hesitate TO pit our prediction
against that Of one OF our exchanges which
We win not name now. We said few
days ago.
"First, the words q tariff for reyc-
nue. may appear In the platform, but the
phrase Will not be % tariff for revenue
oeiy.' The Democrats Of the whole coun-
Try favor tariff for revenue, tho revenue
10 DO sufficient for the Government Only
when the same t economically admins |
tered. and the tariff TO be so adjusted as to |
afford incidental protection 70 American |
industries.
"Eecondly, the platform will not declare |
for Moryison's bill nor for any other blu |
providing for horizontal reduction
"Thhdly, whilst Ii will DO as clear and |
~ the platform OF 1876 OF
that Of 1880, Is win not countensnce the
OF Watterson and bis band. But
III the same, those gentlemen will crow
over iis declarations"
That forecast has been vindicsted by the
lctiou Of The Convention, except that
WAr5xssos snd bis band have not yet,
y fsr y We know, crowed over The new J
q ~ !. X ~ Il &. q * ~,