St. Landry democrat., 1886-10-16
Candidate Lagan.
zs SEAsONABLY PRESENTED BY MIR. B. r
FORMAN
WITH A CONSISE HISTORY OF THE DEMO
CRATIC RECORD ON THE SUBJECT
OF TARIFF.
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 30, 1886.


NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 30, 1886.
Editor Daily States:
Mr.. Lagan is frank, honest and out
spoken, and by these qualities com
however much we may differ from him
in his political principles, and however
much they may differ from those Of the
Democratic party. In one sentence he
says his views on the tariff are ex-
pressed in the Democratic platform,
and are the same as those held by JET
sferson, Madison, Jackson and Polk (;
and iu the next paragraph he says the
tariff taxes should be so adjusted as to
protect aud foster industry, and he ia
vors an import tax on all articles which
come in competition with our products,
so as to protect our labor against that
Of foreign countries.
Tins is the quintescence OF high ia
giff Republican protectionlsm, sO-calied,
and is directly in conflict with the oft
repeated declarations of the Democratic
party. The platform adopted in caucus
IL the year 1900, when Mr.. Jefferson
was elected President, declared for
FREE COMMERCE. WITH ALL NATIONS.
When Mr.. Madison was elected, in
1903, the tariff question was not III Is
sue, but Mr. Madison, in debate in Con-
cress. said: | own myself the friend
Of every free system of commerce. If
industry and labor are left to take their
own course they will generally be di
recteh to those objects which are most
productive. and that in manner more
certain and direct than the wisdom OF
the most enlightened legislature could
point out Nor do | believe that the
national interest is more promoted 10y
such legislative directions than by the
iutereEt of the individuals concerned
Gen. jackson was neither a political
economist nor a statesman: he was
rough soldier elected on his military
achievements and robust patriotism !;
but among the early protective tariff
bills was one passed just before his cleo
ton, which was called by his followers
aud adlierents the "Bill of Abomina-
tions" An opposition to the principle
of this bill led to his election.
The first Democratic National Con
vention met in 1888 and declared "The
true foundation of republican govern
-ment is the equal rights of every cit-
zen in his person and property and its
management"
In 1874, when Polk was nominated,
the Democratic platform declared JUS
tice and sound policy forbid the Fede-
raj Government to foster one branch
of industry to the detriment of another,
ar cherish the interests of one portion
to the injury of another portion OF our
common country"
This was reatfirmed in 1874. IN 1S4S
the platform speaks Of the noble i'm
pulse given to the cause of free trade
ny the repeal of the tariff OF 1912. In
1859 and in 1856 the same sentiments
are repeated, but the platform OF 1856
declared that "the time has come for
the people of the United States to de-
clare themselves in favor of free seas
and 4 progressive free trade through
ont the world.' In 1880 the principles
of 1856 were re-affirmed by both the
Douglas and Breckenridge platforms.
In 1872 the Democratic party lodged
and deservediy failed. In 1875, when
.rilden was elected, the platform writ
ten by his friends declared as follows:
!" We denounce the present tariff levied
t1pon nearly 1000 articles as a master
piece Of injustice, inequality and false
nretense. 1t has impoverished many
industries to subsidize few. 1t pro-
iiibits imports that might purchase the
products of American labor 1t has de-
graded American commerce from, the
first to AN inferior rank on the high
seas. 1t has cut down the sales OF
American manufactures at home and
abroad, and depleted the returns. OF
American agrlculture-an industry foi-
lowed by half our people. 1t costs the
neople five times more than it produces
70 the Treasury obstructs the process
ses or production, and wastes the fruits
of labor. 1t promotes fraud, fosters
smuggling, enriches dishonest officials
and bankrupts honest merchants. We
demand that all custom house taxation
shall be only for revenue"
Tn 1890 the Democratic platform de-
,clared for a tariff for revenue only"
Mr.. Lagan says not only, but also
and chiefly to foster aud enrich parti-
cular Industries at the expense OF the
many.
In 1884 the Democratic platform de-
.clared: the Democracy. pledges itself
TO reduce taxation to the lowest limit
consistent with due regard to the pre-
seryation of the faith of the nation to
its creditors ana pensioners. Inc
Democratic party is pledged TO revise
interests. All taxation shall
be limited to the requirements OF eco
government
1t is plain that Mr.. Lagan has drawn
the cloak Of Jefferson and Madison and
Polk about him, and calls himself a
Democrat, when in fact he believes in
the Republican doctrine of a high pro-
Sective tariff.
With one breath he calls himself
Democrat, and in the next he says he
favors an import tax on all articles
which come in competition with our
products. This is the essence OF Re-