The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1888-07-18
THEIR OWN RECORD COMPOUNDS THEN.


~ I. olaIsi
The Republican tariff plank of this
year is az appeal for prOhibitOry taxa
lion on all foreign products and manu-
faciures that compete with that of the
United States, and a denunciatiOn of
any proposition for a revision OF the
tariff. The declaration is explicitly
made that before any tariff taxes are
reduced the internal revenue system
should be repealed and whisky made
free.
We have recently shown that this
theory is an entirely new one in the
Republican party, for which no war
rant is found in its own records, and
which is contrary to the authorized
sayings and dOings of its representa-
tive men, including its present candi-
dates for President and Vice President.
The most complete exposition of the
entire inconsistency and insincerity of
the present reactiOnary attitude of the
Republican party is afforded by the
proceedings Of the Tariff Commission
Of 1882. We yesterday referred to the
letter Of Benjamin Harrison, then
United States Senator, approving the
dOings and purposes of that commission
and urging the necessity of tariff re
vision. What was itthat Harrison and
the Republican party thus explicitly
approved?
The conditions and purposes which
controlled the action of that commits
sion are sueeinctly stated in the fol-
lowing extract from the fifth page OF
its report to the Speaker of the House
Of Representatives, as follows:
Early in its deliberations the COM
mission became convinced that a sub
stahtial reduction Of tariff duties Is de-
manded, not by mere iBdiscriminate
popular cianOr, but 10y the best con-
sentative opinion Of the country, in
Guiding that which has in former times
been most strenuous for the preserva-
lien Of our national industrial defenses.
Such a reduction Of the existing tariff
the commission regards not only as a
due recognition Of public sentiment
and measure Of justice to consumers
but one conductive TO the general ia
dustriul prosperity, aud Which. though
it may be temporarily iBeonvenient-
will be ultimately beneficial TO the
special interests affected by such re-
duclion.
No Democratic platform has put the
necessity Of intelligent tariff revision
more strongly than this statement
The report enIarges upon the damage
done to the industries and commerce
Of the country By excessive duties IN
iHtelligently imposed, using the follow.
ing strong language;
No rates OF defensive duties, except
for the establishment Of new industries
which more than eqnallze the eOndi
lions OF labor snd capital with those o
foreign competitors, can be Justified
Excessive duties, or those above sucl
standard of equalization, are pOsitivel!
/ Injurious to the interests which the
are supposed TO benefit They eBcour
age the investment of capital la manu-
/ featuring enterprise by rash and IN
skilled spectators, to be followed b.
disaster to the adventures aud thei
employees, aud a plethora of cOmmo
dities which deraDges the operations @
skilled and prudent enterprise. M
merous examples of such disaster an
heterogeneous occurred during an
shortly after excessively prOtectiv
periods Of the late war, when tari
duties were enhanced by the rates {
foreign exchange and premiums upo
gold. Excessive duties, generally, q
/ exceptionally high duties in pariicula
! cases, discredit our whole nations
7 economic system, and furnish plausibl
arguments for its complete subversioI
II The recommendations aud finding
Of this commission were eoncurred
by all its members. They all signe
the report from which the above eS
tracts are made. The Commissioner
we're Mr.. John l. Hays, q special rel
1 resentative Of tie wool interests; NJ
Henry W. Oliver, Jr., Of Pittsburg,
great ironmasier and prominent r.
publican: Mr.. Robert p Porter, no
secretary Of the Republican ProteciiV
Tariff League, aud Messrs A. NJ. Ga
land, J. A. Ambler, J. W. Under'soo'
Alexander r Boieler and Duncan ]
i Kenner, all gentlemen Of special e.
] perience aud information regardin
j branches Of industries affected by tariff
Constituted by an act originating
the Republican House Of Represents
I lives, the Tariff Commission was
/ Republican body, and 81 its eoncl'
sions were reached by the votes Of i