St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-07-05

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lection to life and property, allows the
creedS, business and customs of the peO-
pie to remain unfettered by Sumptuary
laws, class legislation and extortionate
monopOlies.
First-That every species Of taxation
levied upon the many for the profit of
the few, creating monOpolieS and pro-
ducing revenue in excess of the wants
OF the government, economically adj
miniStered, is unjust, tyfannical and
dangerous. Sound policy requires that
the business of the people should be
free from oppressive duties and vexa-
tious restraints, and that all legislation
in reference thereto should be impartial
in its objects and equal in its burdens.
We, therefore, favor such thorough
revision of the present tariff laws as will
remedy existing evils and result in the
establishment of tariff for revenue
only, as the permanent commercial
policy of this country.
The Democratic district platforms of
Minnesota in the First, Second and
Third, in 1880, affirmed the Cincinnati
tariff plank.
The Republican district platforms of
the Third and Fourth, in 1854, We're net
submitted to the conventions nor
adopted.
In the Fifth district owing to the can
didacy of Knute Nelson, the only out
and out tariff reform platforms ever
adopted in Minnesota by Republicans
were passed in 1882, 1884 and 1886.
They were drawn for a candidate who
declares that his party is not in sympa-
thy with him, and who, if report be
true, will vote for the Mills bill.
The Democratic state platform of 1884
was:
That large surplus in the treasury
is an over-eXiSting incentive to waste
full extravaganza and official corruption;
that it should be reduced. not by reck-
less appropriations, but by reduction
of the taxes which create it; that this
reduction of taxation should be made
upon the necessarieS of life, and not
upon its Injuries.
In 1876 Mr.. Tilden was nominated and
elected upon the following platform:
Resolved, That the present tariff is
masterpiece of injustice, inequality and
false pretense. 1t has impoverished
many industries to substitute few 1t
prohibits imports that might purchase
the product of American labor. 1t has
degraded American commerce from the
first to an inferior rank on the high seas.
1t has cut down the sale of American
manufactures at home and abroad, and
depleted the returns of American agri-
culture-an industry followed by half
our people. 1t costs the peoPia five
times more than it produces to the
treasury, obstructs the process of pro-
duction and wastes the fruits of labor.
1t promotes fraud, fosters smuggling,
enriches dishonest officials, and bank
rupts honest merchants. We demand
that all custom house taxation shall be
only for revenue"
The Republican state platform for
1884 was:
We advocate tariff laws which, while
furnishing necessary revenue, shall
favor the labor and industrial enter
prises of the country, and not assail
them. While we insist upon reduc-
ton of customs duties because of dam
gerOuS surplus in the treasury receipts,
at the same time we deem it essential
that this reduction should be made with
the least injury to the labor and manu-
featuring interests of the country. We
are in favor of the fullest discussion in
congress of the tariff, and commend the
action of majority of our representa-
tiveS in agreeing thereto, while we can
not fully subscribe to the provisions of
the Morrison bill as it now stands in the
house; because it fails to reform any i'll
capabilities of taxation, disregards the
business wants of the country, and if
adopted would cripple many industries,
and at the same time would probably in
crease revenue. We also recognize in
the progressive changes in industrial
conditions necessity for an investiga-
ton of the tariff upon a scientific basis,
to the end that it may be considered as
to its real influence upon labor, capital
production and revenue.
The Wisconsin Democratic platform
of 1884 was:
Resolved, in the language of the ma
tional Democratic platform of 1876,
That reform is necessary" in the sum
and modes of federal taxation, to the
end that capital may be set free from
distress and labor lightly burdened.
We announce the present tariff, levied
upon nearly four thousand articles, as
a masterpiece of injustice, inequality
and false pretense, which yields a
dwindling and not yearly rising rev.
enue, has impoverished many indus
tries to substitute a few. 1t prohibits
imports that might purchase the prod
ucts Of American labor; it has degrad-
ed American commerce from the first to
an inferior rank upon the high seas; it
has cut down the value of American
manufactures at home and abroad; it
has depleted the returns of American
agriculture, an industry followed by
half our people; it costs the people five
times more than it produces to the
treasury, obStructs the process of pro-
duction, and wastes the fruits of labor:
it promotes fraud, fosters smuggling,
and enriches dishonest officials and
bankrupts honest merchants. We de
mand that all custom house taxation
shall be only for reVnue.
Then compare these eontradicting
statements of the Republican organ of
Minnesota:
Pioneer Press, May ST. Pioneer Press, June
1884: %, 1888:
On the other hand In all it's declara-
there is scarcely less tons and its arraign-
divergence of views Iment of the Demo-
among Republicans cratic party FORTS fee
on the tariff question: BILE and inefficient for
though it is not ade- Ieign policy, the nota.
quately represented in bic feature about this
the vote. With the ex platform is the intense
cepton Of the loyal ardor of the patriotic
Minnesota members, spirit which inspires
the Republican con- it. The Republican
gTessmen from the party now, as always,
Northwest have not stands as the cham
voiced the opinion of pion of the United
the masses of the States of America
party behind them. against all other coun-
Doubtless they felt tries III the world.
that they were not And it is, above all. or
called upon to support believes itself to be,
an issue of Democratic the distinctive cham
making; but they pion. of the rights and
know, all know interests of the misses
that the great Westlof the peOple-espe-
and Northwest are cially of the working
practically unanimous classes. 1t is out of
Tor tariff reform. If this intense spirit of
the time for dividing patriotism that has
on this line shalllgrown its ardent ad
come, the party of vocacy of the system
protection, whateverIof protection to
name it may then American labor
Dear will lose the ag- through the imposi-
ricultural states as ton of high duties on
surely as its opponents the competing foreign
will carry Pennsyl- product. Illogical alb
vania. There are no surd and unjust as this
signs in the sky to in system can easily be
dictate when this read proved to be from the
iI1Sfnnpnf of r,arfN linnSlnnint of uiaXv of the