The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-07-26
SOME TARIFF HISTORY.
The Inconsistent Course Of the OppOsit10a
ON the High Protection Issue.

| The Inconsistent Course u the Opposition
the High Protection Issue.
The Republican declaration Of q high
and increasing tariff tax recalls the
TACT that now for the first time high
protection is made tie Republican shib-
boleth. The party sprang from the
absorbing issue Of slavery, and its pur-
pose was to withstand the extension OF
slavery into the Territories. The plat
form of 1856 was devoted to this ques-
ton. The platform Of 1860. upon which
the party came into power, was also
primarily and chiefly devoted to the
various aspects Of the question Of slav-
cry, the Union. the rights Of the States.
etc, and was composed Of seventeen
sections. The first section said:
"That while providing revenue for tho sup
| port Of the general Government by duties upon
| imports sound policy requires such an adjust
ment OF these imposts as TO encourage the de-
| yelopmcnt OF the industrial interests Of the
| whole country; and we commend the policy Of
National exchanges which secures 10 the work.
| ing-man LIBERAL wages, to agriculture rcmuner.
| ating prices. to mechanics and manufacturers
| an adequate reward for their skill. labor and
enterprise, and TO the Nation commercial pros
per1ty ana independence
In 1864 the platform was war plat
form, and said OF the finances that the
public faith must be kept inviolate. and
that for this purpose I've recommend
economy and rigid responsibility in the
public expenditures, and vigorous
and just system OF taxation" In 1863
the platform declared that lit is due
to tho labor of the Nation that taxation
should be equalized and reduced as
rapidly as the National faith will per-
nit" and also "the Government of
the United States should be admins
tered with the strictest economy"
From 1856 to 1872 the Republican plat
forms were silent upon what is now
declared to be the supreme policy Of
the party. In 1872 the platform said:
/ .Thc annual revenue, after paying current
| expenditures, pensions and the interest on the
public debt should furnish moderate balance
for the reduction Of the principal, and that rev.
enue. except SO much rs may be derived from
tax upon tobacco and liquors, should be
4 raised by duties upon importatiOns, the details
curing rcmuneratiye wages to labor, and pro-
mote the industries, prosperity and growth Of
the whole country"
But whatever the declarations of tho
platforms, the great Republican doc
trine was by no means that of extreme
protection. Garfield said: II am for
protection which leads to ultimate
free trade. ! am not for free trade
which can only be achieved through q
reasonable protection" Again Gar
field said:
1.-THE signs are unmistakable that . strong
reaction Is setting IN against tho prevailing
(tarin rates. and he Is not wise legislator
who shuts his eyes to the facts OF the situation.
ss He Is not faithful representative who
merely votes for the CHEST rate proposed in
order to show on the record that he voted for
the highest figure, and therefore is . sound
protectionist He is the wisest man who sees
the tides and currents Of public opinion, and
uses his best efforts TO protect the industry Of
the people against sudden collapses and sudden
changes. Now II do not misunderstood the
signs OF the times, unless We do this ourselves
| prudcntly and wisely, we shall before long be
compelled to submit to a violent reduction,
made rudcly and without discrimination, which
will shock, II not shatter. all our protected In
dustries."
In his message OF 1884 President
Arthur said:
!" In my annual message Of 1882 recon.
mend the abolition OF all excise taxes except
those relating to distilled spirits. This recon-
mendation Is now renewed. In case these
taxes shall be abolished the revenue that will
remain to the Government will, in my opinion.
not only suffice 70 meet its reasonable ex-
penditures, but will afford . surplus large
enough to permit such tariff reduction rs may
seem to be advisable when the results Of recent
revenue laws and commercial treaties shall
vhnx ANi~rr
can be most judiciously Effected
President Arthur had three Secre-
taries of the Treasury-Mr. Folger.
MIR. Gresham and Mr.. McCulloch.
They were all strict Republicans and
revenue rcformers. In his annual re-
port for 1883, Mr.. Folger said:
THE cx sting duties upon raw materials
which are to be used In manufacture should be
removed. This can be done in the interest Of
our foreign trade
The notifications of the tariff rec
commended by the Tariff Commission
OF 1883 President Arthur thought to bt
inadequate, and in calling attention to
the fact that '.our system of tax and
tariff legislation is yielding a revenue
, which is in excess Of the present needs
of the Government" he stated two
reasons in favor OF tightening the tax
THAT the revenue may be reduced SO W n.
longer to tax the people; that protectiy,
duties may be retained without becoming bur
} densome"
: ALI this was sound Republicanisn
) under the last Republican Administra
ton, but it is substantially in accort
| -,
that means free trade, this Republican
President and his Republican Secretar
les were substantially free traders. Thu
+. original Republican doctrine Of 1868 il
' that of the Presidents message. ''Iti
I due to the labor of the Nation tina
G taxation should be equalized ant
I reduced as rapidly as the Nationa
faith will permit" The statement o
the Chicago Tribune, when the mes
, sage appeared, has not been yet sue
3 cessfully challenged.
"Thc message is simply the tariff reduction
q plank Of the Republican party adopted in l8s
expanded. It is nothing more or less than
textual sermon on that passage OF the resolu
!; ton which promises to reduce the surplus b.
! correcting the inequalities Of the tariff"
: The Chicago Tribune, upon the adop
D ton of the free whisky and tobacc'
platform OF this year, said at once:
1.-THE Committee on Resolutions ought to n
port an amendment striking out the plank il
: favor Of free whisky and declaring instead tha
2 the tax on liquor and tobacco shall be retaine
r to meet the neutrality-suspicious. Of pension
, and FOR the defraymsnt Of service pension.
Correction can be made and adopted by tn
convention in q few minutes. II the frightfu
: blunder into which the convention was misic'
3 is not corrected, IL will cost the Republica
I party tens and possibly hundreds Of thousand
), | OF votes"
And again it says:
, "Can the party LADDERS venture to 60 befor
the people with such platform and hope this
the fearful blunder committed by the Trainer
r of the platform will be overlooked or excused
Certainly the Democrats will not ignore IT,
) the blunder ip the platform is not correcte
before adjournment, every Democratic proce
sion this fail will carry banners stigmatizin
the Republican party as o free whisky organ
+ cation, committed to the doctrine OF cheap rul
I, and dear sugar"
a Mr. Mc( nllach Secretary NJ IN