The Portland daily press., 1888-08-11
In 1880 President Andrew jackson, whom
the Democrats are still voting for. said in his


In 1880 President Andrew jackson, whom
the Democrats are still voting for. said in his
message to Congress:
The power to impose duties on imports orig.
nally belonged to the several States Inc Ilsnt
to aSiusf those dnfies with view to the encour-
agement of domestic branches OF INDUSTRY, 10 81
completely identical with that power .naI M an an
other. The States have delegated their whole au-
thorty over imports TO the general GOverEment;
without Limitation or instruction, saving the very
nconsiderable reservation relating 20 their nspec
ton laws. This authority having then passed
from the States the right 10 exercise ~ Tor the
purpose of protection does not exist IN them, and
consequently, II II be not possessed by the gener-
al Government it must be extinct. Our political
system would thus present tne anomaly OF peo-
tries and 10 counterfeit the most selfish and de-
structive policy which might be adopted by for
egn 1atons Inns abs b De bns nas
must be within the scope OF the authority express
ly delegated TO Congress. In this conclusion /
am confirmed as well by the opinions of Presi-
dents Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Mon
roe, who have each repeatedly recommended the
exercise of this right under the constitution as by
the uniform praetiee OF Congress, the continued
acquiescence Of the States and the general under
standing OF thepeople.
So much on the constitntionality Of protec-
ton. The list of eminent men that as
sert Its oonstitutionality might be greatly
heightened. but this win suffice for the pres
ent, 1t puts the Democratic orator of TODAY
who declares protection unconstitutional
at odds with George Washington, James
Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas JEFF
ferson. James Monroe and Andrew Jackson.
But, says the Argus substantially, il the
decision of the United States Court in. the
case OF Topeka is not tantameunt to decla-
ration that protection is unconstitutional
1t Is tantamount to a declaration that it is
robbery OF course If protective tariff
is robbery men who have helped enact
such a tariff are robbers. Now observe
no W rich the country has been in robbers.
The tariff bin passed by the first Congress in
1889 In its preamble declares that sit is nee
essary for the support Of the government,
for the discharge Of the debts of the United
States andJor the encouragement and protec-
ton manufactures, that duties be laid up
On imported goods, wares and merchandise. y
Among the gentlemen who voted for this
bill was James Madison, Richard Henry
Lee, Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Elbridge
Gerry, Roger Sherman and Abraham
Baldwin. All these men are consigned to the
category of robbers by the Argus. George
Washington signed the bill and made it a
law which entities him to be called the
prince OF robbers. Then there is Thomas
Jefferson, whom the Democracy have been
wont to revere. He too, was robber.
John G. Calhoun, to whom President Clever
land paid so gushing a tribute some time
age, he too, at one time favored protee-
ton. and he endorsed it as beneficial to the
farmer as well as to the manufacturer. 1.-THE
farmer" he said, will find ready market
for his surplus products, and what is of al
most as great consequence certain and
cheap supply for all his wants. = And then
there Is Andrew jackson. He deserves a
place way up in the Argus's list of robbers.
What a galaxy Of robbers this is-many
of them Democratic robbers too-men whom
the Democracy have held up for years as
models of craftsmanship; men whom the
Argus has again and again glori6ed- all cor
signed nov to the category Of robbers