The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1890, 1888-10-13

- ---- ------
! of jackson and 1S4S the Democratic
party became pronounced,
| UNCOMPROM1s1NG FREE TRADE PARTY,
as shown conclusively by the utterances
of the party through their national plat
form. l now beg your indulgence while
read extracts from the Democratic plat
form, from 184S down to 1888, in so fal
as the subject of tariff is referred to. Or
the tariff question, the Democratic ma
tional platform of 1S4S reads as follows
''Fhe fruits of the great political triumph
of 1874 have fulfilled the hopes of tn,
Democracy of the union, in the noble
impulse given to the
CAUSE OF FREE TRADE
by the repeal of the tariff Of 1912" 'rht
Democratic national platform of 1852 OF
this subject reads as follows: "No more
revenue than is required to defray tho
necessary expenses of the government
and the extinction Of the public debt
This platform of 1862 was rcattirmcd il
1856; and the platform of that year ol
tariff further reads us follows: "'rh'
time has come for the people of th'
United States to declare themselves il
favor of free seas and progressive
FREE TRADE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
This idea was reatfirmcd by the platform
of 1860. The Democratic platform o
1868 reads, "A tariff for revenue" Tn.
Democratic platform of 1872 reads as fol
lows: 1--WE remit the discussion of tn,
subject to the people in their congress
sional districts and to the decision o
congress thereon, wholly free from exec
utivc interference or dictation." Th'
Democratic national platform Of 1S7
reads, "CustOm house taxation shall b.
only for revenue" The platform of 1881
reads,
~ TARIFF FOR REVENUE ONLY
The national Democratic platform of 1SS
reads rs follows: "lfcvenue to pay al
the expenses of the general government
economically administered, reducing
taxes to the end that these United State
may compete with unhindered power TO
the primacy among nations" Rcatfirme'
in 1883, with the endorsement Of 9Th
views expressed by President Clevelan
III his last earnest message to congress
the correct Interpretation of that plat
form upon the question OF tariff reduc
dent Cleveland, i'll the message referee
to, did in effect pronounce protection t
be iniuuitous and unjust: and in the fac
of his party record from 1S4S down to til
present time, | ask any fairminded ma
, if it is not true that the Democratic part
has been and is now.
\ FREE TRADE PARTY?
And yet, in the face OF these party uttel
ances, my distinguished opponent in hi
1fapeeeh ut Missoula stated that the Den
ocrltc f'aTt7 ;t!.:' N -. u tr;rnfur
protection: but in the same speech he
stated likewise, that the protective sys-
TEN was unconstitutional: that is, in viO-
laton OF the organic law of the land. or
course. Webster and the great cNpound-
crs OF the constitution believed the svs-
tenn to be constitutional Washington.
Madison. jefferson and Andrew jackson
lo not agree with Mr.. Clark: and if Mr.,
'lark believes that the protective system
Is unconstitutional. he certainly places
his party in the
POSITION OF HEvuL.TIuNISTS.
when h" says that his party favors even
incidental protection. II protection as IL
principle" is unconstitutional, any degree
of protection cannot be constitutional.
but 'h" truth is. that Mr. Clark was mis-
taken when he said that his party was in
favor of amy protection at all. The Dem
prr;ttlr party is II fire." trade party. Now,
'"r the purpose of thoroughly under
standing the position Of the Republican
party on THIS question, beg leave to
lnot" from the Republican national plat
form Of this year. with reference to the
arff proposition. Our platform reads as
'"llows on that question: ave are un-
om mlromisinyly in favor of the
AMERICAN SYSTEM or PROJECTIONS:
sc protest against its destruction, as pro
'"s'd by the President and his party.
They serve the interests of E,IroDr: we
will support the interests of Amcrica
We accept the issue, and confidently an
Veal t" tn" people for their Judgment.
he protective system must be main
aimed. Its abandonment has always
zen followed by general disaster 10 all
lt'r"sts except those of the ,Ist,rrr and
ne tyr,nt.' This plain language cannot :
@ n'is'ak"n and the record insist shows !
nat til" Democratic party is !, free trade :;
;u'N and tltt the Republican party is
:. PROTECTION PARTY. n
20" II is wise for Us TO consider what pro- i,
'"tion means and what free trade means. =
y the fire." trad" system. revenue is i
ls"'} al the custom houses for the sub i,
'lt OF the government by duties levied :.
| those imported articles which are not
'"!iti'h IN this country: whereas, under !,
q protective system, such articles as :.
'lhot he produced iii this country are fl
united duty free, ;i',u IL tariff is placed 4,
III! rnltno,Iitir,
l>i!'OHrtn FROM rHkEIGN COZ >THlEs
81 in Kind with The. commodities and i;
'"'''"'s %! our own country: thus Civ |,
IN" American manufacturer and !,