New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-12
AGAINST THE TARIFF IN 1876.
PRESIDENTIAL PLATFORM.
FREE TRADE IS WHAT Is MEANT.
OFFICIAL INTERPRETER OF THE JUGGLE OF ise

The Democratic party Of the United states in
National Convention assembled. rcnews the pledge
Of It's fidelity 10 the Democratic faith and rcatrHs
tho platform adopted by ifs representatives. in the
Convention of ISL and ndorses the views expressed
By President Cleveland in his last earnest message
ID Congress the correct intcrpretat Of that plat
form upon the question Of tariff reduction: and also
lndorses the efforts Of Democratic representatives.
In Congress 10 reduction Of excessive taxation
Democratic National Platform, 1881
THE INTERPRETATION Is FREE TRADE.
Our scheme OF taxation. by means OF which this
needless surplus Is taken from the people and pu, into
the public treasury consists Of tariff duty levied
upon imporatons from abroad, and internal revenue
levied upon the consumption of tobacco and
spirituous and malt liquors II must be conceded that
none Of the things subjected to internal revenue
taxation are. strictly speaking neceSsares there ap
pears to be no just complaint Of this taxation by the
consumers Of these articles and there seems to be
ship TO any portion Of the people But our present
tariff laws. the vicious. ineqnable and Illogical
OF unnecessary taxation ought tO be at once
revised and amended
These laws, their primary and plain effect, raise
the price TO consumers Of all articles imported, and
subject to duty. by precisely the sum paid for such
duties. Thus the amount Of the duty measures The
tax paid by those who purchase for Use these imported
articles Many Of these things, however. are raised
or manufactured in our own country. and the duties
now levied upon foreign goods and products arc called
protection to these home manufactures, because they
render It possible for those OF orr people who are
for price equal 10 that demanded for the import ed
goods that have paid customs duty SO II happens
that while comparatively a Few use the lmpOr ed
articles, millions Of our people who never Use and
never any of the foreign products purchase and
use things Of the same kind made I'm this country.
and pay therefor nearly or quito the same enhanced
price which the duy adds 10 tho imported articles.
Those who buy imports pay the duty charged thereon
into the public treasury. but tie great majority Of
orr citizens, who buy domestic articles Of the same
class pay sum at least approximately equal to this
duty to the home manufacturer This reference to
the operation Of our tariff laws IS not made by way
Instruction. but I'm order that We may be constantly
reminded of the manner In which they impose a bur-
den upon those who consume domestic products as
we'll as those who consume imported articles and
"A a
Under our present laws more than 1000 articles
are subject 10 duty. MANY Of these do not in any
way compete with our own manufactures and many
are hardly worth attention as subjects Of revenue.
considerable reduction can be made IN the aggregate.
hv adding them to the free list The taxation Of
luxure, presents features OF hardship. but the
necessars OF life used and consumed by all the people,
the duty upon which adds 10 the cost OF living i'm
every home. should be greatly chearnHL The
radical reduction oil duties imposed upon raw material
used In manufactures, or us Tree lmpOfa ION, j.,
Of course. important factor IN any effort ~ r'-
ducc The picc o. Inese nGscssaIsI !, You'll no,
only relieve them from me Increased cost caused ~
the tariff on such material; bur The manuiaci utca
product being thus cheapcned mar par Oh me iaN
now laid upon such product, as compensation 10
our manufactures for the present price of raw
material could be accordingly modified such re-
dnciion. or free importation, would serve beside 10
largely reduce the revenue.
When the number Of farmers engaged in woolraiSing
is compared with all the farmers IN the country. and
the small proper ion they bear 10 our population IS
considered when It s made APPARENT that IN The case
OF those who own sheep, the benefit OF the present
tariff on wool IS lus0ry and. above all. when II
must be conceded that The ncre1se OF ne cost OF
living caused by such tariff becomes borden upon
those with moderate means ana ihG poor lne r en-
the young aud the old. and that IL constitutes tax
which, with relentless grasp. Is fastened upon tle
clothing OF every man. woman and child in the land,
reason, are suggested why the removal or reduction OF
this duty should be- included In the revision az our
tariff laws. tEXtracts from President 'le'cliiu ;
last aCel.
THE PLATFORM or 1883 CLEYELAND'S OWN.
II all turned ont Just It planned The nom
nation the platform. everything included. NOT a sin
gle Thing miscatricl brought out thar PLATFORM
myself Not the crossing OF a +. not the dOtilnS OF
an T. was changed II was adopted Just as u was ap
proved by the President. william l.. scott. Demo,
GRAFT Pennsylvania after tho Democratic National
convention II l5-7l