The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-02-11
Republican Testimony.
From, The Omaha Bee.

From the Omaha Bee.
One of the most valuable contributions to
the meeting held in Philadelphia recently to
promote the cause of tariff reform was the
letter of Mr.. Hugh McCulloch, ex-Secretafy
of the Treasury. The meeting, it should be
remarked, was notable one in its numbers
and character. 1t embraced merchants, man
ufacturers and workingmen, and was in no
sense partisan assemblage. 1t was called
for a well-dehned purpose, which was solely
that of giving expression and encouragement
to the growing sentiment in favor of n revis-
ion and reduction of the excessive tariff.
This was accomplished by the passage of res
olutions declaring ''that the existing duties
upon raw materials which are to be used in
manufactures should be removed" and that
the duties upon the articles to be used or
consumed by those who are least able to bear
the burden of taxation should be reduced. l"
These simple declarations really comprehend
all that is sought by intelligent advocates OF
tariff reform.
The views of Mr.. McCulloch are peculiarly
interesting and valuable at this time because
he is a Republican who was twice honored
with the Treasury portfolio, and who in that
capacity worthily commanded the confidence
of his party and of the country. He says of
the present tariff that, having been created
when the Government was engaged in a war
of unparalleled magnitude, it has accomplish
ed the object for which it was created land now
needs careful revision to accommodate it to the
present conditions of the country. "The sur
plus which it produces and locks up in the
Treasury, to the detriment of business, is only
one of the many serious objections to it. 1t is
greatly prejudicial to our great farming inter
est by gradually but effectively diminishing
the foreign demand for our agricultural pro-
auctions at remunerative prices 1t stands in
the way of the restoration of our shipping in
terests by duties upon many articles which are
needed in hipbuilding. 1t fosters monopo-
lies Such being some Of the prominent
faults of the existing tariff, Mr.. McCulloch re-
CARDS it as imperatively required for the pro-
motion of the best interests of the country,
and the whole country, that such changes shall
be made in the tariff as will make it a tariff
for revenue, with incidental protection This
is Democratic doctrine pure and simple.
"a tariff by which the highest duties consis-
tent with revenue will be imposed upon the
articles that come into competition with our
own manufactures. He remarks that 'large
revenues must always be derived from duties
upon imports, and these duties, if jHdiciously
imposed, would never fail to give to home
manufacturers all the protection which they
might need to enable them to compete with
foreigners in our own markets, and at the
same time to open the way for free trade
with other nations, especially with the South
American States" This is in accord with
every candid and unprecedented view of the
situation, and implies watchful concern for
the preservation of American industries and
the welfare of American labor. 1t calls for
such revision of the tariff as shall not with
draw adequate protection from our manufac-
turers, but which, while relieving the con-
sumers of the unjust and oppressive burden
involved in taxation beyond the requirements
of ample protection, will enable American
manufacturers to retain control of the home
market and materially increase their business
in other markets, consideration growing
steadily more urgent as our industrial inter-
ests increase.
1t would be easy to supplement this Repub-
lican testimony favorable to tariffreyision and
reduction with more that is equally authorita-
tive. President Arthur was among those Re-
publieans who believed that the war tariff,
having accomplished the object for which it
was created, ought to be readjusted to the
changed conditions of the country, and it was
largely due to his recommendations that the
tax and tariff reductions of 1888 were affected.
Secretary Folger was in full sympathy with
the views of President Arthur, as indeed,
were Republicans very generally at that time.
This sentiment in favor of a reform of the
tariff found its most significant expression in
the pledge given by the Republican party in
the National Convention of 1884 to correct
the inequalities of the tariff and reduce the
surplus The country will soon have an OPP
portunity to learn how many Republicans in
Congress regard that pledge as still binding.