The Brookhaven leader., 1888-07-26
SOME TARIFF HISTORY.
The Inconslstsnt Course Of the Opposition
Ar the HIRh ProtectIdn Issue.

| =
and increasing tariff tax recalls tho
Tact that now for the first time high
protection is made the 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 20 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.
| "Thst while providing rcyenu for the sup.
| port CT the general G Y'rnmeut by duties upon
imports. sound policy requires suca an adJust-
ment OF these Imposts as = encourage The de-
velopment CT the industrial intereS OF the
| whole country and We CONNIE d the pohcy OF
| NatiUhal exchanges wh Ch secures q the WORK
| ingsman beral Wages, TO agr culture remun r.
| uting prices to mechanics an manufacturers
an sdequa reward for their skill. labor and
| enterprise. and TO the Nation commercial pros
| perity and ndepe enden'e.'
In 1864 the platform was war plat
form, and said of the tinance, that the
public faith must be kept inviolate, and
that for this purpose 1--WE recommend
economy and rigid responsibility i'll the
public expenditures, and vigorous
and just system of taxation. In 1868
the platform declared that "it is due
to the labor OF the Nation that taxation
should be equalized and reduced as
rapidly as the National faith will per-
nit" and also 1.-The Government Of
| the United States should be adminis-
| tered with the strictest economy.
From 1856 TO 1872 the Republican plat
forms were silent upon what is now
the party. In 1872 the platform said:
| "The annual revenue, after paying current
expe nditures 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 as may be &c 1ved from
| tax upon tobacco and liquors, should be
| raised by duties upon importat.o IS. the details
| OF which should be so adjusted as TO aid IN Sc
| cr-ing remunerative wages 10 labor and Iro'
| mote the Industries, prosperity ana grown ol
| the whole country
platforms, the great Republican doe.
trine was by no means that OF extreme
protection. Garfield said: Il am foI
protection which leads to ultimate
free trade. ! am not for free trade
which can only be achieved through q
reasonable protection Again Car
field said:
| THE .gns are unmstakable that O stronl
| reaction is setting IN against the prevailing
| Itarir rates. and he is not wise legislator
| who shuts his eyes - the facts Of the situation
: He is not faithful representative wht
| merely votes for the CHEST rate proposed II
| order 10 show on the record that he voted FOL
the highest figure. and therefore is sounc
| protectionist. He is the wisest man who see'
the tides and currents Of public opinion. ant
uses his best efforts TO protect the industry O
| the pt ople against sudden collapses and sudder
| changes. Now II do not misunderstood the
| signs Of the times, unless we do this ourselves
| prudently and wisely, we shan before long bt
| compelled to submit TO violent reduction
made rudely and without discrimination Whicf
| will shock, il not shatter, all our protected in
| dustres."
In his message of 1884 President
| Arthur said:
in my annual message OF 1882 I recon
| mend the abolition OF all excse taxes excep'
those relating 10 distilled spirits. This recon-
| mendation is now renewed. In case thess
| taxes shall be abolished. the revenue that viii
| remain 10 the Government will in my opinion
| not only suf1ce to meet its reasonable e&
| pendtures, but will AFFORD o surplus large
| enough to permit such tariff reduction as may
| seem TO be advisable when The results OF recent
revenue laws and commercial treaties shall
| have shown in what quarters tbese reductions
| can be most judiciously effected.
President Arthur had three Score;
taries OF the Treasury-Mr. Folger,
Mr. Gresham and Mr.. McCulloch.
They were all strict Republicans and
revenue reformers. In his annual re-
port for 1888, Mr.. Folger said:
| THE ex 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 1888 President Arthur thought to be
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 taxi
| ''That the revenue may be reduced SO as no
| longer to tax the people; that protective
duties may be retained without becoming bur
| densome
All this was sound Republicanism
under the last Republican Administra-
ton, but it is substantially in accord
with President Cleveland's message. If
that means free trade, this Republican
President and his Republican Seeretar-
les were substantially free traders. The
original Republican doctrine of 1868 is
that of the Presidents message. 1T is
| due to the labor of the Nation that
taxation should he equalised and
reduced as rapidly as the National
faith will permit" The statement OF
the Chicago Tribune, when the mes
sage appeared, has not been yet sue
cessfully challenged
THE messate ID simply the tarfr reduction
plank st the Republican party adopted in lsS+
| Expanded. 1t is nothing more or less than &
textual sermon on that passage OF the resolu
tion which promises to reduce the surplus by
correcting the inequalities OF the tariff"
The Chicago Tribune, upon the adop
tion of the free whisky and tobacco
platform of this year, said at once:
1.-THE Committee on Resolutions ought TO re
port an amendment striking out the plank IL
favor Of free whisky and declaring instead tha
the tax on liquor and tobacco shall be retained
| TO meet the increasing.expenditures of pension
and for the defrayment OF service pensions
Correction can be made and adopted by tn