Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-09-25


The Hartford Times publishes the fol-
lowing letter:
To the Editor of The 7ypses Your state
ment in the Times OF August 25th, that
the views entertained by me in respect to
our national tsriff policy ''are not to be
found in the Democratic creed, nor in
any of the platforms of the Democratic
national Conventions and "do not fairly
represent the views of the Democratic
voters of the state" IL in my opinion so
unfair and unwarrAnted as to require
from me rejoinder; and the use Of your
columng having been oourteously offered
TO me for this purpose, now propose to
avail myself of the opportunity.
And frat, as to the assertion that NV
views in respect to the tariff ARE not to
be found in any Of the platforms Of the
Democratic national conventions, " would
remind you that / was associated with
youraeif as one Of the delegates nt large
from the state Of Connecticut to tbs
national Democratic convention in 1880;
that l was 3 member of the COMMITTEES on
the platform" and resolutions; that /
presided over the deliberations OF that
committee, and that the platform drafted
mainly by Mr.. Henry Watterson and my
self, and accepted without dissenting
voice by the convention, pledged the
Democratic party "to tariff for revenue
only" Again, the Democratic platform
Of 1884, on which Mr.. Cleveland was
elected, denounced "the abuses OF the
existing tariff, y and subject TO the linita.
tion that 'any change of law must be at
every step regardiul of the labor and
capital involved demanded ''that Fsde.
raj taxation shall be exclusively for
public purposes, and shall not exosed
The needs of the government eoonomi.
oally administered. l think you would
End it rather difficult to cite any word Of
mine-written or spoksn-which places
me In antAgonism with tae above national
declarations Of Democratic principles IN
respect to our tariff policy.
Next, IS to my personal views respect
ing the DOCTRINES of free trade and pro-
lection, regarded as theories Of wealth,
and concerning which | make no dig
gutse, submit the following statement:
believe In tho right Of every man to
freely labor AID exchange ior aell) the |
products Of his labor, subject to no other
restrictions than what are necessary TO
meet the needs of government eoonom-
ically administered. Such q policy
which now charaeterizes the industrial
md commercial relations OF the states of
the Federal Union-I believe to be the |
one which science and history have |
proved 10 DO the most conducive to the |
maintenance and progress of olvi ization, |
popular liberty, and the most rapid in |
crease and equitable distribution OF 4
national wealth; and its denial regard I
as equivalent to the reatiitmins and de.
tending The right and expediency of |
human slavery. accept, furthermore,
the declaration of the United States
Supreme Court ~ oil the Republican
judges on the bench, and constituting a |
large majority OF the court, coneurrinR-
that so lsy With Que hand the power of I
the government on the property Of the /
citizen, and with the ether to bastow il
upon favored individuals to aid priylte
enterprises and build up private fortunes.
IL none this less robbery because tits done
under the form Of law and called tax
a'ion."
1t is not, howevor, theory that one in
this country at tho present time needs to
especially concern himself in Judging of
tariff issues, but condition "Which has
Gene upon us in the dourse Of our ma.
tional life by development of our cir
eumstancss" Theory has nothing to do
With the condition that contronts as, and
which every one recognizes and accepts,
namely, that the Federal government
mast for long time raise a large propor
ton Of its revenues BY taxeE or duties on
imports. Aud sloh being the case, the
only practical question relative to the
tarf, therefore, at present before the
country Is, in what manner and upon
what subjects shall such taxes be levied
Now, do not think can botter indi.
cate my own tariff views than to state
briefly what seems to nue. to be the proseut
relative position on this question OF tile
and Democratic parties, to
which last l claim to belong.
On the one hand we ind the Rspubli.
can party, under the pretsnce of guard
Ing and promoting the interests OF Amer.
loan labor, supporting measures of taxa
tIon whose declared purpose il to en-
hance the price of nsarly all the crude
tina. enter into and are neces.
sary for thu full development Of our
domestic industries. Such policy il
nne OF privation, and not Of protection.
II tends to increase the cost Of prodnc.
lion and the cost of living, to reduce
wages znd diminish the oppostgrit.e, for
employment by restricting markets, to
siRngle commerce, to foster monopolles
aud combinations to cootroi prices, to
promote the unequal dlRtr. button Of
wealth, and 20 enrich the few By lie op-
preston Of the many.
IN Toe other hand, what is the position
OF the Democratic party in respect 10
THIS Same question You, MIR. Editor
have happily obyiRted the necessity 81
my msking ANY answer by abatement Of
your oGn-clear and comptehensiye--
Which tnd il tho same editorial Of ths
L'nRS whicS has oouagionei this oorrs
sponoenoe, and which 1 fully accept and
endorse:
The Democracy, you say, do iro a
revision n tae earn on thA principles or
ths All@ oill-frse raw materiaa and
oats oaues upon foreign inplrtsl goods.
1hel desire fepsal Of useless war taxeJ,
= re- notion o. ta1 sti3n to moat only the
wants Il The gov Jrnmcat; aud ii dcsir
&c nomy IN the Standardization o. the
government. VITA propsr discrimiua.
our industrien.
Does not this statement Of desir, ANA
purpose Of action on the mart az tba
Democratic party embody ali that ia
necessary ana desirable in DEALING Win
the tariff condition thst now cofif,nnts
usS Are you immslia.sly anxious fnr
other and larger fslds to tiyht and con.
qusr2 am not. When tie party liza
pleuted the tanner OF success on tina
platform Of pri cipl whioh Won hRvs
formulated when ths people OF rbia
country EaYe Ia tins aud opuortuuity
to judge Of tine effect ., .ha practical
application OF ths,e principles, AMI prs
SO we'll satisfied with the results rs to
demand flrthsr ptosrsas along as path OF
lnduetfiAl md nnlnfnArntaI anan.i.-r. ~ |