Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-09-03

WASHINGTON, ID. T., september l.
In the Senate to-day, Hon. John +.
Kenna delivered magnificent speech
upon the tariff. 1t was listened to at
tentively by both sides and by the gal
lerieSa, : are all of Mr.. Kenna'S speeches.
He spoke as follows;
MIR. KENNA'S SPEECH.
MIR. IDENr:-Protcction to Amer
lean industries has been favored by the
benofciaricS Of that principle in one
form or another since the foundation of
the government. But the power has
been generally derived indirectly from
the general power of taxation. Parties
have been slow TO assert. as their repre-
SentatyeS have been slow to execute,
levy upon the earnings of the masses
for the direct and ayowed purpose Of
enriching and filling the Golfers, not Of
the public treasury, but OF selected
and favored class. Fattened by the
miSfortuneS of the country which made
necessary the enormous taXationS of
war. adjusting the details os Il system
which has extracted billions from the
earning of the people TO invidual and
corporate gain, the beneticiarieS OF that
system have yet accomplished this re-
suit by the invocation of incidental
powers. No tariff bill has ever passed
which was placed by its advocate upon
the distinct and avowed ground that
Congress had either inclination or power
to levy tribute upon the community for
the sole purpose of advancing the estate
of its individual members.
Speaking of the complications of 1861,
"the chief sources of the United States
for revenue" says Mr.. Blaine, had
always been upon customs. But no
real test had ever been made of the sum
that might be collected from this source.
The aim had been To see upon how small
an amount the national government could
be supported, not how large an amount
might be collected" And so. from the
! beginning of the government To the civil
war. every enactment OF the tariff law
| had been subject 10 this limitation. No
party favored taxing the people for the
manufacturers only, No party dare
face the public upon the proposition
| that the taxing power should be divert
ed from the fair limitations Of public
necessity TO the greed Of private gain.
| From 1889 to 1861 the great battles were
| fought upon these floors, the great con-
tests ragged by the advocates of one
theory or another, and yet the public
requirements, and not the individual
profit, fixed the limitation OF every de-
mand.
No political platform ever ventured
beyond this depth. The loco-foco plat
form Of 1896 declared that every man is
under the natural duty OF contributing
to the necessities OF society and this is
all the law should enforce on him.
The Wing platform of ls44 declared
"for tariff for revenue to defray the
necessary expenses Of the government,
and discriminating with special refer
ence to the protection OF the domestic
labor Of the country.
The Wing platform Of 1852 proclaim
ed that governments should be con-
Quoted on the principles of the Strictest
economy, and revenue sufficient for the
expenses thereof in time of peace ought
TO be derived mainly from a duty on i'm
ports and not from direct taxes. and in
| laying such duties sound policy requires
| a Just discrimination, and when practi-
cable by specific duties, whereby suita-
| ble encouragement may be afforded TO
American industries equally to all
classes and to all portions OF the coun-
try
The Republican platform of 1860 de-
clared that "while providing revenue
for the support Of the general govern
ment by duties upon imports, sound
policy requires such an adjustment of
these imports as to encourage the devcl-
opment Of the industrial interests OF the
whole country
The Repu 0lican platform OF 1872 de-
clared that revenue, except SO much aS
NAV be derived from a tax upon tobacco
| and liquors, should be raised by duties
upon importatiOnS, the details OF which
should be 50 adjusted as to aid in Secur'
ing remuneratiye wages to labor. and
promote the industry, prosperity and
growth OF the whole country.
The Republican platform OF 1876 de-
clarcd that The revenue necessary Tor
current expenditures aud the ooliga-
tions Of the public debt must he large
| lv derived from duties upon importa-
tions. which so far a possible should
be adjusted to promote the interests OF
American labor and advance the pros
perity of the whole country.
The Republican platform OF 1850 de
clared aS follows: "Wc reaihrm the be-
licf ayowed in 1876, that the duties
levied for the purpose of revenue should
so discriminate as to favor American
labor
The Republican platform Of lSSi de-
clared: 1--WE therefore demand that the
imposition of duties upon foreign I'M
ports shall be made not for revenue only
but that in raising the requisite r've-
nues for the government, such duties
snail be so levied as TO afford security TO
our diversified industries and protection
IN the rights and wages of the laborer
to the end that active and intelligent
labor. as well as capital, may have itS
inst reward. and the laboring man ms
full shares in the national prosperity.
"The Republican platform of lSss de-
clared that the Republican party Nou'u
effect all needed reductions OF the IA
tional revenue by repeating the taxes
upon tobacco, which are an anno!ahco
and n burden 10 agriculture ana 'hy
tax upOn the spirits used In the arts anu
for mechanical purposes, and by Sucn
revision OF the tariff laws as VIII 'cn~
To check imports Of such articles aS are
produced by our people, the production
Of which gives employment to our
labor. and release from import duties
those articles OF foreign prod uctloh .
except luxuries) the like of which ca"
not be produced at home.
These. Mr.. President. are the declaT-
ations. so far as have been able to col
Icct them. OF the So-called protectioh
nl,tforms of the country. 1t Will De
observed that in every one except the
last the declaration looks to the raising
of revenue and not one OF them goes
beyond the revenue standard in its the
ory of protection. In the last platform
I have quoted, the Republican party .
confronted by large surplus IN the .
Treasury under Cleyeland'S adminlStra-
lion. declared not for raising but for re-
ducing the revenue by the exclusion oil
foreign competition. Thus it viii De
seen that while no party ever advocated
in Congress, and no party ever passed