St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-27
Let IN The LIGHT.
Another Republican Paper
Finally Sees the Error
of It's Ways.
What the Principles Of De-
mocraey Have Always q
Represented. 81
3is
Information on This Much
Vexed Question OF a Pro-
tective Tariff.
How the Republican Idea Of
1t Has Changed in Thirty
Years.

the Minneapolis Spectator, has at last
seen the light which radiates from the
principles of Democracy. The follow
ing able review of the situation, espe
cially of the tariff question, is from the
columns of that paper:
The Democratic party is as old as
the country. Its founder, Thomas JEFF
ferson, in his inaugural address as
president in 1901, set forth the prlnei-
pies which, in his Judgment, ought TO
shape The administration of the govern
ment, in the following memorable lam
guage: Equal and exact justice to all
men. Of whatever state or persuasion,
religious or POLITICAL; peace, commerce
and honest friendship with all nations,
entangling alliances with none; the
support OF the state governments i'll all
their rights. as the most competent adj
miniStTationS for our domestic concerns.
and the surest bulwarkS against
anti-repnblican tendencies; the preser-
yatiOn of the general government in
its whole constitutional vig0r as the
sheet anchor of our peace at home, and
safety abroad; jealous care of the
right of election by the people; absolute
acquiescence in the decisions OF the ma
jority; a well disciplined militia; the
supremacy of the civil over the military
authority; economy in the public eX
penses, that labor may be lightly bur-
dened; the honest payment OF our debts:
and sacred preservation of the public
faith: encouragement of agriculture
and commerce as its handmade; the
diffusion on information and the ar
raignment of all abuses at the bar of
public reason; freedom of religion:
freedom of the press; freedom of the
person under the protection of the
habeas corpus. and trial by juries i,n-
partially selected-these principles
form the bright constellation which has
gone before US, and guided our steps
through an era of revolution and
reformation.
For nearly sixty years thereafter the
affairs of our government were con-
trolled by these principles under Demo-
cratic presidents. and 10 their value and
efficiency is our country indebted for
its wonderful growth and progress. In
1861 came the rebellion, and with it the
country was freed from the disturbing
element of slavery, which had always
endangered the continuance of the gov
ernment. The war over, there came on
the processes of reconstruction, and for
a quarter of century the country was
uIiucI COHtlOl VI tuo itcPuUIlCdi tldi tys
For four short years President Cleve-
land attempted to re-establish the GOV
eminent in the practice of JetfersOnian
principle, and succeeded in giving to
the people an administration which i'll
creaSes in their respect as time
passes on.
The Harrison administration, now
only half through its course, comes be-
fore the people for approval or con
domination; and in the discussion of the
present issues, as they arise, the Demo
cratic party confidently appeals to its
successful periods of administration OF
national affairs.
7 he main point now separating the
Democratic and Republican parties
grows out of the proper imposition of a
tariff upon imports. Section 8 of
the constitution provides that congress
shall have the power to lay and collect
taxes. duties. imposts ard excuses, TO
pay the debts and provide for the COM
mon defense and general welfare of the
United States: but all duties, imposts
and excuses shall be uniform throughout
the United States"
Under this section the Democratic
party has always maintained, first:
that no more taxes should be raised
than are absolutely necessary Ito pay
the debts and provide for the common
defense and general welfare of the
United States" mot individual stateS):
and second, that they should be uni
form throughout the United States"
mot to benefit particularly portion of
the states). Practically, before the
war, this was the generally received
construction of the provision, though
the old Wing party to certain extent
favored the idea of adapting the laying
of these taxes so as to secure ''pr0tec-
tiOn' to certain industries then in
weak and struggling condition. But
then the Rebellion came, and with it
its tremendous burdens,a to save the
life OF the nation, congress, in 1862,
under the Morrill, tariff act, laid the
tariff on imports to an average of about
SAT to the hundred, which has continued.
almost without change until the present
time. The internal revenue taxes, which
affected incomes, banks, professions and
the like, have since been largely re-
moved.
The country, by its power of growth
and improvementS,a last began to real
ize the consequences of this severe tax
ation.itS burdens falling almost entirely
upon the consumers, and especially the
farming and toiling classes. There then
came up to both parties a universal de-
mand for revision of the tariff. Every
platform of every party contained
planks demanding this relief. Presi-
dent Cleveland. too. lent the weight of
his great authority to effect the change.
The treasury became filled to overflow
ing with a surplus. tempting to extrava-
CANT iobbery in legislation. Congress
was. however, deaf to all these en-
treaties, and for the first time. under
demand of the mon0polists, who had
grown rich by having their interests
"prOtected," the order was reversed,
and the Nc Kinley bill was passed, not
reducing the burdens. but greatly
Superadding to them. Under this bill
the effect will be to impose tax of
about $50 OH the hundred instead of
about S47. as before.
That the Republican party should
thus fyin the face of all their and our
past declarations and raise instead of
lowering the rate of taxation upon an
already exhausted people, is the one
crying wonder of this age. 1t can be
accounted for OIL no other theory than
1t means to continue TO serve the rich
classes at the expense of the poor
masses. Never before in the history of
civil government has more deliberate
insult Dten given TO- people demanding
honest government. 1t was for a less
crime agains5 the liberties of England
that King Charles was led to the block.
When George LII. attempted to tax the
colonies without representation in the
government.our fathers simply rebelied
and became all independent people. But
now these tools of monoplies deliber-
ately degrade and further insult the
people, and worse than all, send out
hireling stump speakers 10 pirate of the
wonderful beneiicence of the unjust
Mckinley bill.
No state in the Union has suffered
more from the eXactions of the war tariff
than has Minnesota. She is emphatically
producing state, and sends her wheat
and products out into the world to take
whatever price the markets may yield.
There is 10 protection" there. The
crops of our state during the past yeaI
amounted perhaps to so, 100000. In re-
turn for this came necessarieS in the
way of clothing and implements of toll
for perhaps all amount OF half that sum-
1t is safe TO say that even in single
year many millions would not repay oul
losses from these excessive duties. ii
has been SO, too. for many long years,
and vet orr farmers and landowners