The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-09-18
WORSE THAN WAR.

The resolutions passed by the New York
state Democracy on Tuesday speak of
''MCkINLEY's worse thau-war tariff"
And so it is worse than the tariff imposed
during the war as temporary expedient,
not only because it imposes more numerous
and heavier duties, but because it perpetu-
ates the policy of protection which was no
part of the original ostensible purpose.
The evolution Of the present tariff as
the offspring of the Republican party, is In
teresting and instructive, not because of
there being any novelty in tracing its his
tory, but as showing the gradual steps by
which it has attained its existing status
and is moving towards still greater de-
mands.
In the platform of the first convention Of
the Republican party, in 1885, when FIRE.
MONT was nominated for President, there
was not a syllable about the tariff question
In 1850, the platform on which LINCOLN
was first nominated "favors such an ad-
justment of the duties necessary to sup
port the government as will encourage
industrial interests In 1864, when LIN
COLIN was renominated, the war having
been in progress for more than three years,
the resolutions were silent as to tariff
Four years later, the year of GRANT s
election. there was no tariff resolution, but
it was demanded that taxation be equal
lied and reduced as RAPIDLY as the national
faith will permit" In 1872 GRANT was re-
nominated on platform declaring that
revenue, except by taxing tobacco and
liquors, should be raised "by duties on i'm
portations so adjusted as to benefit labor
and promote industry but nothing was
said or limited at relative to prohbitive
tariff. The platform on which HAYES was
nominated in 1876 was almost identical on
this subject with that of 1872. GARFIELD
was nominated in 1880 on platform re-
peating this and avowing that duties
should so discriminate as TO favor Ameri-
, can labor" Not, indeed, until 1884 did the
Republican party, in national convention,
! with BLAINE for leader, was protection
limited at in their platforms, and then they
said:
In raising the requisite revenues such duties
on foreign imports shall be SO levied as to
afford security to our diversified industries.
At the same time they promised to cor
rect the inequalities of the tariff and to
reduce the surplus they have
been carrying out by increasing the NUN
Der Of articles taxed, and appropriating the
| surplus to pensions, bounties, ship sub
sides, etc. The further demand that the
imposition of duties on foreign Imports
shall be made not for rercnue ontu, but tina,
in raising the requisite revenues such duty
shall be so levied as to afford security "a
our diversified interests and protection To
the rights and wages of the laborer, etc.,
In 1855 the Republican party in order to
retain its hold upon the purse-strings OF
the monopolists, who were alone benefited
by the protective tariff, advanced another
step. 1t declared in words 1.-THE protec.
tive system must be maintained" and "if
there shall still remain larger revenue
than is requisite for the wants of the gov
eminent, we favor the entire repeal of in
ternal taxes rather than the surrender of am
part Of our protecttue sgstem.'
This to-day is the Republican policy,
Instead of reduction of the tariff; or its
adjustment to revenue basis, it's advo.
Gates favor not only continuance of the
prohibitive duties as they are, but still
higher imposltions. This aud the central
government idea are their only care. The
issues of their party before aud dur
ing the war are all dead issues, all except
the aggrandizment of power and wealth in
one section of the country