Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-11-03
For the Herald and Tribune.
For Honest Democrats to Read and
Think About.

For Honest Democrats to Read and
Think About.
The Committee on Resolutions at
Chicago first reported a tariff plank ia
voring protection to the extent of the diff
erence between the low or pauper rate
of wages in Europe and the higher scale
of wages paid by American manufac-
turers. But the Watterson faction, IA
voring the free trade idea of tariff for
revenue only" offered q substitute
which was adopted by n large MAORI
ty. That substitute which the party
now stands on, is this That a tariff
for protection is unconstitutional and
n public robbery we therefore favor a
tariff for purposes of revenue only,
sufficient to support the wants of the
Government economically administer
ed. This plank in the Chicago Demo-
cratic platform employs almost the
identical words and means exactly the
same thing as did the tariff article in
the constitution of the Confederate
States under the Presidency of Jeffer-
son Davis. And the doctrine of the
Confederate States tariff was exactly
what John c. Calhoun advocated and
sought to enforce in South Carolina
and which was denounced by Presi-
dent Andrew Jackson as notification,
and emphasized with the threat of
hanging Calhoun higher than Haman.
How is it then, that the present mod
ern Democratic party avowing such
Confederate States Calhoun tariff doc
trine can dare to call itself jackson
Democracy"
Before you answer this question read
the following extract from Jackson's
message to Congress, dated December
Z, 1880:
THE power to impose duties on i'm
ports originally belonged to the several
States. The right to adjust these du-
ties, with a view to the encouragement
of domestic branches of industries is SO
completely identical with that power
that it is difficult to suppose the exist
ence of the one without the other. The
States haye delegated their authority
over imports to the General Govern
ment without limitation or restriction,
saving the very incOnsiderable reserva-
ton relating to the inspection laws.
The authority having entirely passed
from the States, the right to exercise it
Tor the purpose of protection does not
exist in them, and consequently if it be
not possessed by the General Govern
ment, it must be extinct. Cur political
system would thus present the anomaly
OF a people stripped of their right to
foster their own industries and to coun-
teract the most selfish and destructive
policy which might be adopted by for
eign nations. This surely can not be
the case : this indispensable power thus
surrendered by the States must be with
in the scope of the authority on the
subject expressly delegated to Congress.
In this conclusion l am confirmed by
the opinion of Presidents Washington,
Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, who
have each repeatedly recommended the
exercise OF this right under the Consti-
tuition as by the uniform practice of
Congress, the continued acquiescence
Of the States and general understand
ing of the people,"
And now, in view of what Jackso
said in his official message, let me ask
another question How can this same
modern Democracy claim to be "Jeffer-
son Democracy There would be some
reason-in fact, a great deal of very ap-
propriate reason, to call the Democracy
now headed by Grover Cleveland,
standing hostilely as it does to the
American doctrine of American indus
tries) the Calhoun Democracy or
"the Confederate States Democracy -
but there is no ground, reason or APP
propriateness-no, not ever the shadow
of excuse for its being called the De-
mocracy of Jackson or Jefferson.
But let us, as a sort of object les
son arrange in parallel columns a few
Of the great names of well known
Americans who on the one side have
in public speeches, official documents
and forensic arguments maintained
that the protective tariff policy is con-
stitutional, and ON the other side those
that avered it was unconstitutional
and a public robbery
George Washington,
Thomas jefferson,
Alexander Hamilton,
JOhn Adams,
James Madison,
James Monroe, John C. Calhoun,
Andrew Jackson, jefferson Davis,
Daniel Webster, lGrover Cleveland,
Henry Clay, Henry WaCterson.
Lincoln,
James A. Garfield,
u. 5. Grant.
Benjamin Harrison.
Now, honest, patriotic Democrats,
how do you like the looks of the two
cOlumnsp
There is not the slightest ground for
error in the columns as arranged.
Every one placed in the column headed
by George Washington have abundant