Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-09-22
ERRATIC PLATFORMS.

| Illustrations of How the Democrats Have
Changed Their Creed to Suit Circum-
stances. .
Senator Morrill, has added to the
| confusion of Democratic affairs by an
exhaustive analysis of the 'erratic
platforms of the democracy" Observe
that it is cratic platforms-plural, not
singular. The democratic platform Of
1892 is cratic, but most democratic
platforms have been cratic, as the
Senator demonstrates in the current
view
1.-The democratic platform Of 1892
| states the party creed thus:
eve declare it to be a fundamental
| principle Of tho democratic party that
| the Federal Government has no CON
| StitutiOual power to enforce and col
lect tariff duties, except for the pur-
| pose of revenue only"
But in 1872 the National Democratic
| platform said:
'"Ihere are in our midst honest, but
| irrecOncilable, differences Of opinion
with regard to the respective systems
of protection and free trade, and we
remit the discussion thereon to the
| people in the Congressional districts"
This was in anticipation of Han
| cocks democratic aphOriSm, ''tha. tariff
is Il local ISSUE"
In 1854 the democratic National plat
| form avOwed:
''The necessary reductions in tariff
| taxation can and must be effected
without depriving American labor Of
! the ability to compete with foreign
| labor, and without imposing lower
rates of duty than will be sufficient
to cover any increased cost of produc-
| ton that may exist in consequence of
the higher rate of wages prevailing in
this country"
This was tariff reform with direct,
not incidental, protection to American
labor, but without a particle Of protec-
ton to American capital vested in
! manufactures, though the British rate
of interest was per cent, against
in this country.
But this platform of 1884 contrasts
with that of 1856, which resolved thus:
ut is time to declare for free seas
| and for progressive free trade through
out the world"
The democratic platform of 1868 de-
clared for:
"a tariff for revenues On foreign
imports and such equal taxation under
internal revenue laws rs will afford
incidental protection to domestic manu-
| features"
The meaning Of which is what no
fellow can find out" For how could
equal taxation under internal revenue
laws afford incidental protection to
domestic manufactures" those of to-
bacco and whisky excepted?
In 1855 the national democratic Plat
form declared:
Our established domestic industries
and enterprises should not, and Iced
not, be endangered by reduction and
correction of the burdens of taxation.
On the contrary, Il fair and careful
revision Of our tariff laws, with the
allowance for the difference of the
wages of American and foreign labor.
must promote and encourage every
branch of such industries"
This is a declaration of continued
protection to ''Our established domestic
industries" which, being established
were less in need of protection than
our struggling industries, and of re-
fusal of protection where it was most
needed.
SO that the Democratic platforms
have varied in advocacy of direct taxa.
ton, Incidental protection, progressive
free trade, ard, lastly, III 1892, of alb
solute free trade. What is to be ex