The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-28
W. TTERSON THE ORIGINAL TARIFF
REFORMER.
A Deserved Tribute to lIIs Political Honesty
Persistency, and Courage.

A Deserved Tribute to lIls Political Honesty,
Persistency, and Courage.
To THE EDITOR OF The sUN-Sir: THE Sun
Is entirely correct. ard no moro than just in
ascribng the authorship OF the Democratic
policy and idea Of tariff reform to Henry Wat
terson of kentucky.
Professional retormcrs are apt to have short
memories and to be ungrateful. and the Mug.
wumrs are agreed In ignoring Mr.. Watterson.
in obiterating him from triumph they would
claim exclusively for them selves. and in max
ing his absence from their feast conspicuous.
Nevertheless. he gave the original cue to tho
movement, and led It through years OF dis
enlargement and contumely
Away back in the sixties. when David A.
Wells was Republican offlceholder at WASH
ington. and q Protectionist. the father Of Tariff
Reform was preaching the gospel OF free trade
in the wilderness. His object. he said. was to
divert the country. If possible. from sentiment
tai and sectional politics to the consideration
OF its business economies. Almost without q
colleague. certainly with mono whose name
has survived to the present time. he headed
the Liberal movement in the South which re-
suited In the nomination OF Horace Greeley
for President Very much disGrunted by that
event, Mr.. Watterson held his tariff reform
agitation In allegiance: but In 1876 1t was his
persistence and his influence with Mr.. Tilden.
who was rather conservative than radical in
his tariff views. that incorporated In the plat
form OF the National Convention. over which
he presided. tho demand that "All Custom
House taxatio II shall be only for revenue"
In 1880 he was Chairman OF the Platform
Committee OF tho National Democratic
Convention. and wrote the platform. which
declared in favor OF tariff for revenue
only" After the defeat OF Hancock he was
pretty generally charged with having brought
1t about with his tariff reform platform. But
he met tho attack boldly and continued tho
fight and in 1888 the Star-Eyed Goddess won
her first victory In the election OF Carlisle as
Speaker OF the lower House Of Congress.
In the National Democratic Convention OF
1884 Mr.. Watterson was again at tho front.
still leading the forces OF tariff reform. In
1883. as Chairman OF the Platform Committee
Of the National Convention OF that year. he
literally forced the party. over tho wishes Of
Mr.. Cleveland. who was represented ut St
Louis by Mr.. German and the late William l..
Scott. to stand upon the message OF 1887 and
the Mills bill.
We all know what happened at Chicago last
juno.
In view OF these facts. how can any ons say
that Henry Watterson and his Star-Eyed God
dess Of Reform did not beget the policy and
rock the cradle Of tariff reform claimed now
by men who were unheard OF when he and she
were in the field arrayed to meet all Corners.
whether radical Republicans. led by William
y. Kely. or conservative Democrats. led by
SamuelJ. Rantall2 1t should not detract from
the glory OF Mr.. Cleveland that he took the
word and the idea OF revenue reform out Of the
mouth OF q Dem ocrat who was making policies
and leading iorlorn hopes for years before the
President-eect was Sheriff Of Erie county or
Mayor OF Buffalo.
HoNoR TO WHOM HoNon 1s DUE
CINCINNATI. Doc. "a