Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-10-05

dent, Mr.. Dallas, from the Protection
list state Of Pennsylvania. The meas
ure had been passed by the House, and
there was a Democratic President wait
Ing to sign it if it could be forced
through the Senate. There was an even
division in the Senate between the Pro-
tectionists and the Free Traders, and
Mr.. Dallas, who had been supported in
Pennsylvania and other states on the
strength of his Protectionist speeches,
joined the Free Traders and gave the
casting vote for the Walker tariff. That
IS Werning to all PrOteCtionists that q
Democratic Nice-Pre5ident upon
close division may again have power to
overthrow the industrial sy stem of the
country.
Optimism is a cuckoo song in the poll
tics of the day. If any Independent or
Democratic frotectIonist breads the
tendencies of the revolutionary doc
trines proclaimed at Chicago, only one
course is open to him if he chooses to
follow the dictates of prudence and en-
ightened self-interest. That is to vote
against the party of free trade, free sill
yer and wildcat banking.-NeW York
Tribune.
George Ticknor Curtis Repudiates the
Chicago Platform.
To the Editor Of the american Economist:
SlR-In common with many other
Democrats, | cannot follow the leaders
of the party in denouncing Republican
protection as a fraud upon the labor of
the great majority Of the American
people for the benefit of few; nor can
l subscribe to the doctrine that pro-
teCtlve tariff ls unconstitutional. | have
no pecunlary interest in manufactures,
but / know what protection has done
and is doing for this country. if It
operates for the benefit of the few, / am
not one of that few. [ am one Of the
many; one of the great majority bene-
flied by it, including those who de-
nounce it for the sake of obtaining poll
teal power.
If the leaders of political party as
sembled in national convention for the
purpose Of nominating candidates for
the presidency and vice presidency
choose to stultify themselves by falsi-
Tying history, they cannot expect to be
followed by others who have any habits
of independent thought and action.
The learned pundits who were lately
assembled at Chicago in national con-
yention of the Democratic party,
adopted by two-thirds vote, and
against the report Of the committee on
resolutions, the following as a "plank"
in the Democratic platform:
We denounce Republican protection as
fraud upon the labor of the great majority
of the American people for the benefit or a
few. We declare it TO be fundamental
principle OF the Democratic party that the
federal government has no constitutional
power to impose and collect tariff duties,
except for the purpose Of revenue only.
We demand that the collection of Sucn
taxes be limited to the necessities Of the
honestly
1cally administered.
In drafting and voting for this resolu-
ton, the members either showed
dense ignorance of American political
history, OF they manifested a purpose
to win votes by deceiving the voters.
I cannot, at the bidding of these gen
tlemen, unlearn the lessons of my
whole life. The greater part Of my
long life has been passed in the study
Of American political history and con-
stitutional law. If | cannot claim to
be an authority on such subjects, / can
point out to others the true sources
from which to devise interpretations of
the constitution. Those sources are not
to be found in recent congressional
speeches, whether made by one party
or another. They are to be found in
the interpretations given 10 the consti-
tuition by the First Congress, by Wash
ington's administration, and by the
succeeding administrations of Jeffer-
son, Madison, John Quincy Adams and
Jackson.
l have been requested by the secre-
tary of the American Protective Tariff
League to give my views CT the protect
i've issue, as it has been made by the
two parties in the present campaign.
This | shall do in q communication to
be addressed to him, of which he will
make such use es he sees tit. l am,
Mr.. Editor, very respectfully, your
obedient servant,
GEORGE TICKNoR CURTIS.
RICHLAND SPRINGS, Il. Y, Sept. IS,
1892.
Ern,ieh A,oor- tho A,oe