St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-09-15
BLAINE'S LETTER.
On Tariff, Reciprocity and curren

Joseph Manley the following open
letter on three important topics:
My Dear Sir Not being able for
reasons which 1 have explained to
you, to deliver public speeches in this
present campaign, take the liberty
of submitting my views on the issues
which regard as being strongest for
the republicans to urge before the
people.
1. The issue of the greatest con-
sequence is the tariff on imports and
it will continue to be until a settle
ment is effected by a majority so
large that it will be tantamount to
general acquiescence. The republic
ans are aggressive on this subject.
Two years ago they passed a gener-
al enactment known as the McKin-
ley tariff, which for time failed to
meet with popular approval and
was regarded with a certain degree
of distrust by those who had always
upheld the protective system. But
powerful reaction has come in conse-
quence of the vindication of the Nc
Kinley tariff by experience. 1t is
found to have worked admirably,
and within the last year has pro-
duced a greater volume of business,
internal and external, export and
import, than the United States ever
transacted before. Notwithstand-
ing the character and extent of the
opposition to it, agriculture is re-
numerat1ve, manufactures are pros
porous and commerce is more -four
ishing than at any previous time
thus vindicating the Mckinley tariff
by an expressive and undeniable Sc
ries of facts. Against this tariff the
democratic party has taken a posi-
ton almost without parallel in the
history of the country. They reject
entirely the doctrine of protection,
and anathematize it generally.
A resolution to this effect was adopt
ed by the democrat tic convention
against the report of the committee
on resolutions by two-thirds vote,
thus manifesting the intelligent par
ticipation of every man in the con-
vention. Sometimes a resolution
may be adopted in haste, or just
when the convention is adjourning
it may fail to receive the attention
of the members, but this resolution
was debated, pro and con, adopted
after a contest, and was perfectly
understood by the members of the
words:
eve denounce the republican policy
ofprotection as fraud upon the labor
ofthe American people for the benefit
of few We declare a fundamen-
tai 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 de-
mand that collection of such taxes
be limited to the necessities of the
government when honestly and eco
nomically administered"
If any one will take the trouble to
read the resolutions by which Mr..
Calhoun sought to defend his nullif-
cation scheme in 1888, he will find
the tariff platform of the democratic
party in general harmony Herewith,
and ifhe examines the subject further
he will discover that the duties i'll
the compromise tariff which recon-
ciled Mr.. Calhoun and appeased his
angry followers in South Carolina
were of a more comprehensive char
acter than those contemplated in the
democratic resolution of 1892. The
democrats are in the habit ofnaming
Jefferson as the founder of their par
ty, and yet, on the subject of tariff,
they are in radical opposition to the
principles laid down by Jefferson.
Toward the close of his administra-
ton the revenue from the tariff on
imports produced considerable sur
plus, and the question was, what
should be done. Should the tariff be
reduced or should this surplus be
maintained? Jefferson pointedly
asked, Shall we suppress the imports
and give that advantage to foreign
over domestic manufactures ?" For
himself he recommended that 1.-THE
imports be maintained" and that the
surplus created SHOULD be appro-
priated to the Improvement of roads,
canals, rivers and education" If
the constitution did not give suf-
fcient power to warrant the appro-
priations, Jefferson went so far as to
recommend that it beamended. This
presents the strongest condition of
affairs upon which protective tariff
can be justified, and Jefferson did not
hesitate to recommend it. The dem
ocrats of the present day, it is need
less to say, are the direct oppon-
ents of the policy which Jefferson
thus outlined and adhered to.
2. When the principle of recipro-
cal trade was first proposed to be
introduced into the tariff system, the
democrats showed a most generous
appreciation of the question, and
gave it their support so long as re-
publicans refused to accept it, but
when the republicans came to sup
port It the democratic support van
ished and instead of favoriDg we find