The times., 1892-10-07
what Democracy Would Do.

Wnht Democracy Wouiu Do'
The democratic platform promises
repeal of the tariff law containing this
provision, and especially denounces us
"sham reciprocity" that section oi
the law under which these trade ar
rangements have been made. III no
other issue were involved in the cam
paign this alone would give 1T moment.
GUS Importance. Are the farmers OF
the great grain growing states Wiling
to surrender these new, large and IN
creasing markets for their surplus?
Are we to have nothing in exchange
for the free importation of sugar and
coffee, and at the same time to destroy
the sugar planters of the south and the
beet sugar industry of the northwest
and of the Pacific coast? Or are we to
have the taxed sugar and coffee, which
a tariff for revenue only" necessarily
involves, with the added loss Of the
new markets, which have been opened?
AS / have shown, our commercial
rivals in Europe do not regard this rec
iproeity policy as ''sham," but as a
serious threat to q trade supremacy
they have long enjoyed. They would
rejoice--and, if prudence did not re-
strain, would illuminate their do
pressed manufacturing cities-over the
news that the United States had aban-
donea its system of protection and
reciprocity. They see very clearly
that restriction Of American produc-
tion and trade and a corresponding in
crease of European production and
trade would follow; and will not be-
lievs that what is 80 plain to them can
be hidden from our own people.
A Principle Not Schedule.
Tho principle of the platform in favor
of "the American doctrine of protec-
ton" meets my most hearty approval.
The convention did not adopt a sched-
ule, but principle that is to control
all tariff schedules There may be diff
ferences of opinion among protection
lists as to the rate upon particular 'arti-
cles necessary to effect an equalization
between wages abroad and at home.
In some not remote national campaigns
the issue has been-or, moro correctly,
has been made to appear to be--be-
tween q high and low protective
tariff, both parties expressing some
working people, and for the prosperity
of our domestic industries. But, under
more courageous leadership, the DEM
ocratic party has now practically de-
clared that, If given power, it will enact
tariff law without any regard to its
effect upon wages or upon the capital
invested in our great industries. The
majority report of the committee on
platform to the democratic national
convention at Chicago contained this
clause:
THAT when eustom-house taxation is
levied upon articles of any kind pro-
duced in this country the difference be-
tween the cost of labor here and labor
abroad, when such a difference exists,
fully measures any possible benefits to
labor, and the enormous additional i'm
positions of the existing tariff fall with
crushing force upon our farmers and
workingmen."
Here we have distinct admission of
the republican contention that Ameri.
can workmen are advantaged by tariff
rate equal to the difference between
home and foreign wages, and a declara-
ton only against the alleged "addition.
al impositions" of the existing tariff
law.
Again, the majority report further
declared
"But in making a reduction in taxes
1t is not proposed to injure any domes-
tic industries, but rather to promote
their healthy growth. More
over, many industries have come to
rely upon legislation for successful con-
tinuance, so that any change of law
must be at every step regardful of the
labor and the capital thus involved"
Here we have an admission that
many of our industries depend upon
protective duties 'for their successful
continuance" and a declaration that
tariff changes should be regardful of
the workmen in such industries and of
the invested capital.
Mad Crusade Against American shops.
The overwhelming rejection of these
propositions, which had before received
the sanction of democratic national
conventions, was not more indicative
OF the new and more courageous lead
ership to which the party has now com.
mitted itself, than the substitute which
was adopted. This substitute declares
that protective duties are unconstitu-
tional-high protection, low protec-
tion--are all unconstitutional. dem.
ocratic congress holding this view can
not enact, nor democratic president
approve any tariff schedule, the pur-
pose or effect of which is to limit i'm.
portations, or to give any advantage to
an American workman or producer. A
bounty might, judge, be given to the
importer, under this view of the consti-
tions, and so the revenue-for ''rev.
enue only"-is the limitation.
Reciprocity, of course, falls under
this denunciation, for its object and eff
feet are not revenue but the promotion
of commercial exchanges, the profits OF
which go wholly to our producers. This
destructive, un-American doctrine was
not held or taught by the historic DEM
ocratic statesmen whose fame as Amer
lean patriots has reached this genera
tion - certainly not by Jefferson or
Jackson. This mad crusade against
American shops, the bitter epithets APP
piled to American manufacturers, the
persistent disbelief of every report of
the opening of tin plate mill or of an
increase of our foreign trade by reci-
procity are as surprising as they are
discreditable. There is not thought
full business man in the country who
does not know that the enactment into
law Of the declaration of the Chicago
convention, upon the subject of the
tariff, would at once plunge the coun-
try into business convulsion such as
il has never seen; and there is not
thoughtful workingman who does not
know that it would at once enormous.
ly reduce the amount of work to be
done In this country, by the increase
of importations that would follow, and
necessitate reduction of his wages to
the European standard.
If anyone suggests that this radical
policy will not be executed if the dem
ocratic party attains power, what shall
be thought of a party that is capable of
thus trifiing with great interests? The