Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-26
HOW IL WAS DONE
the RADICAL TARIFF PLANK
Grover cleveland's Honesty" Almost
Rssulled in the Adoption OF
Aaoshss s-s,rzds.e."

ttt{k& ~ - IA 1E@cAtA at@A& bEABtE Tic E49&~
form had been given cur. il was con-
ftiently predicted that the tariff plank
would be one after C0bden's own heart.
Those predictions have been falhiied.
II boxed al one time a. though they
would have come ~ naught, and this Is
how it happened:
Tho platform committees, devoted 10
Mr.. CIsveland's interests and sabseryi-
emf 70 his Wishes. with Major Z. H.
Jones. stitor Of the st. Louis Republic,
a. chairman. drew mp and reported 70
the eonyenrion the following tariff plank,
after, - IL Is confidently asserted. IL had
received the telsgrAphic approval Of Mr..
Cleveland himself from BuzzArd's Bay,
Mass:
I'VE reiferate the Oft repeated doc
trines Of tho Democratic party that the
necessity Of the government Is the only
Justification for taxation, aud whenever
= tAx u unnecessary 1t IA nnJusritable;
that when custom house taxation h
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 q difference exists,
fully measures any possible benefits to
labor, and the enormous additional inn
positions Of the existing tariff fall with
crushing force upon our farmers and
working,nen, and for the mere sdvant-
axs Of tho few whom IL enriches exact
from labor grossly unjust share Of the
expenses Of the government; and we de-
mand such revision Of the tariff laws
as viii remove their iniquitous Unequal
iries. tighten their oppression and put
them on constitutional and equitable
basis.
But IN making reduction In taxes il
il not proposed to injure any domestic
industries. bat rather to promote their
healthy growth From the foundation
OF this government taxes collected at
the custom house have been the chief
source Of federal revenue. Such they
must continue To bo. Moreover, many
industries have come TO rely upon legis-
Iation for successful continuance. so
that any change Of law must be ut every
step rsgardful Of the labor and capital
thus involved The process Of reform
must b. subject In execution to this
plain dictate Of justice"
The striking resemblance between this
plank and that which Mr.. Henry Wat
tsrson calls .sths straddle Of 1884" viii.
b bsst appreciated by comparing the
one bovs with said '.4raddle:"
But in making reduction in taxes it
u not proposed to injure and domestic
industries, bat rather to promote their
healthy growth. From tho foundation
Of this government taxes collected at
the custom house have been the chief
source Of federal revenue. Such they
must continue to b. Moreover, many
industries have come to rely upon legis-
lation for successful continuance, 50 that
any change Ut law must at every step
be rcgardful Ut the labor and capital
thus involved. The process Of reform
must bs subject To the execution Of this
plain dictate Of justice.
.sAll taxation shall be limited to the
requirements Of economical govern
ment. Tho necessary reduction in
taxation can and must Be effected with
out dsprivinx American labor Of the
ability to compete successfully with for
eign labor and without imposing lower
rates Of duty than viii b ample to
cover any increased cost Of production
which may exist in consequence Of the
higher rate Of wages prevailing in this
country"
II viii be instructive 10 compare with
the foregoing plsnks the Republican
tariff plank adopted at Minneapolis this
year:
I'VE believe that all articles which
cannot be produced in the United States,
except Injuries. should be admitted free
Of duty, and that on all imports coming
into competition with the products Of
American labor there should b. levied
duties esual 10 the difference between
wages abroad and at home"
IL will b. observed that in principle
this is in substantial accord with the
Democnfic plank before given. The
Republican, platform merely asks for a
tariff high enough toeompensate for the
difference in the cost Of production here
and abroad. and both Democratic plat
foruE declare for rhe same policy.
The ss>rsddle of isss@ did not express
the real sentiment II the party. but was
framed 70 sIlsy the fears of that large
BODY II Democrats who cling 10 the ira
ditions - Jefferson and jackson in tks.r
Arm support ~ ample protection for
American labor and industry from de-
grading and isapoverishing foreign COM
petition. n furnished ground to the
Democratic orators and editors in states
of pronounced profectionist sentiment
for their reiterated denials that their
party va not in favor Of free trade.
This could BE- done at that time with
spme show II reason. perhaps. a. the
Nils bin and the delug- OF free trade
argument which followed it had not yet
appeared But il snrpssses the compre-
tension ~ man how Grover Cleveland
and his friends ~ Chicago could dare tn
Insult the intelligence Of the American
people by repeating thar strsddle Of 1894
with Cfeveisssfs own free trade mes
cage. the Mills bill based on 10. and the
pendinx FREE wool. free cotton hsgxing
end free cotton ties bills on record AMI
fresh in the memories Of voters.
II Il any wonder that the enthusiastic
free traders in the convention were dum-
founded and ds~msved when they heard
the tariff plank re>dz OF that Henry
Wsfterscn. that veteran maker II
Democratic platforms. was moved 70 ex-
claim. MY Gcii Il if possible that In
iss2 we have 10 % back for tariff plank
~ the strsdiie of 1850
Even Grower Clevelsnd's influence.