Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-09-20
An Honest Democrat,

pne of the most startling and significant
events in connection with the present ma
tiona canvass, is the position voluntarily
assumed by Hon. George Ticknor Curtis of
New York, one of the most eminent con
stl,utioual lawyers in the country and life
long Democrat, in Pronunciation of the
free-trade plank of the Democratic national
platform, adopted AT Chicago. In a
letter to the editor of the Am
erican Economist Mr. Curtis says in com
mon with many other Democrats he cannot
longer follow leaders OF that party in de
nouncing the policy of protection as advo-
Gated by the Republican party, "as fraud
upon the labor of II great majority of the
American people for the benefit of the
few " Neither can hc subscribe To
the Dom pcrntic doetrine that protec-
tive tariff is unconstitutional, If have.
saws Mr.. Curtis in his letter of Nrptem-
Der 10th Just referred to- no peouniary
interest in manufactures. but kno" what
protection has done and is doing for this
country. II il operates for the benefit of
the few am not one of that few,
| am one of TIE many one of
The great majority benefited by it, iaclud
ing those who denounee it for the sake of
obtaining political power Mr.. Curtis
then goes on 10 say; IF the leaders
of political party assembled in National
Convention for the purpose Of nOmi-
mating candidates for the presidency and
vice presidency choose to stultIfy them
selves by classifying 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
Convention of the Democratic party, adopt
ell bv a two-thir,ls vote. and against the re
port of the committee On resolutions. the
following as plank in the Democratic
platform:
We ,lenounce Republican protection
as fraud upon the labor Of the great ma
jority of the American people for the bene
mental principle of the Democratic party
that the Federal government has no con-
stitutional power to impose and collect
tariff duties except for the purpose of rev
enue only. We demand that the collection
of such taxes be limited to the necessities
of the government when honestly AMI econ
omically administered"
In commenting upon this plank of the
Chicago platform Mr.. Curtis says In
drafting and voting for this resolution, the
members either showed dense ignorance of
American political history, or they mani
Tested purpose to win votes by deceiVing
the voters | cannot, at the bidding of
these gentleman, unlearn the lesson, of my
whole life. The greater part of my long
life has been passed in the study of Ameri-
can political history ami constitu-
tional Law. II | 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 ara not To be found in recent
congressional speeches. whether made by
members of one party or another. They
are to be found III the interpretations given
to the constitution by the first Congress by
washington's administration. and BY the
succeeding administrations of Jefferson.
Madison. John Quincy Adams and Jackson
We have made the above quite lengthy
extracts from the letter of Mr. Curtis for
the purpose of showing and enforcing his
,ienounces protection as unconstitutional,
Mr.. Curtis, who has made constitutional
law a life study hollis il in strict accord with
the constitution. Again the Democrats de
nouuce protection because they claim
that il is measure in the interests of the
few and against the interests of the many.
Mr.. Curtis holds exactly TO the contrary
Mr.. Curtis alleges that the Democratic
tariff plank falsities the results of expert
enoe and the facts of history. He utterly
condemns it. This frank'and honest opinion,
coming from lifelong Democrat who Is
one of the most distin guished constitutional
/ lawyers in the country, Is the most severe
blow that free trade Democracy has ever
received. Mr.. Curtis promises soon To give
the public his views on the protection issue
/ a. il has been made BY the two parties in
/ the present canvass and his letter will be
aw aited with profound interest.