The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-10-07
THE UNCONSTITUTIONALITYCLAI

The Democratic platform declares
that protective tariff is unconstitu-
tional, and following up in this vein
some of the free trade organs ask
where in the constitution the Repub-
licans find authority for other than a
purely revenue tariff. Section s of
the constitution, in defining the pow
RS of congress, places among it's du-
ties the power ''to levy and collect
taxes, duties,~ impOsts and excuses, to
pay the debts and provide for the
common defense and general aUebare of
the United States" If providing for
the general welfare of the United
States does not give congress power to
levy the duties to raise a revenue to
carry on our government, in such a
manner that they will afford protec-
tion to our industries, then words are
meaningless.
But, reiterates the free trader, such
course is Unconstitutional. Where
in the constitution do the great
minds Of modern Democracy find the
clause that prohibits the levying of
protective tariff? Why, instead of
shouting all the while that
protection is unconstitutional,
don't they publish that
portion of the constitution that espe-
cially prohibits such course? How
in the world did such a provision es-
cape the attention of the profound
Judges of the Supreme Court when
they declared the Mckinley law to be
constitutional? How was it that Geo.
Waghington, Thos. Jefferson, James
Madison and James Monroe, who were
among those who helped to frame the
constitution, and enact the first pro-
tective tariff law, were ignorant of
such feature? How is it that that
great eXpOunder Of the constitution,
Daniel Webster, never discovered it
though he probably studied it as close
ly as any man that has lived since it
was framed? Why did it not dawn
upon those two great patriots Andrew
Jackson and Henry Clay, both able
and noble champions of protection,
that the great cause which they ad-
voted and defended, was not only a
horrible wrong, but an demonstrations
al fraud? Neither did it dawn upon
the mind of the great and noble Lin
coin, whose great heart beat sympa-
thetically for the poor, the oppressed
and the downtrodden, that the pro-
lection of American interests was I'M
constitutional, and an insult to intel
ligence.
Calhoun, the nullifer, declared it
n his opinion unconstitutional, when
ne thought that temporarily, at least,
rec trade would be for the interests
If his state. jeff Davis, the arch
traitor, also believed protection to be
unconstitutional. Cleveland Democra-
~ are following in the footsteps of
'hese two men in their war upon pro-
lection OF American industries. and
or them to still claim to be the par
~ OF Jefferson, who wished to see his
country excel all others on earth, is
to make the dust Of the great
patriot turn in his grave.
The constitution of the United
states does not forbid legislation that
provides for the welfare of it's people.
No constitution except the one born
n treason, and turned down by the
mighty armies under the command of
he silent man on horseback con-
aimed such a provision, and that in ;
trument will never again turn it's
poisonous fangs upon the brave and
he free of this land.
From the foundation of the
epublic the people have followed the
eachings upon the tariff of Washing
on, Jefferson and Madison, supple