Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-02

Democratic party on the question Of the
tariff II ia

Democratic party on the question Of the
tariff. It's
no NEW DOCTRINE,
but 1t is the doctrine taught by Thomas
Jefferson in the early days Of the govern
ment, when he stood as the apostle OF the
rights Of all the people. lApplause.I
"This brings me, for few minutes, TO
review Of tariff legislation. know 1t Is
somewhat tiresone to listen to, but 1t Is
not as tiresome as it is to pay the robber
tariff tax Applause and laughter. In
the early days OF the government. under
the administration Of President Washing
ton, the rate Of the tarif was from to 2
per cent. During the war Of 1918 the tarin
laws were again increased to an average OF
10 or Is per cent, and in 1892, and during
that period, under the government OF the
Wings as led by Henry Clay, the doctrine
Of protection TO American industries,
grew up, and Clay favored q protective
tariff to build up our infant industries
but it was his doctrine that just as soon as
the great manufacturers OF New England
and Pennsylvania were able TO stand alone
il should be Withdrawn, and even Clay ad-
mitted that a tariff Of twenty per cent.
would be sufficient for this purpose. II he
had lived to-day Henry Clay would be de-
nounced as free trader by the Repuol-
cans. Applause. In 1916 tarif bill
was enacted which has gone into history
as the Walker tariff bill. What was iti
1t was a low tax bill 1t provided that
the highest rate OF taxation should be on
luxuries, and the lowest rate on the neces-
saries OF life. [Applause.l That law
provided that tariff tax should be- col
lected from the people to meet the ex-
penses of the general government
HONESTLY AND ECONOMICALLY ADMINS
TERED.
That was the Democratic doctrine then,
and it is it to-day, and so happily was 1t
adjusted that during the eleven years be-
fore 1857 the tariff tax was still further re-
duced, until the average rate OF tariff tax
alton was less than 10 per cent, the hrst
reduction of a tariff tax we had known
since the war of 1912. Under that low rate
of tariff taxation business thrived, the
farmer prospered, manufacturing Increased
ana business prospered. Then 1t was easy
for the wage Garner to supply his family
with the things necessary for their needs:
Why increase the cost Of the necessarles OF
life? Woolens, ladies' dress goods, boots
and shoes, and all the necessaries OF life
were cheaper to the masses, and we IND,
as l have said, there was sufficient reve-
nues 10 meet all the necessary expenses OF
the government You will pardon me for
reading for a moment, however, state
ment. will read to you from an authority
which no Republican can question. 1t Is
not from campaign document, but solid
history-history from James g. Blaine
himself. What did he sayl In the first
volume Of his book, in that portion relating
TO the year lS4S, he said:
1.-The Wing victory Of 1S47-S was not
sufficiently decisive to warrant an attempt,
even had there been q desire, 10 change the
tariff law, made in the act Of 1916. The
business of the country was in flourish
ing condition at the time his administration
was inaugurated. Money was abundant,
large enterprises were undertaken, and
there was general prosperity. The prin-
ciple embodied in the tariff of 1S46 seemed
to be so generally approved that there was
no desire for change"
continued on Strh Page.