The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-14
ANOTHER LETTER FROM GEORGE
TICkNOR CCKTIS.

The American Economist has published
the third IN series OF letters by George
Ticknor Curtis, eminent Democratic. con-
stitasional lawyer and author. giving his
reasons for repudiasing the tariff views OF
the Democratic platform and the cands-
dates who stand upcn il.
The letter is as follows:
RIcHYIELp SPRINGS, Y r. Sept. ID. ssoe
To the Editor OF the Ansrio1a EcsaorsE-sr:
That protective tariff is unconsttuaosai -
lot genuine Democratic doc.rine IL Is CAL
hounisIo, and rank Caihourism. too. Bug even
NJ Calhoun Gid not a. frs: question the con-
ssltuslonal authority of congress Ehea iaylng
duties on foreign products to discr.minsse in
favor OF American industries He voted tSr the
sarin OF lsi6. Which was highly protective. and
II was not gntil 1880 that he adopted the icsa OF
protective tariff being unconstitutional
differ entirely from Senator Hill in segs:d to
the proper method Of interpreting the eofatitu-
ton OF the United States II is true that Il does
not say in 70 many words, "the congress Nhaa
have power to protect American manufactures
But II does say il express terms taat "Ene con.
gress shall have power TO lay and collect taxes,
duties. I'm rosss and excisas This % one 81 sue
express powers OF the constitution, AMI lis 10
be interpreted By the application OF the rule
which IS applied 20 all the other express po1gers.
duties, imposts and excuses to defrsy tho eI.
penses OF the government The !neiaeniai
power Is power TO so lay them as to pr8iees
aad encourage our own Industries The exsress
power would be useless without the tncidsntal
power, tor without the exercise OF the Latter,
the peopie OF this country could not be "a aeon
dliion 10 meet the expenses Of their goxeru-
rasnt Senator Hill, like many Democrs:s OF
The present day, supposes that because sheEco2'
sntution Goes not say in express terms THAT fthe
congress shall have power 20 protect American
MANUFACTURED, protective tariff Is not wsihin
its constitutional power. This is what Gomez OK
interpreting the constitution without hsvtng
the knowledge necessary to interpret correctly.
Apparently, Senator Hill has never Rad the
first revenue law Of the United states, passed in
1853, or the DEBATE in the first house OF fepre-
sea.a.ives when it was under discussion
In that house there were ten members sTho
had been members of the convention waich
framed the constitution. MI. Madison was the
leader on the Aoor, and he conducted the first
revenue bill through the house. Washington
was president OF the United States, Hams ton
was secretary of the treasury, Jefferson ~as
secretary OF state aud Edmund Randolph was
attorney general. If these four men cid mot
know for what purpose the first revenue law
was enacted and why il was made highly pro
tective tariff, I beg TO ask, who did know! The
record shows.
Let ne now place side by side the anti prts,ec-
ton plank in the Democratic platform and the
preamble of the act OF 17s9; and here let me-
ask my Dem ocratic readers whether ex-PEesi-
dent Cleveland, senator Hill and other iea6ers
OF the Democratic party at the present Gay are
better exponents Of the constitution thar Madi.
son. Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Fan
dolph and the generation OF men who ea-ab-
ushed it?
Multiplication plank ofPrnmb,e Of the first t1r-
The Democratic pict. IL Gct. passed July Z,
form 1888.
We deuouuce Repub-I Whereas, it Is Reoes-
lican protection e sary for the support OF
fraud upon the labor of government Tor tn .
the great majority oftdiseharge OF the deDts
the American people for of the United STATES,
the benefit Of Q few. and the ezacourcceHant
We declare 1t 20 be a. and protection Of Hscpsu.
fundamental principle fIctUrcs. that duties be
OF the Democratic partyIlaid on goods, wareo
tina: the federal govern-nnd merchandise I'm.
raent has no constitu-i ported: Be it enacted,
uonai power 10 imposeletc., that from and after
and collect tariff dn Ites the first day OF August
except for the purpose next ensuing, the sew.
OF revenue only. We de- Ieral duties nereinakser
Inaad that the colIec- mentioned shall be cid
ton OF such taxes beion the following goods,
limited to the necessi- wares and merchan.
ties OF the governmentidtses imported into the
hen honestly an d nited states from say
economically admins foreign posr or place.
tered.
Requesting my readers 70 keep this preamble
before them, shall. in future communications,
show that in every instance In which thers We're
already existing manufactures with which for
eign products came into competition, the Dues
were laid as to afford proper announcement
and protection to our own manufacturers, and
that many duties were laid for the express par.
pose of raising up manufactures and agricait.
ural products that did not then exist IN she
United states. remain. very truly yours.
GEORGE TIcKNoR CCkTik