The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-04-15
A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE.

The other day we said something in
respect to statements that are going the
rounds, to the effect that there is no very
great difference between the principles of
the Democratic and Republican parties.
One Of the things pointed to in evidence Of
this is that some Republicans are in favor
of free trade, or at least favor a tariff for
revenue only; and, on the other hand,
there are so-called Democrats who believe
in protection. In dealing with such ''evi-
dencen as this we should simply say that
the Democracy of any man who fayors the
theory Of the protectionists is OF ques-
tionable character. In what light Rspub-
licans look upon members of their party
who believe in free trade doctrines, we
leave them to say.
This tariff question goes to and tests the
fundamental principles of the respective
parties; and therefore the position on this
question may be regarded as test to a
very great extent at least of the true
Democratic or Republican faith of men.
| Democrats believe that the sphere of gov
eminent is to give protection to society, by
providing for the defense of the country
/
nestle tranquility and the establishment
of justice among men, that the rights and
liberties Of all may be guaranteed. Out
side of this, from the Democratic stand
point, government has nothing to do with
men, or their concerns; for the above
named purpose only are governments es-
tablished.
The Republicans, on the contrary, give
something of q wider sphere to government
than this. They clothe it with something
of paternal power, by which they would
authorize it to provide for the general vel
fare, and under that plea induce it to enter
into enterprises that properly should be
left to Individual effort. 1t is this differ
ence of opinion in respect to the sphere OF
government which leads the great nation a.
parties to widely different positions ia re-
lation to the tariff question.
3 The Democrats recognize the fact that
government must subsist; and as it produces
nothing directly itself, the people must sup
port 1t by taxation. They owe this to the
government for the protection it affords
them. A system Of taxation which Is the
easiest of assessment, the most certain OF
collection with the least expense, and So
distributed as to be easiest paid by the tax.
payer is the system that should be adopted
That system Democrats recognize in The
levyiug of tariffs on imported goods at The
, port of entry, while the goods are still il
the hands Of the foreign producer, the i'm
porting merchant, or trader. Those tariff.
are taxes, however, and eventually ar,
hrr4 no ~ ~,
price that he pays for his goods Since t,
, Democrats, then, the tariff is tax-anC
none the less real because of it's common
ness and because it is paid in small amounts
day by day-it should find its proper regu
lation in the necessities of the government
economically administered. Hence come
the Democratic doctrine of tariff TO
revenue only.
Another thing that Democrats insis
? upon in taxation is that as nearly as ma,
+ be taxes should be distributed among tn
= people according to their ability TO pa
o them. 1t follows that the rich are bette
a able to pay the taxes than the poor, henc
upon those articles mostly used by the ric
the heaviest duties should be laid: Will
a those articles most in common use anon
: the poorer people should be lightest take
8 or admitted free entirely Those article
g called luxuries are in most partused by th
n rich, some exclusively so, hence Democrat
insist upon levying the heaviest tariffs @
luxuries.
: Republicans giving wider scope to go
|. eminent than Democrats do, and clalmin
}, that it should do something more for socie,
q than give equal protection to its factor
IS and make them equal before the law, b
lieve that it ought to be employed to fost,