The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-10-14
TARIFF LESSONS.


One objection which Democrats make
to the Republican position on the tariff
is that it is unconstitutional. In the
Chicago platform of June last the objection
is stated thus:
| We desire it to be fundamental principle OF
the Democratic party that the Federal govern
ment has no constitutional power to impose
and collect tariff duties except for the purpose
of revenue only. and we demand that the col
lection of such taxes shall be limited to the
necessities of the government when honestly
and economically administered.
If Democrats can make this constitu-
tional objection hold good, that is an end of
the controversy. If the imposition of
tariff duties for any other purpose than
that of raising the necessary revenue for
the legitimate expenditures of the govern
ment be unconstitutional, then that system
which employs the sovereign taxing power
of the government for other purposes
stands condemned. IL makes no difference
how great the prosperity that may be
pointed to in justification of the improper
employment of the taxing power of the
government; if it is unconstitutional
the system is vicious and in the
end must lead to disaster. The high
way man is not justified in his infamous
trade because he thieves and perhaps be-
comes rich by his robberies. 1t cannot be
too frequently insisted upon that the appli-
cation of q vicious principle must in the
end work mischief, and that any prosperity
which may seem to exist is not because of
lint in ami 70 of no coid viz in. iplo
1t is too palpable TO make denial OF any
effect, That the.Republican so-called rystem
of protection does employ the sovereign
power of the government for other pur-
poses than those of raising revenue for the
government expenses. They employ it for
the avowed purpose of aiding private in
dustries, and hence for the promotion OF
private gain. Now, if Republicans can find
warrant for SUCH exercise of the taxing
power of the government in the constitu-
ton, they are justified, if not they have no
justification for their conduct, and this
..protectonn system is constitutional.
| AS there is no express clause Of the con
stitution which Republicans can invoke TO
/ justify them in using the taxing power of
the government to aid private enterprise.
|
then they are prohibited by the clause OF
the constitution which says: 1.-The powers
not delegated to the United States by the
constitution, nor prohibited by it to the
states, are reserved to the states respec-
lively. or to the people,"
If this it be asked how it comes that
we have protective" tariff system ut all.
since no power is given by the constitution
to government to found it; the only answer
is that such system has been brought
into existence by the gross abuse OF the
power conferred on government to "lay
and collect taxes, duties. Imports AMI ex-
cises." This power was given government
for the purpose of raising revenue for the
necessary expenses of government, and
only by perversion aud fraud can ii be-
employed to aid private indus
tries and build up private fortunes.
For such purposes. however, the Republi
can party have not failed TO use their
power, and they glory in it; but before
their countrymen and the world they stand
convicted OF perverting the powers Of the
government, and of taking the property of
the many to place it in the hands of the
few.
"If the general government" said Sena-
tor B. Neil in his recent great speech at