Griggs courier., 1892-08-19
A DESTRUCTIVE POLICY.
The Iniiammatory Doctrine Of the Dem.
cratic Platform.

The Infiammatory Doctrine Of the Demo.
cratic Platform.
Grover Cleveland, at tho Madison
Square meeting, sought to neutralizs
the charge that the destruction of the
existing tariff and the disturbance, dis.
trust, distress and disaster which would
follow the enactment Of Legislation
framed for that purpose were involved
IN the democratic tariff policy.
"Ours is not destructive party" !"
said Mr.. Cleveland 1--WE are not at
enmity with the rights of any of our
citizens. All are our countrymer. We
are not recklessly needless of my
American interests, nor will we abxn-
don our regard for them"
Indefinite as this utterance is It en-
braces the only words used by Mr.. Cleve-
land in his Madison Square haraneue
against tho protective tariff. which can
be twisted into an expression of friend
ship for American industry.
But no hazy generality Of this kind
can obscure the public view Of the plat
form on which Mr.. Cleveland was
placed st Chicago and on which he
must continue to stand.
The Cleveland democracy in national
convention at Chicago rejected by an
overwhelming vote the tariff plank pre-
pared and reported by the committee
on resolutions. The convention seemed
to be infuriated by these friendls refer
enccs to American labor contained in
the plank:
When custom house taxation 10 levied upon
articles of any kind produced in this country,
the difference between the cost of labor here
and labor abroad, when such difference exists
fully measures any possible benefits TO labor
But in making reductions In taxes 1t Is
not proposed to tnjure any domestic industrics
but rather TO promote their healthy growth.
From the foundation Of this government taxes
collected ut the custom houses have been the
chief source Of federal revenue Such they
must COSTUME to be. Moreover, many indus.
tries have como to rely upon legislation for sue
cessful continuance. so that any change Of law
must be at every step regardful of the LABOR and
capital thus involved.
J, The enunciation of such doctrine had
anieffect on the convention such as the
waving ofSa red rag would have upon q
bull; and without ceremony the plank.
which was virtually the plank Of the
1884 platform on which Cleveland was
elected, was thrown out and this vicious
substitute. offered by Mr.. O'Naal, Of
Ohio, inserted:
We denounce the republican protection a. .
fraud, robbery Of . majority Of tho American
people for the benefit Of the few. We declare
1t to be . fundamental principle of the demo-
cratic party that the federal government has no
constitutional power to impose and collect tariff
duties except for the purpose Of revenue only,
and we demand that the collection q such
taxes shall be limited to the necessities of tho
government when honestly and economically
ednainistered.
Grover Cleveland, therefore, stands
for this policy, aud on this platform:
Protection is 4 fraud! A protective duty
is robbery! A protective tariff is un-
constitutional! Down with the pro-
tective tariff! All tariff revenue shall
be raised by means of revenue only
duties on tea, coffee, etc! IN
Mr.. Cleveland cannot escape the posi-
ton which he has taken.-Albany
journal.