The Portland daily press., 1892-09-19
all the safeguards that can be devised,
and let that be final.
A DEMOCRAT DENoUNCEs THE MA
TIONAL PLATFORM.

TIONAL PLATFORM.
One of the most remarkable and sig
nificant protests against the tariff plank
of the Democratic national platform
which has so far made it's appearance,
comes from Mr.. George Tleknor Curtis,
the distinguished lawyer who has always
been Democrat. Mr.. Curtis's protest
appears in the form of d letter to the
American Economist and is as follows:
To the Editor of the american Econ0ntast:
Sir: In common with Iiiaiy other DEM
Gratis, cannot follow the leaders OF the
party in denouncing Republican protec--
ton as a fraud upon the labor of tile great
majority of the American people for the
benefit of a few; nor can | subscribe to
the doctrine that protective tariff is I'M
constitutional. I have no pecuniary IN
terest in manufactures, but / know
what protection has done and is. doing
for this country, If It operates for the
benefit of the few, l am not one OF that
few. am one of the many; one OF the
great majority benefited by it, including
those who denounce it for the sake OF OBJ
tanning political power.
If the leaders of a political party as
sembled in national convention Tor the
purpose of nominating candidates for the
Presidency and Vice Presidency choose
to stultify themselves by classifying his
tory, they cannot expect to be followed
by others who have any habits of indie
pendent thought and action. The learned
pundits who were lately assembled at
Chicago in National Convention of the
Democratic party, adopted by two
thirds vote, and against the report OF the
committee on resolutions, the following
as a plank in the Democratic platform:
'sWe denounce Republican protection as a
fraud upon the labor of the great majority OF
the American people ior the benefit Of q few:
We declare 1t to be a fundamental principle OF
the Democratic party that the Federal Govern,
ment has no constitutional power to impose ana
collect tariff duties except for the purpose OF
revenue only. We demand that the c0lieetlon
of such taxes be limited to the necessities OF
| the Government when honestly and economl-
| cally administered"
In drafting and voting for this resolu-
| ton, the members either showed dense
| ignorance of American political history,
or they manifested a purpose to win
votes by deceiving the voters 1 cannot,
at the bidding of these gentlemen, I'M
| learn the lessons of my whole life. The
greater part of my long life has been
| passed in the study of American political
| history and constitutional law. If can
not claim to be an authority on such sub
| jects, can point out to others the true
| sources from which to devise 'interpreta-
| tions of the Constitution. Those sources
are not to be found in recent Congress
| sional speeches, whether made by mem
bers of one party or another They are
| to be found in the interpretations given
to the Constitution by the First Congress,
| by Washington's Administration, and by
the succeeding Administrations of Jeffer.
son, Madison, John Quincy Adams and
| jackson.
have been requested by the secretary
of the Americon Protective Tariff League
to give my views of the protective issue,
as It has been made by the two parties
in the present campaign. This shall
do in communication to be addressed
to him, of which he will make such use
as he sees fit. am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
GEO. TICKNoR CURTIS.
Richfield Springs, September 10.
1t will be observed that Mr.. Curtis
takes issue with every one of the Demo
cratic positions in regard to protection.
The Democratic platform denounces it as
unconstitutional. Mr.. Curtis, who is a
distinguished commentator on the con-
stitution, holds it to be constitutional.
The Democrats denounce it as in the
interests of the few and against the. in
ests of the many. Mr.. Curtis holds exact
| iy to the contrary. Mr.. Curtis alleges
that the Democratic tariff plank falsified
the results of experience and the facts Of
history. He utterly condemns it. Coming
from distinguished Democrat like MI.
| Curtis this may be considered as one Of
| the worst blows that the free trade Dem
ocracy have yet received. 1t is ever
worse than Peck's report.