New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-25
DEMOCRATS IGNORE AMERICAN LAB0R,

DEMOCRATS IGNORE AMERICAN LABOR'
The Democratic National Convention was
more frank on the tariff question than It's lead
ors intended to be. 1t is most significant hat
the ex-Prcsidcnt and candidate who forced
his marty into "a fight for Free Trade. wanted
an cvasivc platform which Mr. Wattcrson de
clarcd was almost identical in principle with
the minority report submitted to the Demo
cratic Convention in 1854 by b. I. Butler
and voted down almost unanimously" MI
Wattcrson wanted 70 know whether 1t was IA
Democratic or "a Republican resolution, and
calculated MY God is it possible that IN
1892 We have to 90 back for Il tariff plank
10 the straddle Of 1881 ~ The convention
agreed with Mr. Watterson, and by vote of
AGA 10 342 substituted tariff -for-rcycnue-
only" plank which distinctly refuses any re-
gard whatever for the wages Of w0rhingmcn.
The original report read Is follows:
sec .. We reitcratc the oftrcpcatcd doctrines u
tho Democratic party that The necessity Il the Goy
eminent is the only JUSTIFICATION for taxation. ana
whenever II tax Is unn.c, >sary 1t j., unustiabc that
when Custom House tnNatiOn /. levied upon article
Of any Kind produced IN this country. the difference be
tween the cost Of labor here and labor abrOad when such
a difference exists, fuy measure, any possible benefit
10 labor. and the enormous dddinDnul lnpcslil"ho q
the existing tariff fall with crashing force upon orr
farmers and workngmcn. and for the mere advantage
Of the few whom II cnrichcs exact from labor grossly
unjust share Of the expenses of the Government: ami
We demand such a revision of the tariff laws VIII
remove their iniqnitOus inequalities Tighten their 0p
| pe,,ons and put them on u constitutional and
| equitable basis.
| lut in making reduction in taxes 1t IS not pro
posed 10 injurc any domestic Industries, but rathcr
| to promote their healthy growth. From the foundl
| ton OF this Government taxes collected az the Custom
House have been the chief Of Federal
| such they must continue to b.. Moreover many in
| du,rlcs have come to rely upon legislation FOR sue
cc,sful continuance. 50 that any change Of law must
be at every step resaidiul oi the labor and capital
| thus involved. The process Of reform must Dc sub
icct In execution to this plain dictate Of justice.
This declaration recognized the propriety OF
| regarding the difference between the cost
of labor here and abroad" as a measure of the
benefits To labor resulting from duties on
| imports. But the convention by great ma
| jority struck out the entire declaration above
quoted and substituted the following:
We dcnouncc the Republican protection as a fraud
robbery Of the great majority Of the American p pic
for the benefit Of The few. We declare it to be frndn
mental principle OF Inc Democratic party that the Fed
cr,l Government has constitutional power o Impose
and collect tariff duties except fot the purpose Of
revenue ony, and We demand that the collection Of
such taxes shall be limited to the necessities Of tha
| Government when honestly and economically admin
| stered
This is the Democratic platform Mr.. Wat
| terson reioiccd that it was adopted, and pub