The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-05

and insincere; and it is idle to talk of
making constitutionality depend on mo-
tive.
The highest Democratic authorities
| disposed of this plea long ago. Let Us
quote one of them. Andrew jackson
| considered the subject of the constitu-
tionality of protection in his srcond an
nual message, bearing date December 7,
1880. He said:
among the numerous causes of con-
graduation, the cordition of our impost
revenue deserves special mention, mas
|, much as it promises the means of extin-
gushing the public debt sooner than was
anticipated, and furnishes a strong Illus
tration of the practical effects of the
present tariff upon our commercial III
terests.
''The object of the tariff is objected to
by some as unconstitutional, and it is
considered by almost all as defective in
many of its parts.
1.-The power to impose duties on i'm
ports originally belonged to the several
states. The right to adjust those duties
with view TO the encouragement OF
domestic branches of industry is so COM
pletely identical with that power that it is
difficult to suppose the one without the
other. The states have delegated
their authority over imports to
the general government, without
limitation or restriction, saving the very
inconsiderable reservation relating TO
their inspection laws. This authority
having entirely passed from the states,
the right to exercise it for the purpose OF
protection does not exist in them; and
consequently if it be not possessed by the
general government it must be extinct.
Our political system would thus present
the anomaly of people stripped OF the
right to foster their own industry and
to counteract the most selfish and de-
structive policy which might be adopted
by foreign nations. This surely cannot
be the case; this Indispensable power
thus surrendered by the states, must be
within the scope Of the authority on the
subject expressly delegated to congress.
I'm this conclusion, am confirmed as
well by the opinions of presidents Wash
ington, jefferson, Madison, and Monroe,
who have each repeatedly Recommend
ed the exercise of this right under the
constitution, as by the uniform practice
of congress, the continued acquiescence
of the states. and the general under
standing OF the people.
This argument Of Andrew Jackson
leaves those Democrats who are trying
to explain away, to palliate, or to de-
fenu the declaration Of the Chicago con-
vention, without subterfuge behind
which to hide.
The Democracy must demand at once
a tariff without any element of protec-
ton whatsoever in it, not simply because
a free trade tariff is the best policy, but
because no other tariff is constitutional;
or it must abandon the tariff issue
or it must call new national
choose new delegates, make
a new declaration of principles, and
nominate new candidates.
The first course would violate party
tradition and take issue with the accom-
plished facts of history as well as with a
decision of the supreme court; the third
would be too startling a remedy for the
party managers; the second seems the
only feasible course.
The folly of putting loyalty to an in
1ividual politician in place of loyalty to
party swamped civil service reform; and
the same folly has mired tariff reform.