The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-09-23
GEORGE TIoKNoR CURTIS VIEWS.
Although a Democrat He Regulates the
Tariff Plank of the Chicago Platform.

Tariff Plank of the Chicago Platform.
From the New York Tribune.
George TlcknOr Curtis, the eminent
author and lawyer, in letter to the edi-
tor of the american Economist, repudi-
ates the tariff plank of the Chicago plat
form. The letter is as follows:
RICHFIELD SPRINGS, N. Y, Sept. 10th.
To the Editor Of the american Economist:
-SIR-In common with many other
Democrats cannot follow the leaders of
the party in denOuncing Republican pro-
lection as fraud upon the labor of the
great majority of the American people
for the benefit of few; nor can l sub
scribe to the doctrine that a protective
tariff is unconstitutional. have no pc
cuniary interest 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. l am one of the many-one of
the great majority benefited by it, in
Guiding those who denounce it for the
sake of obtaining political power.
If the leaders of a political party as
sembled in National convention for the
purpose of nominating candidates for the
presidency and vice presidency choose to
stultify themselves by classifying history
they cannot expect to be followed by
others who have any habits of indepen-
dent thought and action. The learned
pundits who were lately assembled in
Chicago in National convention of the
Democratic party adopted by two-third
vote, and against the report of the com
mittes on resolutions, the following as a
''plank'' in the Democratic platform:
1--WE denouce Republican protection as
fraud upon the labor of the great ma
jority of the American people for the
benefit of the few. We declare it to be a
fundamental principle of the Democratic
party that the Federal government has
no consti utional power to impose and
collect tariff duties except for the pur-
pose of revenue only. We demand that
the collection of such taxes be limited to
the necessities of the government when
honestly and economically administer
ed"
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, unlearn the
lessons of my whole life. The greater
part of my long life has been passed in
the study of American political history
to be an authority on such subjects, l can
point out to others the true sources from
which to devise interpretations of the
constitution. Those sources are not to
be found in recent congressional
speeches, whether made by members of
one party or another. They are to be
found in the interpretations given to the
constitution by the 1st Congress, by
Washington's administration, and by the
succeeding administrations of jefferson,
Madison, John Quincy Adams and jack
son.
have been requested by the secretary
of the American 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. 1 am, Mr.. Editor, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE TIcKNoR CURTIS.