Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-07-21
SHAM JEFFERSONIsM.
Declaration of the Democratic Platform
and JEFF rson's Politics do not Agree.

Declaration of the Democratic Platform
and Jefferson's Politics do not Agree.
That grotesque patchwork of empty
pIatitudes and misleading assertions
the democratic platform-begins with
the declaration that the representatives
OF the democratic party of the United
States do reaffirm their allegiance to
the princsples Of the party as formulat-
ed by Jefferson and exemplified by the
lOr g and illustrious line of his successors
In democratic leadership from Madison
70 Cleveland Later on the platform
declares, in the language Of the confed-
crate constitution, as "a fundamental
principle of the democratic party that
the federal government has no con tt
tutional power to impose and collect
tariff duties except for the purpose Of
revenue only
If Jefferson and Madison and Jackson
could rise from their graves they would
repudiate modern democracy. Madison
reported the first tariff bill ever passed
at the first session Of co gress. One of
the objects of the bill as set forth in it's
pream mole, was ''the encouragement Of
manufactures Both he and Jefferson
were life long protectionists. The plat
form upon which Jefferson was elected
in 1890 set forth as a doctrine of the
p rty the encouragement OF science and
art in all their branches to the end that
the American party may perfect their
independence Ct all foreign monopolies,
institutions and Influences" There was
nothing of the tariff for revenue in that.
There never was any doubt in Jeffer
sons mind either of the constitutionaIity
Dr, Of no wis n Of In &c
message of Decem Der 2. 1906, this pass
age occurs: Shall we suppress the i'm
post and give that advantage to foreign
over domestic manufacturers? Patriot
ism would certainly prefer it's continu-
ance and application to the great pur-
poses Of the public education, roads,
rivers, canals and such other objects of
public improvements may be thought
proper to add to constitutional enumera-
lion of federal powers
In his message of November s, 1903,
Jefferson said 1.-The establishments form
of cheaper materials and subsistence,
us and of protecting duties and prohi
bitiOn, become permanent"
Jack on's message Of December Z,
ICcO, dSSSI OSu. LILO pOWS1 W LII pUS0
duty on imports originally belonged to
the several states. The right to adjust
duties with view to the encOuro cement
of domestic branches of industry is so
completely identical with that power
that it IS difficult to suppose the ex-
isterce of one with the other. The right
to exercise it for the purpose of protec
ton does not exist in them. This indis-
pensable power must be within the
authority of congress, In this opinion |
am confirmed as we'll by the opinions of
Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Madi,
son and Monroe, who have each repeat
eddy recommended the exercise of this
right under the Dstitution, as by the
uniform practice of congress, the CO..
tinued acquiescence of the states, and
the general understanding Of the peo-
ple,"' Old Hickory evidently believed in
protective tariff
These expressions of belief in pro-
tective tariff by the fathers of the democ-
racy leave no doubt as to where they
stood. Modern democracy has wander
ed from the faith of the fathers.