The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-20

placed our objection upon that ground
while SO many fatal objections existed to
the system itself, but that course was
| mere matter OF discretion.
| The fact remains that we have always
insisted and now insist that no warrant
| can be found in the constitution for the
| imposition OF tariff duties to aid private
industries, but whether such q tarin 10
constitutional OF not, or whether IL is
practicable 10 have the question properly
raised or decided, the system itself 10
| vicious i'm the extreme, unjust to the peo-
| pie and contrary to the spirit OF our free
| Institutions.
There is not an elementary law writer
| anywhere whose treatise on the consti-
| tuition is regarded as standard authority,
who ventures to affir m the constitutions
| al right of Congress to levy duties for any
other direct purpose than revenue for the
support of the government.
Republican protection does not consti-
tutionally exist, but is imposed upon the
people by fraud, false pretense, evasion
and gross abuse OF the taking power.
This Is a dangerous exercise OF authority.
1t furnishes a hazardous precedent which
will surely return to plague us. III the
government, under the pretense OF rails
ing revenue, can impose prohibitory du-
ties and thereby protect domestic indus
tries from competition, then, under the
same pretense, 1t can by taxation essen
italy usurp most of the functions OF the
state governments, and virtua ly regulate
marriage and divorce, the rate OF interest
on money, the purchases OF property, the
formation of corporations, the making
OF leases and contracts OF every descrip-
tion.
have read with care all the arguments
urged by the two very able apostles of
protection, Governor NICK inley ard Sem
ator Aldrich, but fail to discover that
they present a single tenable ground
a. f.<k atv v.,rNto
can be copstitutionally defended. Incl
dental protection is unobjectionable.
Tariffs should be imposed for the express
purpose OF revenue and not for any pri-
vate purpose. Insofar as the tariff Is
necessary to meet the necessities OF the
government, II may be imposed, and any
other benefit which may be iegltimateiy
derived from it's imposition may and
does necessarily accompany it.
The Democratic position is n safe, logi-
cal, conservative and just position. With
the constantly increasing expenses OF
government and the enormous amount OF
money, annually augmenting, required
by the growing pension list, the tariffs
which must necessarily be exacted to
meet these expenditures will be for many
years to come amply sufficient to afford,
incidentally, all the protection whicn the
most ardent advocate OF the system can
reasonably ask.
Mckinley bill has increased the burdens
OF the taxpayers and added many mo-
nopolies. There il no satisfactory evil
dence that IL has increased our prosper
ity in any degree, or advanced the wages
of a single workingman.
Skilful statisticians capabl OF juggling
with figures may figure out different
result, but IL is the general understand
ing that the Mckinley bill has not in
creased wages in New York or elsewhere.
In this state the aggregate OF all wages
paid TIE year after it's passage may have
been greater than in the year preceding,
but that does not prove any increase in
the rate of wages paid and only shows
that some new industries have been es-
tabli3hed or additional men employed in
OF hers. And it does not appear that
such Increase has been any more tnan
the usual natural increase occasioned by
the steady growth OF the s,Lte.
The fact that there have been fewer
strikes during the past two years Is due
to the good jud dgInsnt OF labor organiza-
tions and not to any tarih law. The
Democratic party will be content to per-
init every workinsman whose wages have
been increased since the passage OF the
Mckinley bill to vote the Republican
ticket, IL our opponents will consent that
all those whose wages have not been In
creased shall vote the Democratic ticket,
and upon that basis we will carry the
country by n million majority.
The country has been prosperous, not
because of the Mckinley law, but in spite
of Ii. The catapaign OF education has
borne its fruits. This policy OF protec-
ton cannot much longer stand against
the tremendous pressure of public senti-
ment for its abandonment. In the elec-
tions of 1890 the Mckinley bill was ono
OF the important issues involved and 1t
was emphatically repudiated by the peo-
pie.
The senator then discussed the "force
bill" issue at length. He said IL was
equal TO, IL not greater than, the tariff
issue in Importance. The only purpose
of the measure was to control for partisan
advantage, state and federal elections.
The bill was desperate attempt to prop
up the falling fortunes Of once great
political party. -
The author OF 1t was not Henry Cabot
Lodge, as had formerly been supposed,
but John l. Davenport, who had that
the bill would be again introduced when
the Republicans had majority in both
houses OF Congress. The Democratic
party, said Mr.. Hill, desires free, honest
and fair elections everywhere because
they are essential to the preservation OF
our free institutions.
SIR. Hill discussed state affairs and
said in conclusion: With this motto in
scribed upon our banner, "Publio Office
is public trust," supplemented by the
other sentiments, "No public taxation
for private purposes" and "No force
bill" let us close MP our ranks and buckle
on our armor for the fight, with the de-
termination to do oil in our power for
triumph Of our party and the election OF
our honored standard bearers, Cleveland
and Stevenson.