The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1891-1893, 1892-10-26
Ehe 1arin.


The issue between the two parties
upon the tariff question was never more
sharply defined than in the present
campaign. No one ought to b. deceiv
| ed as to the attitu io which they
respectively assume Both believe in a
tariff sufficient to raise the principle
revenues necessary for the support Of The
| government The democratic party there
| stops and dt c.arts that NJ Other or larger
taI II should be imp ,std than may he re
on rcd for such purp 81, while the re
puOicGn party Sos father and insists
that j, is the rlgh. and du'y OF the gov
ernmen, t. impose such higher duties as
NAV be deemed Lecessary t. pr vent com
petition with domestic industries even to
the extent, If desired, of absolute pr0hi
bitian Of inp7rtations. Our op
onents cali the methods or means
b7 which they use the power
Of taxation for private purposes
the system Of protection. We meet them
at the threshold of the discussion Of this
question. and declare that their system
Of protection v.u4te5 tie spirit, if not
letter, Of the i',d lal constitution. The
fact that th,l- 5 nowhere to be found in
the const II on any express provision
givin5 o.. 5ress power to protect private
iudusuil9 by taxation at the eX-
pense Of the whole people, canno
be lightly dismissed. In my opinion
it's omission is matter of th
greatest significance. In the convention
of 1877, which framed the Federal con
stitution proposition vas made to con
fer upon Congress the power to protec
manufactures by commercial regulations
and it was rejected This is importan
evidence from which it may be farl
urged that it was not the intention of tn
trainers Of the constitution that Congress
should be vested with the power to al
private Industries at the expense Of th
people.
, 1t should not be forgotten that there ha
5 been a formidable opposition TO tn
adoption of the original constitution an
/ that a maj aj7rity of the States, in concu
ring. added to their ratification series
amendments intended to circulate Il
r powers granted to the Federal govern
= ment and designed as safeguards agaln
the dangers apprehended from the pow
S ers granted in the original constitute
G WHICH NClt ltSflutu % tOp CAlChoI't
+ not safely defined The amendment
G question Nas one Of the most importal
Il of these and all of the amendments take
:. together constitute the most va
II liable portion of the constitutio
is II is true that the tariff bill ll-called an
If designed as protective" measures-ha'
q since been passed at various periods (
IS our history, but in none ot them hay
q their authors dared to insert any pr
amble, provision, or statement there
from which it might appear that prote
ton was the whole object and dire
purpose Of them There has alwa
1t been studied effort by our opponents
)r avoid the precise question at issu
re There can be little DOUBT that prott
as tive measure, pure and simple. could L
" stand the test Of judicial review ev
&c with the supreme court Of t
United States as at present CT
stltuted. The democratic party
he lieves, and always will believe II
in ''republican protection" as it is e1pour
re ed by its advocates and exemplitied
i, the details of its measures (although a
fully concealed from their face to be
10 violation of the spirit, if not the lett
IS of the constitution as it now stands.
have nothing to conceal, Iothing to