Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-07-30
JACKSON ON PROTECTIVE TAR
IFS.

IFS.
From the Kansas City. No.. Journal
Those democrats who have discovered
recently that the protective feature OF
the tariff law Is unconstitutional, are re-
ferred to the following quotation from
President Jackson's message O. Decem-
Der z, 1880. Jackson is the real father
of the democratic party. He had heard
of tariff reform; he had listened to the
silly talk about the unconstitutionality
of protection, and he gave to congress
his views as result of careful study
and mature elaboration. He says:
among the numerous causes of con-
graduation, the condition of our impost
revenue deserves special mention, mas
much as it promises the means o. extin-
gushing the public debt sooner than
was anticipated and furnishes a strong
illustration oil the practical effects OF the
present tariff upon our commercial in
terests. The ob;ect of the tariff is OBJ
iected TO by some as unconstitutional,
and it is considered by almost all as de-
fectire in many of its parts. The power
to impose duty on imports originally
belonged to the several states The
right to adjust those duties with view
to the encouragement of domestic
branches OF industry is SO completely
identical with that power that it Is diff
cult to suppose the existence of the one
without the other.
The states have delegated their whole
authority over imports to the general
government, without limitation or re-
striction, saving the very inconsiderable
reservation relating to their inspection
laws. This authority having thus en-
tirely passed from the states, the right
to exercise it for the purpose of pro-
lection does not exist in them; and,
consequently, if it be not possessed by
the general government, it must be ex-
tinct. Our political system would thus
present the anomaly Of a people stripped
of the right to foster their own indus
try and to counteract the most selfish
and destructive 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 author
ity on the subject expressly delegated
to congress. In this conclusion I am
confirmed as well by the opinions of
Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Madi-
son and Monroe, who have each repeat
eddy recommended the exercise of this
right under the constitution, as by the
uniform practice of congress, the con-
tinued acquiescence of the states and
the general understanding of the peo-
ple."
Observe first, that this is good demo-
cratic doctrine, enunciated by the man
who is the real, if not the putative
father of the democratic party. Observe
too, that every president from Washing
ton to Jackson shared his views.
Observe, too, that the silly objections
Of the tariff reformers" had been heard
in those days, and that the men who
made the constitution were at pains to
answer them. President Jackson is at
pains to call attention to the fact that
these are not his own individual opin-
ions, but that he concurs in and gathers
up in one complete digest the opinions
of the great constitutional lawyers who
preceded him, and of the presidents who
had laid down the direction which wise
national legislation must take. These
are shown to be indispu-
table.
Congress possesses the constitutional
right to impose duties, not only for
purposes of revenue, but also to protect
and foster our own industries.
IL protective tariff is ''legalized rob-
berry" every president of this country
from Washington to Jackson was
plunderer of his people, and advocated,
aided and allotted the 'legalized rob-
bers."
A protective tariff is necessity in
dealing with other governments. which
do not fail to employ every means to
cripple and destroy our home commerce.
A protective tariff best serves the
purpose of tariff for revenue.