Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-09-08
A BLAINE LETTER.
The Maine Statesman on Tariff
and Finances.

AUGUSTA, Me-, Sept THE follow
ing letter, dated Bar Harbor, Septem-
Der 3, from Hon. James q. Blaine to
Chairman Marley, Of the republican
state committee, was made public last
! night:
Hon Joseph II. Manley, chairman, etc, Angus.
Ia, Nc
My Dear Sir; Not being able for reasons
which have explained TO you, to deliver public
| speeches In this present campaign, take the
liberty Of submitting my views on the issues
"hlch regard rs being strongest for the re-
| publicans TO urge before the people.
The issue Of tho greatest consequence is the
tarin on foreign imports and 1t will continue to
be until settlement Is effected by a majority so
large that II will be tantamount to general &c
! quiescence The republicans are aggressive on
this subject Two years ago they passed q
general enactment known as tho Mckinley
tarin which for time failed TO meet with
popular approval and was regarded with
certain degree OF distrust by those
who had always upheld the protective system
But powerful reaction has come in conse-
| quence OF the Tndicaton OF the Mckinley tariff
| by experience II Is found to have worked nd.
mirably and within tho last year has produced
a greater volume OF business internal and ex-
ternnl, export and import than the United
States ever transacted before
Notwithstanding the character and extent OF
the opposition TO IL, agriculture Is remunerative,
manufactures are prosperous and commerce is
more iourishing than at any previous time,
thus indicating the Mckinley tarlr by an i'm.
pressive and undcniable series OF facts.
Against this tarin the democratic party has
taken position almost without parallel In the
history OF the country. They reject entirely
the doctrine OF protection pronounce it a fraud
and anathematize It generally Tho resolution
10 this effect was adopted by the democratic
convention against the report OF the committee
on resolutions by two.thrd vote, thus mani
resting the Intelligent participation OF every
man in the convention.
Sometimes a resolution may be adopted in
haste or Just when the convention Is adjourn.
ing II may fail 10 receive the attention OF the
members, but this resolution was debated pro
and con and passed after q contest and was
perfectly understood by the members Of the
convention. II Is contained In these words:
we pronounce the republican protection as
fraud upon the labor OF the great majority OF
the American people for the benefit OF the few.
We declare II n fundamental principle OF the
democratic party that the federal government
ans no constitutional power to impose and col
lect tariff dues except for revenue only. We
demand that the collection OF such taxes be
limited TO the necessities OF the government
when honestly and economically admins.
tered "
II any one will take the trouble to read the
resolutions by which Mr. Calhoun sought to de-
find the tariff platform OF the democratic party
in general harmony herewith and II he ex-
amines the subject further. he will discover
that the duties In the compromise tarln which
reconcied Mr.. Calhoun and appeased his angry
followers In South Carolina were not OF a more
comprehensive character than those contem.
plated in the democratic resolution OF 1892
The democrats are in the habit OF naming JET.
ferson as the founder Of their party. and yet
on the subject OF tariff they are In radical CD.
position TO the principles laid down by Jefier.
son. Toward the close OF his administration
the revenue from the tarii on imports produced
a considerable surplus, and the question was
what should be done should tho tarin be re.
duoed, or should this surplus be maintainedy
jefferson pointedly asked: "Shall we sup.
press the imports and give that advantage to
foreign over domestic manufacturer For
himself he recommended that "thc imports be
maintained" and that the surplus created
'should he appropriated TO the improvement OF
roads, canals, rivers and education" II the
constitution did not give suniciont power to
warrant these appropriations, Jefferson went
so far as to recommend that il be amended
This pres ents the strongest condition OF Affairs
upon which protective tariff can DC justified
and Jefferson did not hesitate to recommend IL
The democrats OF the present day It is need
leAs-to say, are the direct oDpUnenM Of tRs