The record-union., 1892-10-17
Mr.. Whites Address.

Mr.. Chairman, ladies, gentlemen and
feliow-citiZens: The State committees Of
the Republican and Democratic parties
have made arrangements for series of
Joint debates on the tariff question be-
tween my friend Mr.. Estee and myself.
The Democratic party of the State in this
campaign, as well as the National DEM
ocratic party, has expressed in its plat
form its views on the tariff question.
These expressions have been assailed by
the Republican papers and speakers of
the land, who assert that the democrats
have declared in favor of free trade. Per-
haps no misrepresentation mas been so
frequently made as this one.
In the first place, free trade under pres
ent conditions is absolutely impractical
BILE. The necessity of raising an enorm-
GUS sum of money for the purpose of
meeting the annual expenses of the Gov
ernment, and the impossibility of collect
ing it all through an internal revenue tax,
renders it essential that there should be
Custom-house returns.
But the platform of 1892 is explicit. 1t
reads: 1--WE denounce Republican protec-
ton as fraud, robbery of the great ma
iority of the American people for the BEN
eft of the few. We declare it to be a
fundamental principle of the Democratic
party that the Federal Government has
no constitutional power TO impose and
collect tariff taxes, except for the purpose
of revenue only; and we demand that the
collection of such taxes shall be limited
to the necessities of the Government,
when honestly and economically admin
istered."
The man capable of extracting a dec
laration in favor of free trade from these
Words is, indeed. peculiarly constituted.
No candid, careful pei son can long act
under such an erroneous conclusion and
vet in spite of all my efforts, have been
unable 10 induce my friend to agree with
me. and we are to-day as far apart as
when we commenced this discussion.
The Democracy is opposed to the Repub-
lican policy Of protection, which taVors
the few at the expense of the many. 1t
tavors tariff for revenue only--one re-
stricted to the necessities of the Govern
ment when economically and honestly
administered. The Republicans claim it
is proper to tax the masses for the benefit
of favored few. 1t will be asserted by
nv Republican friend that the Democratic
party favors the collection of duties on
The necessaries of life, but we say it is
cardinal doctrine of Democratic faith
that upon the necessities of life the tariff
shall be as low as possible, while on
Injuries we propose the imposition OF a
duty tax. Democrats all understand
this.
We are in favor Of tariff of revenue
only. We are in favor of levying such
tares as shall be necessary to meet the
exnenses of an honestly and economi-
cally administered government. We do
NOT denounce protection resulting from
This modified and rational revenue as a
fraud. But we denounce Republican
projection as a fraud-that sort II So
called protection which guards the
wealthy. which produces inequality in
the distribution of property, which op
presses the many and advances the in
terests of the few.
Moreover, our Presidential candidate,
whose tariff views we have ever re-
spected, clearly laid down in his cele-
brated message of 1887, the principles
which now govern his party.
He said, "Our present tariff laws, the
vicious, inequitable and illogical source
of unnecessary taxation, ought to be at
once revised and amended"
Again, "It is not proposed to entirely
relieve the country of this taxation. 1t
must be extensively continued as a
source of the Governments income; and,
in the readjustment of our tariff, the in
terests of American labor engaged in
manufacture should be carefully consid-
cred, as well as the preservation of our
manufactures"
He also remarked, "But the reduc-
ton of taxation demanded should be so
measured as not to necessitate or Justify
either the loss of employment by the