New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-27
FOR REVENUE ONLY.

The Democratic Convention, in reaiiilmng
It's allegiance to the principles OF the party
rs formulated by Jefferson, establishes It's
reputation for consistency in its tariff plank
The pioneer American Free Trader was Albert
Gallatin. Secretary Of the Treasury under Pres
ident jefferson Through his influence tho
Democratic party when first organized CUES
toned the right Of Congress to protect Ma
tional industries and condemned legislation on
behalf of homo interests. The Chicago Con-
vention, in denouncng Republican Protection
as fraud and robbery and in declaring 1t " 10
be a fundamental principle of the Democratic
marty that the Federal Government has no
constitutional power to impose and collect
tariff duties except for the purposes Of revenue
only" has returned to the Frec-Trade doc
trnc proclaimed by Mr.. Gallatn. Nothing
could be moro uncOmpromising and unequivocal
than the tariff declaration at Chicago. The
party is committed without reserve or qualiii-
cation to a tariff for revenue only, that is, a
tariff wholly without regard for the protection
of homo interests. Not only is Protection con-
demned as fragrant robbery of the people, but
;t is also branded as unconstitutional. This,
too, in the face Of the recent decision of the
Kinley Act is constitutional.
The Democratic party, while il was strongly
prejudiced against Protection in jefferson ;
time, has swerved from its convictions AT varI-
Gus times More liberal ideas prevailed dur
ing President Monroc's Administration. but as
the party passed under the domination OF
save-abor States il became more hostile 10
the industrial interests OF the North and of
free labor solid South opposed the tariff
Of 1924 on account of its protective features,
and Mr.. Calhoun when Vicc-Presdcnt de-
feated by his casting vote higher Tariff bill.
The hostility Of Southern leaders to Protection
steadily increased, until in President Van
Burcn's time the party was committed 10 n
low-tariff policy. After the Harrison victory
of 1910 the Protective Tariff of 1912 was
brought in by the Wings; but in Is4G this
was practically repealed under "A democratic
Administration by the casting vote Of Vice
President Dallas, who betrayed the confidence
Of Northern PrOtectionists. From that time
until the Civil War the Democracy stood for
Free Trade without qualification. The Ma
tional platform Of the party adopted in 1856
and rcadoptcd by both the Douglas and Brock
inrdge conventions in 1860 proclaimed ::
"The time has como for the people of the
United States to declare themselves in favor
of free seas and progressive Free Trade
throughout tho world, and by solemn mani
festations to place their moral influence at the
side of their successful example" That was
the Galatin Frce-Trade doctrine expressed
with Jelfersonan simplicity.
The Civil War interviewed, and Southern
political domination was confined to the Con-
federacy. In the Constitution OF the Southern
Confederacy protective duties were prohibited
and the tariff was restricted Cor purposes of
revenue only, as appears from the following
citation Of the powers Of Congress "To lay
and collect taxes duties, impOsts and excuses
for revenue necessary to pay the. debts, pro-
vide for the common defence and carry on
the Government of the Confederate States f.;
but no bounties shall be granted from the
Treasury; nor shall any duties or taxes on
importations from foreign nations be laid to
promote or foster any branch Of Industry
Protection was clearly unconstitutional under
that provision, and Free Trade with n tariff
for revenue only was the accepted principle
of the South when united in an attempt to
destroy the Union. That was the old Galatin-
Jeffersonan doctrine and the Democracy with
its stronghold in the Solid South has reallirmcd
it in the Chicago Convention. A tariff for
revenue only, with Protection branded as I'M
constitutional, marks the closest possible APP
proach TO the tariff policy of the Southern Con
federacy Ii is also the old time JeiIersonan
Free Trade from "'way back The Domoc-