The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-03-18

1no uemoerheec Party Isns Steadily d.
posed rrotsettve 1szes-
The proposition that the democratic
party shall abandon revenue reform
and take 10 thu woods i one OF those
preposterous suggestions that come
only from men who are ignorant Of
political history or devoid of political
principle. Mr. Crisp and Mr. Springer
could not II they would. and would not
II they could, abandon revenue reform.
or reverse the position OF the party.
From the time Of Jefferson to Clcve-
land the party has been consistent in
its opposition 10 protective taxes The
declaration OF independence was the
formulation Of demand for free trade.
The first democratic platform adopted
by the party called republican 70 dis
tinguish Il from the federalist came
from congressional caucus ut Phila-
delphia in 1900. the year when Jeffer-
son was first elected president. Its
second resolution is as follows:
''Frcc commerce .sith all nations,
political connection with none. ani lit
tie or no diplomatic establishment"
In 1901 jefferson. in his first annual
message. declared; Agriculture. man
ufactures, commerce and navigation,
the four pillars Of our prosperity. are
most thriving when left free 70 indi-
vidual enterprise" In our early his
tory. when no nation feared our
strength or regarded our rights every
reasonable effort was made TO develop
our resources in order TO make US inde-
pendent OF all nations This was done
in some cases by small import duties
such Is now would be considered
ruinouA Jefferson. Madison and
Monroe ever manifested disposition
TO encourage agriculture manufacture,
commerce and navigation, as the
means of increasing our war resources
but jefferson was particular TO say in
1905 that the remaining revenue on
the consumption Of foreign articles is
paid cheerfully by those who can afford
to add foreign Injuries to domestic
comforts" In 1906, referring 70 Ger.
tain duties. he insisted they be re.
tanned. because they are LEVIED chiefly
on luxuries."
The war of 1912 caused an increase
OF duties. interrupted and destroyed
foreign commerce and called for war
tariffs
Then. as now. the beneficiaries Of
the war tariff were reluctant TO sur
render their war privileges. but. in
1929, Jackson insisted that revenue
was the first consideration. and all in
terests should be equally favored In
his inaugural he said: with regard to
. proper selection Of the subjects OF
impost, with a view to revenue. It
would seem TO me that the spirit Of
equity. caution and compromise. in
which the constitution was formed. re-
quires that the great interests Of agri-
culture, commerce and manufactures
should be equally favored. and that
perhaps the only exception to this rule
should consist in the peculiar encour'
agement Of any product of either OF
them that may be found essential to
our national independence.
In 1889. jackson, in his veto OF the
bank bin. said that most Of the diff
cultics surrounding the government
and most OF the danger threatening
| the union came from the abandonment
| Of the legitimate objects of govern
| mcnt- "Many OF our rich men," he
| said. s.have ~ OF been content with
! equal protection. hut have besought us
| to make them rich by acts Of congress"
| In 1892, in his annual message, he in.
sisted that Americans might be willing
| for awhile to pay higher prices. in
| order to encourage the establishment
| OF factories, but. at the same time. he
| emphatically repud ated the idea that
| such policy was to be permanent:
| But" he said. for this purpose. il is
! presumed that a tariff Of high duties
! designed for perpetual protection. has
| entered into the minds OF but few OF
\ our statesmen. The most they have
| anticipated is temporary and gener-
/ ally incidental protection. which they
| maintain has the effect to reduce the
price. by domestic competition, below
! that of the foreign article"
| Jackson. in his other state papers,
! was consistent in his opposition to all
| class legislation. dcnouncing every at
| tempt to build up one interest at the
| expense Of another. insisted on relief
| Of such necessaries Of life as salt and
| coal from tariff taxation, and in his
| farewell address said: The govern
ment has no power to raise . revenue
| or impose taxes except for the purposes
| enumerated in the constitution"
| The vigorous intellect Of Jackson.
| his determined character, his broad
| sympathies with the people. left their
| impress On the democratic party.
| In 1870 the democratic convention
met at Baltimore and adopted plat.
form declaring that s'justice and sound
| policy forbid the federal government
| 70 foster one branch OF industry to the
dctriment Of another" and the nth
resolution was emphatic in the demand
| that mo more revenue ought TO be
raised than is required TO defray the
expenses 81 government"
! In 1874 the fourth and fifth resolu-
| tious Of 1S40 were reaffirmcd.
In lsss the party platform declared
that THE fruits Of the great political
triumph Of 1874 have fulfilled the hopes
OF the democracy Of the union In the
noble impulse given TO the cause Of
free trade BY the repeal Of the tariff Of
1912. and the creation Of the more
equal. honest and productive tariff Of
1s46"
These principles were reafirmed
-.