The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-24
ANoTHEK TAKIFF FLANK.

The Democrats are making some progress
in their campaign of education. In 1876
they admitted the wisdom Of a protection
that would cover the difference between
American wages aud foreign wages; I'm 1892
they denounce protection as a fraud. The
plank adopted as a substitute for the one
first reported, and madea distinct issue be-
fore the convention, says: I'VE declare 1t
a fundamental principle Of the Democratic
party that the Federal Government has no
constitutional power to impose and collect
tariff duties except for purposes 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 administered" This is plain
ami unequiVocal declaration ia favor Of a
tariff for revenue. ItTeQuires duties on tea,
C oifee, sugar and other articles we neces-
sarily import, and a reduction of duties on
articles that we import in competition
with our own industries. 1t was not
supposed possible that the Democrats
would make such a blunder Ii 1876
when the Democrats came within one cleo
toral vote Of electlng their candidate, and
in 1884. when they did elect their candidate
their tariff plank called for degree of pro-
lection that would compensate American
manufacturers for the greater cost Of goods
in consequence of the higher wages they
have to pay. In 1892 this measure Of protec-
ton IS declared fraud. The evil genius of
the Democratic party seems to be Waiter
son of Kentucky. The man seems incapa-
bic Of learning anything. While the more
sagscI0us Of Democratic leaders have ad-
N Tilted the wisdom of protection, Watterson
persists in the obsolete notion that the
Federal Government has no constitutional
power TO impose and collect tariff duties eX-
cept for the purposes of revenue. It is
nothing 10 HIM that the power has been ex-
ercised, with an occasional disastrous lapse,
since the Government was formed There
is at least this TO be said IN favor Of the
Democratic tariff plank 1t boldly accepts
the issue the Republicans defined two weeks
before. There can be no claim now
that the Democrats favor any meas
uTe Of protection. II fhey succeed in
the coming election and carry their
platform into execution they viii probably
impose duties on the entire Republican free
list ana only continue such duties On COM
peting products as is necessary for purposes
OF revenue. TIE theory OF a tariff for rev.
enue only is that duties should be levied on
products from which revenue can be made
the most nearly certain and be the most
cheaply collected. When an article must be
imported it is little more than an example
in arithmetic 10 ascertain v hat rate of duty
will be required to produce given revenue.
The proposition is relieved Of the uncer-
tainty that attends the imposition Of duties
on competing products. Consequently the
logical result OF a tariff for revenue is the
imposition of reasonably heavy duties on
such articles as We must import-produets
that do not thrive in our climate. 1t is well,
perhaps, that the issue is fairly made. The
Republicans are fully prepared to meet it.
The Mckinley tariff is doing its work so
we'll that unless We are greatly mistaken. a
vast majority Of the voters will favor its
continuance