The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-10-19


Statesmen oG the Past Who Wcrc
Protectionists. and the Words of
Democratic Statesmen OF To-day
Who Do Not Believe Tariff for Any
other Purpose than Revenue is
Unconstitutional.
New YoRK, Oct. following is the
letter OF acceptance OF Hon. Whitelaw
Reid, Republican candidate for Vice
President:
Hon. W. l. Durbia, A'uieSoH Ind:
DEAR SlR:-When the nomination
with which the national convention has
honored me was formally announced
by your. committee, 1 accepted it at
once. In doing so accepted also the
principles set forth in the resolutions
adopted by the convention as the basis
Of its appeal to the popular suffrage.
To do other or less than this is to an
honorable man an impossibility. A
political party is an association Of clti-
zens seeking 10 have the government
conducted in accordance with its views
and presenting candidates whom it
strives to electfor that purpose.
To accept its nomination without in.
tending to carry out it's principles would
be as dishonorable and as criminal as to
procure goods under false pretences.
There will be no Misunderstanding as
to the purposes OF the Republican party
in this contest and no doubt as to the
attitude Of its candidates. What IL in
tends it has set forth in language that
cannot be mistaken, and they will strive
by all the lawful means in their power
to enforce its plainly expressed will.
Since my interview with your commit
tee further reflection and careful atten-
ton to the arguments on both sides in
the current public discussion have con-
frmed my belief in the wisdom Of the
Republican declarations, as well as in
the lucid candor with which they have
been presented. o
We favor protective tariff. and
when in full power made the present
one. Our opponents favor a tariff for
revenue only and promise the repeal
Of the present one. We maintain that
the tariff should cover the difference
in the cost OF the home and foreign
product caused by the difLerencein the
home and foreign wages for the labor
employed upon it. Our opponents
distinctly repudiated the proposition
that American wages should be consid.
cred in the matter, and declared, IN
stead, that tariff levied for anything
but revenue only was unconstitutional.
As the London Times OF Sept %, very
naturally remarked: "This policy, if
fairly and logically carried out, is not to
be distinguished from free trade in the
practical form in which we are familiar
with it.
'1f protective duties are unconstitu-
tonal MS was asserted at Chicago. no
financial legerdemuin can produce any
other 'readjustment than that which
would naturally follow the removal OF
all imposts tending to bolster up par.
tcular branches Of industry and com.
merce."
Should the American people now
choose the Republican candidates, the
present tariff would stand, or when
amended, would only be so changed as
to insure closer conformity in practt-
cal principals on which it is made. Or
il our opponents should be chosen,
their Congress is pledged to the repeal
OF the present tariff and to the adop-
tion OF one arranged for revenue only,
and their executive is pledged to the
doctrine that n tariff having regard also
for American wages is unconstitutional /;
that the only new one that could es-
cape the presidential veto must be Of
the kind which the London Times con.
siders equivalent TO free trade. 8
The constitutionalily Of protective
tariff has heretofore been thought es.
tabIished. A tariff bill avowedly for
"the encouragement and protection Of
manufacturers" was carried through
the first Congress by James Madison,
and was signed by George Washington.
A third Of century laterS Andrew
jackson, in a message to Congress
December Z, lS30), maintaining the
constitutionality OF the protective sys.
ten, said: "In this conclusion am
confirmed as well by tho opinions Of
Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Mad
isop and Monroe. who have
each repeatedly recommended the
exercise OF this right under the consti-
tuition, as by the uniform practice OF
Congress, tho continued acquiescence
Of tho States and the general under
sianeing oi the people"
To this testimony from the men who
made tho constitution, and from the
father Of the modern Democratic party,
may be added that OF tho latest high
authority OF that party on constitution
al law, the Hon. George l'icknor Curtis,
VINO has recently said:
In common with many other Demo.
Gratis cannot subscribe to the doctrine
that protective tariff is unconiti;n.
uonai. In drafting and voting for this
resolution the membero either showed
dense ignorance OF American political
history, or they manifested purpose
10 win votes by deceiving tho voters. |
cannot ut the bidding OF these gentle
men. nnlearn tho lessons OF my whole
lite. Ill cannot claim to DO nm author.
ity on such subjects, can point ont
10 others tho truo sources from which
" derive INTERPRETATIONS Of the con.