The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-07
They Are Protection, Reciproc-
ity and National Currency.
The Democratic Platform Should Be
Held Up Before the People.
Ing Surplus for Building Canals
and Other Public Improvents-what
aReturn to State Banks Would Mean.

AUGUSTA, Me-, Sept. 6-The following
letter from Hon. James G. Blaine to Chair
man Manley, of the Republican state COM
mittee, was made public tonight:
BAR HARBoR. Me-, Sept 2, 1892
To Hon James II. Manley, Chairman. Augusta,
Me.-My Dear Sir: Not being able, for reasons
which have explained to you, TO deliver pub
lie speeches in the present campaign. take the
liberty OF submitting my views the issues
which l regard as being the strongest for the
Republicans to urge before the people The
issue OF greatest consequence is the tariff on
imports. and 1t will continue to be until set
tiement is effected by majority so
large that 1t will be tantamount TO acqui-
escence. The Republicans are aggressive on
this subject. Two years ago they passed the
general enactment known as the Mckinley
tariff, which for time failed to meet with
popular approval, and was regarded with a GER
tain degree OF distrust by those who had always
upheld the protective system, but a powerful
reaction came In consequence of the vindicatou
OF the Mckinley tariff by experience 1t is
found to have worked admirably. and within
the last year IL has produced a greater volume
OF business, internal and external, export and
import, than the United States has ever trans
acted before. Notwithstanding the character
and extent OF the opposition to IL, agriculture
Is remuuerative, manufacturers prosperous and
commerce more hourishing than at any previous
time. thus virdicating the Mckinley tariff by
an impressive and undeniable series of facts.
Against this tariff the Democratic party has
taken position almost without parallel in the
history of the country. They reject entirely the
doctrine OF protection, pronounce il a fraud and
anathematize it generally. A resolution to this
effect was adopted by the Democratic conven-
ton against the report Of the committee on res
olutious, by two-thirds vote thus manifesting
the intelligent participation of every man in the
convention. Sometimes a resolution may be
adopted in haste, or just when convention is
adjourniug, and it may fail to receive the atten-
ton of members, but this resolution was de-
bated pro and con, adopted after contest and
perfectly understood by the members of the
convention. 1t 10 contained in these words;
We denounce Republican protection as fraud
on the labor of the great majority of the Amer
lean people for the benefit of few. We declare
ii to be a fundamental principle OF the Demo
cratic party that the federal government has not
the constitutional power to impose or collect
tariff duties, except for the purpose OF revenue
only. We demaud that the collection of such
taxes shall be limited to the necessities of the
government when honestly and economically
administered.
II any one will take the trouble to read the
resolutions by which Mr.. Calhoun sought to de-
fend his notification scheme in 1883, he will
find the tariff platform Of the Democratic party
in general harmony Herewith, and II he ex-
amines the subject further he will dis
cover that the duties in the compromise
tariff, which reconciled Mr.. Calhoun
and appeased his angry followers in
South Carolina were of more comprehensive
character than those contemplated in the Demo.
cratic resolution of 1892. The Democrats are in
the habit of naming Jefferson as the founder OF
their party. and yet on the subject of the tariff
they are in radical opposition to the principles
laid down by Jefferson. Toward the close OF
his administration the revenue from the tariff
on imports produced considerable surplus, and
the question was, should the tariff be ro-
duced or should this surplus be main
tanned. Jefferson pointedly asked, Shall
We suppress import duties and
give that advantage to foreign over domestic
manufacturers? For himself he recommended
that import duties be maintained, and surplus
created, which should be appropriated to the
improvement of roads. canals, rivers and educa
tion. II the constitution did not give sufficien,
power to warrant these appropriations, jefferson
went SO far as to recommend that it be amended
This presents the strongest condition of affairs
upon which protective tariff can be justified
aud Jefferson did not hesitate to recommend it
The Democrats of the present day, it is needless
to say, are in direct opposition 10 the policy
which jefferson thus outlined and adhered to-
When the principle of reciprocal trade wa,
first proposed to be introduced into the tariff
system the Democrats showed the most gener
ous appreciation of the question, and gave il
their support so long the Republicans re
fused to accept 1t, but when the Republican,
came to approve of it Democratic support van
ished, and instead of favoring 1t we find the
Democratic national convention passing q
resolution hostile to the system. But in epitt
of Democratic opposition We have attained
through reciprocity new and valuable trade
aud the system has demonstrated its many i'd
vantages. We were about to declare sugar. mo
lasses, coffee and hides free of all duties in tn,
Mckinley bill, but instead of that We passed ,
law by which we asked the several nations in
teres,ed what they would give to have thes,
articles made free. We found that the privilege,
which we were about to give without cost and
without charge would secure large trade in
Brazil; in Cuba and Porto Rico; in the Wind
ward and Leeward islands: in British Guian,
sad jamaica; In the San Domingo and tho flv,
Central American states, and in a minor degre'
in Austria, France and Germany, all /,
exchange for articles which We had in
tended gratuitously to admit. The fres
list of the Mckinley tariff ia large
in the number Of articles and in the aggregate
amount of their import value than the dutiabl'
list What would have been the result TO th,
United States IL every article, before IL was pu
on the free list, had been made the subject o
INQUIRY to see what we could get in exchang
for il. We omitted 10 do so for many years, an.
that neglect has cost the government an al
vantage In trade which would have amounted
to tens of millions of dollars. This is the W hoi
reciprocity scheme. IL is very plain and yer,
siupIe; II secures valuable trade in exchang
for articles otherwise destined TO be put on tn
free list The Democratic party think they Cal
diseredit it, and they make The effort apparently
for the unpatriouc reason tha. they did 10
originate il.
With all its calamities the war brought on
great blessing, a national currency. There ar
many who say twas worth the cost OF the wa
to bring about so auspicious result to capita
and labor. Prior 20 the war we had the wors
surrency system of any enlightened nation
Thoroughly irresponsible banks existed b
thousands throughout the United States. When
ever one of these failed the result wa
large loss and great distress among the people
No one was responsible Tor the bills and the
were generally found scattered In tn
pockets OF the laboring man. TO whom the
were q total loss without any redempt!o wha
ever OF state banks il was often truly said ths
their debts measured their profits. They cause
An aggregate loss OF hundreds OF millions G
dollars among tue poor. since the close of tn
war all this 10 different Every paper dollar tha
crculates among the people has the Unite
States behind as a guarantee. All the banks {
issue that exist are under control OF th
national government and ii they fall a
financial institutions the governmeut hs
taken care that their bills shall Be PAL
By securities deposited In government vault
Under these reunstances ID is . matter for el
traordinsry surprise that The Democratic COT
ven,ion should deliberately pass a resolution 10
revival of state banks. The palpaoie effect G
this policy. II carried out would DC 10 cheat tt
poor man out Of his daily bread. II state bank
should b adopted and their circulation shoul