The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-22

David b. Hill insists that the Democratic
tariff plank adopted at Chicago in 1892
does not mean anything beyond the Demo-
cratic tariff planks of 1884 and 1855. The
committee on resolutions was willing to
agree that "any change of law must be at
every step regardful of the labor and
capital involved" The convention would
not make even this concession. It hast
ensd to say that a protective tariff was I'M
constitutional. as follows:
wedenouace Republican protection as a fraud.
robbery OF the great majority of the American
people for the benefit of the few. We declare il
10 be fundamental principle OF the Democratic
party that the federal government has no consti-
tutionsl power To enforce and collect tariff
duties except for the purposes of revenue only.
ana demand tho collection OF such taxes shall
be limited TO the necessities OF the government,
honestly and economically administered
This plank was adopted by the Chicago
convention by an emphatic vote The
committees plank was rejected. 5Gi to $50.
The Democratic tariff plank of 1892, in
its denunciation of protection as fraud
and unconstitutional, is completely ut
variance with the old doctrine OF the
Democratic party proclaimed in former
national platforms and supported by the
declarations Of Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe. Jackson and Tiiden. that protection
was wise and constitutional exercise of
national power.
Jefferson. in his second annual message.
said We ought to protect the manufact-
nrcs adapted to our circumstances" in
his sixth annual message he spoke with
approval of ''prohibitory duties" and
asked: "shall We suppress the imposts
and give that advantage to the foreign
over our domestic manufactures ?" Madi-
son wrote:
That the encouragement OF manufactures was
an object of the power 20 regulate trade is
proved by the use made OF that power for that
object In the nrss session of the trst congress
anGeF The constitution. when among the mem
eess present were - many who had been MEM
hers Of tbs federal convention which framed tho
constitution. and OF the state conventions which
ratified tt. each OF these classes consisting Also
al members Who had opposed IL 10 does not
appear from the proceedings Of congress on that
occasion that the power Was denied nv any of
them, FAs 1aiisoa Papsrs. Vel s. D. 6sL
Monroe IN his seventh annual message
a TctEsE Oh the tSrftt
for the purpose of afording additional
protection - those articles which We are
prepared to manufacture. or which are
more immediately connected with the
defense and Independence of the coun-
try"
When Jackson WAS q candidate for re-
election in iSs2 the doctrine of the Demo
cratic party Gu the tariff was defined Is
follows:
Resoisod. That adequate protection to Aneri
csa industry IL indispensable - the prosperity
al the conatry, and that an abandonment 81
the roiey as this perioi would Do ATTENDED
with Consequences rninoas 70 the eest interest,
90 the nation.
The Democratic tariff plank for iSs2 i.
substantially identical with the utteranee.
Of Calhoun and the other notification
eonspirators Of 1852: and with the Con
fcssera,e constitution constructed by th,
disciples OF Calhoun. who organized ans
eel in motion rebellion in 1851. This oc
Bourbon Calhoun theory Of tho uneonsti