The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-17
THE DUTIES THAT SHOULD NOT BE
IMPOSED.

The platform adopted b. the Democratic
party at Chicago in June last contains
the following sentence:
1--WE declare it TO be n fundamental
principle of the Democratic party that
the Federal Government has no consul
tu.ional power to impose and collect tariff
duties, except for the purposes OF revenue
only, and we demand that the collection
OF such taxes shall be limited to the ne
cessities Of the government when honest
ly and economically administered"
With this announced to the voters Of
the United States as the principle that
would guide 1t I'm administering the gov
eminent If those voters should honor it
with the charge. the people of the United
states by an overwhelming majority COM
mitted the custody OF every branch Of
the government 20 the Democratic parry.
Planks in party platforms are often
merely prefunctory things 10 which the
voters give little heed and which are,
therefore, TO be lived up to or not as the
progress OF events may disclose them 10
be wise or the reverse. But il cannot be
said that this provision in the Demo
cratic platform of last June was intended
TO be in a sort of respect perfunctory
only. The principle which II enunciates
had been the bone Of contention between
parties for six years before the platform
was adopted. 1t had been debated IN
every hamlet-it was the living issue OF
the day. and IT was put into the platform
deliberately and because it was Demo
cratic doctrine, and was approved of and
ratified by the people at the election be-
cause they wanted It TO be the guiding
principle OF our government. Party men,
therefore. who respect party obligations,
are under the most binding obligation tC
make their official action conform TO the
letter and spirit of this declaration. This
IL the partys PLATFORM upon faith that
II would be carried into force and effect
the people committed the government &c
Democratic hands and the Democratic
party is. therefore. under the highest anc
most solemn obligation 70 make this prin'
ciple the effective one in our revenue
laws.
But the principle is not only Demo
cratic doctrine. II is right IN itself. a
government which imposes upon any Of iu
citizens taxes for any purpose but tC
raise the revenues that are necessary L
pay its expenses when honestly and eco
nomicaily administered. robs its citizens
qua that tax. and converts itself from
what II should be- a government admins
tering equal laws so that they shall bea1
equally upon all. into a tyrannical abus
% autocratic power. The whole aim an
object OF governmtnt is to set up an
administer laws that bear in the sam
wey upon every individual citizen of tn
nation. and in doing that II is committed
by every principle Of political econom
and morals. 20 taking from the peopl
NJ more OF their means Of subsistence
than what IS necessary TO pay the eN
penses Of administering those laws hon
estly and at the smallest possible cost.
These principles are so obvious and S
elementary that we are hardly tusune
in dwelling upon them, and II is abs
lutsly amazing that there can be- and
any sort OF difference OF opinion conceri
h Inc thsm. Indeed. although there ar