The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-08

Issue no UnlUeu SVhJes hobes VI iooo
denomination than five dollars.
The Beautiful simplicity and Harmony
of the Platform.
Tbose Senators and Representatives who
studied the Democratic platform yesterday
In the columns OF THE sun. must have been
struck by the simplicity OF the task now
before them. 80 far as the reform OF the
tariff 10 concerned.
Tariff reform. or tariff revision. in past
years has meant something exceedingly
complicated and difficult. The central and
controlling idea Of all previous attacks upon
the abuses OF the existing schedules. has
been an approach toward free trade. The
programme has been lowering OF duties
on some articles. and an extension OF the
FREQ list by the abolition OF taxes on as
many articles Of import as possible: In
short. compromise between free trade and
protectionist principles. as favorable to free
trade as the political and industrial circum-
stances would permit.
In view Of the enormously complex char
acter Of American manufacturing interests,
and the pressure upon individual tariff re-
formers In Congress to take care that FREQ
trade should be approached In some other
direction than that which affected their own
constituents. the problem presented has
been one of appalling difficulty. No wonder
90 little has been accomplished in thatline Of
procedure. No wonder the hair Of earnest
free trade Statesmen and tariff reformers
OF the old school has turned gray while the
perplexed apostles were still young.
The tariff reform now proposed and prom
ised by the Democratic party is an entirely
different thing. Instead Of being compli-
Gated and difficult to the verge Of impossi-
bility. 1t is as simple and feasible as can be.
By the authoritative declaration Of the
party's supreme tribunal. the question Is
no longer as between free trade and
protection. but as between protection
and tariff for revenue only. The idea Of
free trade. or of getting Us near to free
trade as the conditions will permit. has
ceased to be factor. There Is no longer
any thought Of compromise with protec-
ton. What Is now attacked ls not merely
high, or excessive. or unjust protection. or
protection accorded to certain favored In
dustries. but protection itself.
We hope that among the Democrats Of
the Senate and House there is o growing
appreciation OF the tremendous change
wrought In the Democracys duty by the
resolution adopted at Chicago declaring it
to be fundamental principle Of the Demo-
cratic party that any tariff containing pro-
lection OF any sort Is unconstitutional.
A tariff for revenue only. the sole consti-
tutional tariff. according to the present
creed Of the Democracy. Is easy to make;
for revenue is the one object to be kept in
sight by the statesmen who shall frame
such tariff. The extension Of the free list
Is no longer desideratum: for strictly
revenue tariff cannot contain a FREQ list.
The attempt to bring In raw materials
free Of duty. or at low rates. will no longer
bother the tariff makers; for the only pur-
pose In admitting raw materials free. or at
low duties. Is to benefit the American man
ufacturer and the American consumer. and
that is protection and 1t Is unconstitu-
tonal. Reciprocity likewise goes to the
wall. The purpose Of reciprocity Is to pro-
mote American commerce by an adjustment
Of the tariff: and that purpose Is uncon-
stitutional. "The Federal Government"
says the platform. "has no constitutional
power to impose and collect tariff duties
except for the purpose Of revenue only"
Under well recognized principle OF In
depreciation the converse Is true. The
Government has no constitutional power to
remove. remit. or reduce tariff duties except
with view to revenue only.
1t will be seen that the free trade idea
is eliminated. along with the protectionist
idea. The task before Congress is sim
ply to enact tariff which shall meot
the Democratic platforms definition Of q
constitutional tariff: that is. a tariff con-
structed solely with view to raising
sufficient revenue to provide for the neces-
stiles of the Government when honestly
and economically administered.
That ought not to take many weeks time,
or require any particular ingenuity.
Overdue Backsliding.
1t is droll to find a big chief. very wero-
ance Of the Mugwumps. the Boston Herald.
patronizing Col. HENRY WArTERsoN and tell