The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-05

CONGRESSMAN MCMILLAN OF Tennessee
made these remarks to a reporter OF the
Tribune on Monday. shortly before his re-
. turn to Washington after visit to this city:
AS member of the Ways and Means Committee. It
would be manifesty improper for me to discuss the
tariff bill which is now under consideration by tho
committee. will say. however that tho tarn will be
revised with object of supporting the Government
not with tho OBJ OF supporting believe
Chat the Democratic platform should be carried out to
the letter on tho tarif and all other points,"
or course, the Democratic platform
must be carried out to the letter. The
fultilment Of its promises is an honor
able obligation resting on the Democratic
party. and Mr.. MCMILLIN simply notifies
the Republicans that they will be disap-
pointed II they expect any vestige Of the
unconstitutional system OF protection to
be left by the Democratic party. The
whole robbery OF the great majority OF
the American people for the benefit Of the
few" must cease, not merely because 1t
outrages abstract justice, but because 1t
outrages "a fundamental principle Of the
Democratic party that the Federal Govern
ment has no constitutional power to i'm
pose and collect tariff duties. except for the
purpose OF revenue only"
the matter. 1t is obliged to obey the Con-
stitution. and it would be obliged to obey it
whether the robbery was Of the few for the
benefit OF the many. or of the many for the
benefit of the few. There must be no rob-
berry for the benefit OF anybody, and there
must be no violation of the Constitution.
The tariff must be revised, and. as Mr. Nc
MILLIN says. it Twill be revised with the
- hn nt
with the object OF supporting individuals"
That is a declaration which this eminent
Democrat did not need to make to Demo-
Gratis. for Of course the Democratic party
will stand by it's fundamental principles:
but as Republicans are disposed to insult
the Democracy by assuming that it will
betray it's principles for their benefit, Mr..
MCAIlLLN was justified in SO answering
Republican interlocutor
The tariff question having been settled
finally and absolutely by the people at the
election OF last November. the tariff now to
be constructed by the Democratic Congress
must be in strict accordance with that de-
cision. The Democratic party never be-
trays the people. 1t never processes prin-
cples which it does not hold and which 1t
does not obey. In the Democratic tariff
there will be no protection. direct or
indirect. 1t will be for revenue only.
for tho purpose OF supporting the Gov
eminent and not for the purpose OF sup
porting individuals. The partnership Of
the Government in favored private In
terests established by protection. must DO
dissolved. The Government must run Its
own business for its own necessary income
only. and all private industry must have to
do the same. Each tub must stand on its
own bottom. The interference OF the Govern
ment In the private business OF the people
will cease. and it will cease because 1t is I'M
constitutional. and. moreover. because 1t
robs the many for the benefit Of the few.
The Democratic party will help all the
people to prosperity by giving them just
and equal laws. 1t will not enrich the few
by robbing the many. 1t will require only
the tribute necessary for the honest and
economical administration Of the Govern
ment. 1t will exact none for tho particular
benefit OF any industry or any individual.
1t will raise revenue for general purposes.
and mono for special protection. 1t will
make tariff on neither the free trade nor
the protectionist theory. but solely for the
purpose to which 1t Is restricted by the Con-
sttution. the raising OF revenue.
That Is certainty TO which 1t ought not
to be necessary to draw the attention Of the
people; but the attempt OF Republicans and
OF some backward Democrats to confuse
their minds on the subject has made 1t ad-
visable for Mr.. McMILLIN to dlspel the fog
once for all. Tho people voted for the de-
struction OF protection as an uncons.itu-
tional system OF extortion. and In favor Of
constitutional tarin for revenue only; and
their will Ia to be obeyed. The Democratic
Ways and Means Committee are devising