The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-28


| give his views Of the true construction O
the Chicago platform. and OF the prospec
OF tariff legislation by the Congress Of tn,
United States that shall be satisfactory u
British manufacturing interests. This par
OF Consul FoIsoM's speech deserves to bt
reprinted here without abridgment:
Tbere are two or three practical things can say e
You which are OF more Importance than any resume Of
our history Enrlands greatest customer been
tinted States and. In spite OF tariffs that have been
raised against foreign countriea there 10. and must
continue to be- great and gigantic trade flowing from
England to America lIl.sr hear You have uassed
the worst period you crossed the highest barrier
| that can be raised between the United States and
England In the way OF trade obstruction tAppiause
"T will tell you why this Is. For the frst time since
the year 1880 the Democratic party which has been
| the party OF free trade, 10 IN power not only In
the executive but In both Its legislative branches
| tApplaussl During the former term Of Mr.. CtEvE.
| LAND he was blocked by the Senate standing be.
tween him and the House of Representatives. which
was ooratic and therefore bill could be passed
which was in the shape OF q compromise. When
the struggle for the Presidential election last
year the Democratic party for the rst time in Its
history, took far and square ground. aud made .
straight outand.out issuo between protection and
tarin for revenue only. Hear hehsl
III you will pardon Inc. will read to you the two
slight planks in the Democratic platform upon which
President the United States elected and npon
which tho Congress which power. and which 10
to be convened upon the 18th OF month elected
and you win see that ns the financial question
Ia disposed Of which 10 merely preliminary and must
disposed OF before the regular meeting OF Congress-
great question Is the tarn in which you
interested, and which the President and both Houses
of Congress are pledged to reduce. lApplause1 The
Democratic platform set forth. upon which Mr.. CLEvE.
LAND was elected. says: We denounce Republican
protection fraud arobbery of tho great majority OF
the American teoplc for few. We declare 1t TO be
fundamental principle of the Democratic party that
tho Federal Government has no constitutional power
impose and collect tarG duties except for the pur
poses of revenue only; and demand that the coiec
ton OF such taxes shall be limited to the necessities of
the Government when honestly and economically
administered
am not saying one word as to whether protection
FREQ trade. tariff for only 10 the best
thing for the United States or not. am simply giving
you the facts and you Judge for yourselves lap
pause In closing my career in Sheffield as Consul OF
the United States 1t affords me satisfaction to think
that before another twelve months has rolled by
shefeld will be subjected to the and OPP
pressive tariff duties that have restricted her trade
Applause"
The sturdy confidence OF the Hon. BENJA-
MIN FOLSOM In the honest intention Of the
President and the Democratic party to re-
deem promptly, and at their full face value.
the pledges of last year. Is creditable to
him. His attitude on the tariff question
should put to shame those timid, or
recreant or dishonest Democrats here at
home who are trying to persuade the
Hon. BENJAMIN FoLsoM's cousin-in-law that
the solemn declarations upon which the
election was won. amount to nothing
now that election day is over; and that the
promises OF one year ago can be repudiated
,xr,ifh NJ lich lao tor,
by some sophistical process OF evasion and
indefinite postponemcnt. How much moro |
manly and worthy OF respect tho Hon. |
BENJAMIN FOLSOM appears in his speech to |
tho Sheffield exporters than the Buffalo |
Courier and the Boston Herald appear in |
their daily editorial articles advising a |
policy of reputation!
1t makes little difference that Consul |
FOLSOM fell into the technical error of de-
scribing the Democracy as the party of
free trade" The Democracy has not de-
clared for free trade. and does not contem-
plate free trade. Its exact position with
regard to the unconstitutionality Of pro-
tective duties Of any sort. and the Federal
lack OF power to impose or
collect customs taxes for any other pur-
pose than for revenue only, is set
forth with sufficient distinctness in that
part Of the Chicago platform which Mr.. Fol-
SOM recited for the benefit OF his Sheffield
friends. None OF his hearers could pos
'ibly have misunderstood his inadvertent
difference to free trade. Nor ioes it make
my difference whether Sheffield and Shelf
ields industries Shall profit or lose by the
enactment Of constitutional tariff from
which protection Is eliminated. On the
main point Mr.. Folsom Is right. and We are
,lad to sec that he agrees with us.
The Fourth Of July speech Of the Hon.
BENJAMIN FOLSOM should be read at Buzz
ards Bay with political satisfaction as
veil as domestic delight: If. indeed, that
manly utterance has not already been
'erused and approved in that quarter.