The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-09-08

I the heterogeneous composltl9n o1
| the Democratic party insthis section
since the collapse of theswhig party
and the substitution of knownothing-
, ism. The old line Wings were
forced in the Democratic party by
the religious intolerance plank in
serted in the national platform OF
the American party. These men
were actuated by a patriotic motive.
They joined the Democratic party
to fight for the preservation of re-
l,gious freedom, but they never re-
nounced the cherished idea of their
leader, the great Kentuckian, the
promoter of the American system
of protection. With them protec-
ton by the government was an ar
ticle of political faith, which, like
religious faith, may temporarily lay
dormant, but will revive and bright
en- at the least light of hope.
When the Republican party came
into existence and attained power,
advocating Mr.. Clay's system of
protection, many Southern men
would have gone to their first love
and joined that party had it not
been for its cursed policy on the
negro question, with its allies, the
ravenous carpet-baggers and sneak
ing scallawags. Patriotism again
kept these men in the Democratic
party; but now that the negro has
ceased to be dangerous factor in
politics (for the present at leAst)
and the carpet-baggers have sneaked
back in their holes, a new state of
things presents itself and that light
of hope is glittering before the eyes
of every protectionist. The ma
tional Democracy and the Demo
cratic president don't want protec-
ton for the sake of protection,
which IS nothing but class legis-
lation. They don't want to tax the
people in excess of what is needed
to run the government. To that
extent the Federal government has
the right and power to tax the peo-
pie; but that tax should be limited
to tariff for revenue only. Every
thing in excess, whether to protect
or foster any particular industry, is
The Democratic doc.
trine has been and is to levy du-
ties as much as practicable on for
eign goods which come in conaPe-
tition with home goods, SO as to
assist our industries
with out making the consumers con-
tribute more than is needed by the
but this comes in con-
fict with the interests of the bene
6claries of the Mckinley law who
are bowling that the Democrats have
ruined Louisiana and grim and
hideous poverty is staring them in
the face.
a similar condition Of the public
mind existed when President Jack
son caused the public moneys to be
from the United States
Bank. Orators predicted the utter
ruin of the country; resolutions
we're adopted at public meetings
of the President;
party leaders and even members of
The cabinet quailed under the pres
sure and deserted their flag. The
Democratic party was threatened
With d1sintegration, but Jackson
firm; he had faith in the
good sense of the people and put
ais trust in them, and they stood
~ him. The bank fingered and
lied, and its votaries were politi-
:ally buried with it. So it will be
With the Mckinley bill and those
Who cling to it, for the voters are
90 intelligent not to understand
hat the aim of government is to
secure the greatest good to the
greatest number, and not to tax the
masses to enrich favored class of |
citizens.