The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-28

g
eIrcamstarces ought we not to keep our
selves in . position 10 enter into CONNER
csal treaties rather than 20 leave ourselves
open 10 attack without anything 10 give
IN return7
A.wes stand today there IL practically
10 governments restriction or inEeratction
bv Europe against American products OF
food and fabric. When snea exist or are
threatened IL viii De time enough to
weigh the policy of giving NJ cur home
market for the SAKE OF securing greater
markets abroad.
AS TO wheat. about which so much was
sais BY the honorable senator from Texas,
seknow that our principal market abroad
is Ea gland. and from her snsGlar and non
self-suppo-ting position she s.ii never dsre
10 pat a tax upon bread. No more corn
laws. Il is folly 30 tax aboat the necss-
sity Of our taxing her wooden merchandise
in exchange for cur wheat. England
takes au the wheat she wants sud no
more. and paws for Is. not in barter. but
in exchange, and she has plenty of ex-
change against Us by reason OF the inter
est payable TO her people on our seeuri-
ties Her merchants bur wheat where
they can buy il cheapest; just as we buy
cigars from Cuba, coffee from Brazil or tea
from China. without barter. When you
barter YOU get into the domain of reciproc-
ity, and Democracy does not like that
word. IL smacks too much of Blaine Re-
publiranisln, of the valuable deals We
made under Harrison with Cuba and the
Pan-American people 10 increase our for
eign markets.
No ouestion can possibly be brought BE-
fore the congress OF the United States that
is fraught with surh monenioas eoosa-
auences as a revision OF the tariff laws. Ii
is q question that concerns every humsn
being within the boundaries of this great
a. -.
any other which has been or may re sub
mitted to this congress for its considera-
tioD-
THE QUESTION or RAISING REVENUE.
The problem which confron.s US 10 as
old IS civilized government; it Is the ques-
ton of the methods by which means can
be raised TO support great government
with the least oppression end with the
most helpful effects upon our business
prosperity and the welfare of our people.
For the first time in thirty years the
Democratic party has obtained control of
the whole legislative and executive
branches of the government. and they
have signaiized their return to power by
the introduction OF q bill which should
have been entitled. "A bill for the destruc-
ton of American industries and TO create
a deficiency In the revenue" And in SO
doing / boldly state that the Democratic
party is not only in opposition 10 the best
interests of the country, but it is false to
ITS own doctrines as enuneiated by many
OF its leaders.
In the early days of its existence, free
trade was not the policy of the Democratic
party, but il is an incubus which has
grown on il, and which had its origin in
ths unwhoiesome atmosphere of slavery
during its exlstence In the South
ern States. when the planters Of
Id FL r
exchanging the products of their cheap
negro labor for the cheap goods manu-
featured by the white slaves of Europe,
and threatened TO disrupt the Union If
their demands were not granted. How
this idea has developed and, like the mi
asma from swamp. has gradually in
fected and demoralizsd their economic
policy, is best proved from their own
words as embodied in three democratic
platforms.
EARLY DEMOCRATS FOR PROTECTION.
The platform of that party in 1882,
upon which Andrew Jackson was elected
president of the United States, had the
following words ~ one Of its planks:
Resolred That an adequate protection to
American industry IS indispensable 10 the pros
perity OF the country, and that an abandonment
of that policy would he attended with consc.
queues ruinous to the best interests OF the
country.
Ii is striking illustration of the old
adage relating TO the demoralizing effects
of bad society and the corrupting infiu-
ences OF evil communications to look at
later Democratic platforms and TO notice
how they have deteriorated from the
wholesome and truthful doctrines of 1882.
But even as late as 1884 in spite
of ell the efforts of Southern free traders,
the Democratic party did not consider IT.
sell sufficiently sure of power to throw
aside the mask of expediency and an
nounce itself as the advocate Of free trade.
The Democratic platform of i3s4, while
il does not reiterate the good old patriotic
Jacksonian doctrine of protection, gives
but the mildest intimation of the free
trade lesyen working within the party
Ii said:
The Democratic party is pledged to revise the
tariff in spirit of fairness TO all interested.
But ia making reduction of taxes IL is not pro-
posed IN jurc any domestic industries
Coming down eight years later we find
in the Democratic platform OF 1892 q
violent denunciation of the whole system
of protection To American industries and
the American workingman. 1t certainly
speaks in no uncertain tones, as the fol-
lowing quotation will show;
We ienoanee Republican protection an a
fraud: a robbery OF the great American people
"A
fundamental principle OF the Democratic party
that the Federal government has no constfsu-
tionai power 10 impose or collect tariff duties
except Tor the par pose OF revenue only.
If the worthy old Democrats who elected
Andrew Jackson 10 the presidency and
who framed the platform of iss2, could
have heard this wild screed when il was
announced in the convention hall AZ Chi
cago; If there had been any telephone
communication to their present abodes to
have conveyed to their dull ears the clar-
ion tones OF the speaker who as the mouth
piece of the Democratic party announced
this as his creed. il would have been al
most enough TO gaivanize them into life
again, TO hear their good old Democratic
doctrine of protection to American indus
tries denounced as Republican protection.
and 20 learn that they themselves were
considered as violators of the constitution
in having adopted IL.
BLIND TO THE TEAcHIsGs or HISTORY.
II is q strange condition of affairs that
this great battle between the two hostile
theories OF government, which have been
so long struggling for supremacy, should
have 20 be fought so frequently: that men
70 whom is inirusted the great and sacred
charge Of framing legislation to promote
the welfare Of this great country. and the
property and happiness OF ITS people so
inextricaoly bound uu Ia this great anes-
ton. should be 80 ind ieFent 20 the teach
ing= OF history, shoals deliberately shut
their eyes and turn their backs on the
pages upon which are inscribed the direful
effects of former attempts to so reduce
customs duties as 10 leave American arsi-
sans and lahoTers exposed 10 the COMPETE
tion OF the miserably unaerpa.d labor OF
Europe aud the rice eating paEans Of Asia.
Other pages glow with accounts OF the
prosperity of the country when il Was
sheltered under the -Eg.s Of protection 10
its industries Let as E1Fn one OF those
pages Of history bearing date Of that came
wear. IsS2. IN whlch the Democratic party
haH nrr..snrrrA rtrnref-tInn n ar.e-s.s :,