The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-07-25
Ogden. July q. ls9a

TO the Editor Of The Herald:
The history of the United States is made
up Of a series of pulsations OF prosperity
and depression. The present unfortunate
situation is only one Of many the people
have been placed in by acknowledgement
and injudicious legislation. The great
masses of the people are partakers in a
common misfortune. In a representative
government like ours. with the extensive
privileges Of franchise, the people are re-
sponsiblc for periods of depression and
discomfort. The government, national,
state and local is in the hands of the peo-
pie, their votes determine the national
policy of administration. If it conduces
to happiness they have themselves to
compliment, if it is ruinous to their in
tereStS they are to blame. No nation can
expect to be absolutely happy without es-
tabliShing a familiarity with political Is
sues, an acquaintance with the tunuamen-
tai principles of political economy. Pro-
fessor Huxley says: The question OF
questions for mankind, the problem hat
deeply underlieS all others is the aScer-
tainment of mans place in nature and the
relationship he sustains TO the universe
of things" But the great question that
Immediately concerns the American peo-
pie is their entertainment in the political
world and the men for whom they will
vote. The national education of the peo-
pie along the lines above Indicated would
result in the abandonment of the SOph-
isms of a protective system and a substi-
tuition therefor of the solid and substan-
tial principles of Democracy, those prin-
ciples in the establishment of which En-
gland was emancipated from the tyranny
and consequent slavery of protection.
The present CONFUSION is invariably re-
ferable by the Republican party TO the
Democratic administration. With a stub
born and obstinate inconsistency they re-
fuse to look into history and weigh the
relative consequences Of forces in opera
ton. Their absurd reasoning proceeds
practically upon the figurative hypothesis
that there is nothing back of the history
of the present administratio that all
has been suddenly preciDitated, so far as
trouble is concerned. In view of the in
activity along the desired lines of inVesti-
cation and misapprehension, it was a lit
tie unpropihous for Democracy in the
achievement of a victory when ruin was
inevitable, when the country had become
so impoverished by Republicanism that a
crisis was irresistible. Those, however,
who have even made but a superficial eX-
animation of the causes that gave birth
TO the present situation, trace it's incep-
ton to that evil day in our nations his
tory when the Republican party assumed
the reins of government; its eliminating
point to the prodigious development of
Mchinleyism. 1t is the legitimate result
Of Republican votes. The Democratic vic
tory of 80 affords them a sort of refuge
to deny it from behind which they direct
their denunciations. Van Buren, caught
the full consequences of violent storm
plecipftated by JackSon'S financial policy.
The genius Of a Napoleon could not have
avoided the panic If 1887 The vast
amount of paper money in circulation had
Induced reckless speculation. The specie
circular Of 1886 by reviving the demand
for gold and silver, ruined the greater
portion of the banks. It was this demand
that introduced disaster into business
resulting in the greatest panic in history
So to-day all ingenuity of the nineteenth
could not have averted the panic of 1898
brought on by indirect. excessive and re
morseless taxation OF the Republican (re-
probate) party
The fundamental and controlling issue
faat has ever confronted the American
people from the inception Of our govern.
ment, mas been the tariff. The great
problem of African slavery, which in its
blood and money, stands separate and in.
dependent as a distinctive feature of oul
national history. The silver question OF
recent years has assumed extraordinary
prominence, but has never been a con.
slant and continuing issue of national diff
ference. The construction of public
roads and canals, however, was one OF
the earliest questions that occasioned oil
vision between the loose and strict con
structionists, but the great universal anC
predominant issue has ever been the tar
if. 1t is the question Of all questions
the problem that underlies all others. anC
the one that involves in its solution great
er interests than any other.
The ingenuity of the past century re
CARELESS of party has demonstrated it,
tnsufficiency to elaborate a policy of for
elsn trade that in its practical operation
was universally benifcent and satisfacto
~. This proposition does not involve IN,
virtue and utility of principle. A princi
pie per Sc may be inherently inferior O,
bad and yet may not involve in its prac
teal application ruipous consequences. q
nation is frequently spoken of as bein:
great Wnen Its greatness consists only O
Individual power, the mass of the people
being impoverished. Such was the great
ness Of Rome in her dayS of glory am
prosperity. The principles of Republican
protection are jntrinSlcally absurd, We
the nation has grown and prospered in
measure uilaer Republican regime. In tbs
estimate OF causes producing prosperity
under such conditions, the Republican
party Kindly and obstinately overlook
the aggregation of elements CONSULTING +,
bring about such a situation. The reduc
ION il the price of commodities is b,
them invariably referable to the opera
llon OF protectlVe tar11t. such reasoning
bears upon its face the marks of Sophis
try, and is too paIpabIy absurd to be en-
tertained. Before street railways becaln
an established fact, TRANSPORTATION from
the depot up town cost 80 cents Will
unGer the Improved facilities the same i
accomplished for one-tenth of that price
me unpfosressiye process of making foo
wear by hand has been supplauted b,
machines mGgnifcently elaborated Tn
der the new process enough shoes can b
manufactured in a fortnight to cover III
great American foot. that under the oil
could not be attained in n score of year
at price Infinitely greater. So It is i
the almost limltless variety Of industrie
to-day. manufactures with the new de
signs for the promotion Of the same hay
1evolutionized the industrial world.
The history Of government presents
series Of congressional enactnents con
1irInatory of and against protection sue
legislation being determined with refer
ence 10 the constitutional leanings of tn
parties. From our victory over the En-
glish in 1fS3 the elements leading to part
division take their inception, b. did no
assume that absoluteness CHARGE rstic G
the present parties till after the constitu
ton was formulated in 1789 The tw
great spirits, Jefferson and Hamilton. ar
largely responsible for the subsequent on
ta2OniSm in the political faith of m
eralist, was an ardent advocate of sfric
construction. Hamilton was the recog
nlzed leader Of loose construction. main
tanning that the clause in the coilStitutio
authorizing congress % provide for tn
II common defense, and regulate commerce
implicitly confers power 10 pass Drotec
tive laws. Jefferson and the Democrat
maintained that such legislation might
convenient but not necessary that dutie
imposed upon foreign inportations mus
lee limited TO the purpose of raising gov
eminent revenue. The Interpretation Q
these constitutional provisions has const
tuted the essential divisional lines of tn
political faith of the people from thos
stormy days to the present
The first protective law was passed Jul
5, 1882 by a congress composed of ma
.ority of federalists: Its preamble desie
~ cement and protection of manufacture:
Che high protective system, however di
rot become exclusively party tenet 70
many years after. A process of eYolutio
was necessary in the development of DE-
terminate hues of the parties
In 1872, shortly after tie breaking on
of the French revolution, the Democrat
party, then known as the anti-federalisti
adopted the name of Democratic Ilepubl
cans The designation Of Democrat a
Well as ,Jacobin was applied as a reproac
naIle Republican was continued until 1872
since which time il has been known a