The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-24
THE DEMOCRATIC WAY.

trusted with the full control of govern
ment after a lapse of many years, it
began to consider how it should redeem
its pledges. 1t its campaign of educa-
tion" il had promised many things, but
the most important Of its pledges was Of
course found in its tariff plank. The
tariff was almost the sole issue in 1892.
The tariff plank of the Democracy, as
adopted by its national convention, was
purely and simply for revenue tariff.
A protective tariff was an outrage, and
unconstitutional"
This was the issue.
The Democratic idea Of tariff
meant free trade. We were to have free
raw materials, ''untaxed dinner pails,"
and no more of unconstitutional pro-
tectIon." We were to gain an entrance
into the markets of the world by throw
ing down the "Chinese wall of protec-
tion."
How has this pledge been carried out
The Democratic party has been in full
control OF the Government for over
year. Both branches of the national
legislature and the executive depart
ment as well are Democratic. The ma
tion which was represented as groaning
and suffering under its burden Of taxa
tion imposed by the Mckinley tariff has
as yet seen no tariff legislation placed
upon the statute books.
The Democracy promised a revenue
tariff bill, yet the measure formulated
by the Ways and Means committee of
the House was neither revenue tariff
bill nor revenue producing bill. 1t
simply created deficit of eighty millions
of dollars annually, and to fill the hole
the odious income tax was resorted to.
1t contained few of the elements of a
tariff for revenue only. 1t had made
additions to the free list, but it
still maintained protective tariff
in the form of greatly reduced
duties. The motive for the peculiar
construction of the measure was dis
cernible on the face of the bill itself, and
needed not the added fact to account
for its construction that the gentlemen
on the committee, with one exception,
were Southerners, who were seeking,
not how to formulate tariff in accord
ance with the Democratic platform, but
to create tariff that should satisfy the
South and West.
New England industries were ruth
lessly attacked, but Southern industries
were fostered and cherished. Every
Southern industry was protected by the
bill. At every Northern one a deadly
blow was aimed.
The bill passed the House and went
to the Senate, where it was referred to
the finance committee. Again Southern
influences were at work on the bill and
all the changes of importance that were
made were in the interest of the South.
Sugar was taxed for the benefit of
Louisiana and the Trust, whiskey re-
ceived higher tax for the benefit of
Kentucky, the iron and coal that was
to be free for the New England manu-
facturer was taxed for the benefit of
Alabama and West Virginia. but the
manufactured product against which
New England mills must compete had
its tax red in the majority Of in
stances from 80 to 80 per cent, while
the raw material, needed by the New
England manufacturers to enter into
competition under the new order of
things was taxed heavily.
There were other concessions made,
some Of them in favor Of Northern in
dustries, IL Is true. but they were made
in order TO benefit Democratic Senators
and congressman. Thus the collar and
cuff industry at Troy inl Senator Muir
phys district received a very high pro-
tection; yes, this same unconstitutional
protection" that was denounced as "A
robbery when practised under Republi-
can rule, but which is perfectly legiti-
mate 70 strengthen the grip Of Demo.
cratic Senator upon his seat.
The tariff bin as IL now stands before
the ssnate is neither one thing nor the