Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-06-05

Iof the representatives of this great
country, whose Industrial and pro-
ducing interests are as varied as their
geographical locations differ.
1t is n fact. Mr.. President, that
any tariff bill framed upon a revenue
basis, intended to raise a given
amount of revenue from customs
duties laid upon imported articles
manufactured or produced in this
country, carries with it incidental
| protection upon every article upon
which it is laid to the extent of the
duty imposed. This is a result that
can not he evaded or disguised.
The only way to remedy it would be
by direct taxation, or to lay all tar
if duties on articles not manufac-
tured or produced in this country,
| and which could not therefore come
into competition with the produc-
tions of this country. This being
so, and the amount of revenue re-
CURED TO be raised from tariff duties
at this time TO meet the necessities
of the country being estimated at
about Sl70. 900, 900, free-trade bill
is not and could not he intended,
although the policy of the Demo-
cratic party is unquestionably to-
wards lower duties and "freer"
trade, which may, and / trust will,
continue to grow from year to year
in that direction as fast as the neces-
stiles of the Government and the
general business interests of the
country may permit.
In my judgment, this idea is most
clearly and wisely expressed in the
letter of acceptance of President
Cleveland, when he says:
| Tariff reform is still our purpose, though
we oppose the theory that tariff laws may be
raised having for their object the granting of
discriminating and unfair governmental aid
| to private ventures. We wage no cxtcrminat-
ing war against any American Interests. We
believe u reimbursement can he accomplished
| in accordance with the principles we profess
| without disaster or demolition We believe
| that the advantages of freer raw materials
should DO accorded to our manufacturers. and
We contemplate a fair and careful dis tribution
OF necessary tariff burdens rather than the
precipitation of free trade.
Mr.. President, there can be no
more difficult question than to har-
monte the views of representatives
of all the States, whose mauufactur-
ing, industrial, and producing in
terests vary as their locations geo.
| graphically differ. We have all ex-
perienced the diversities of opinion
that exist even in our own States on
these points. 1t will be no news to
any Senator upon this floor to say
that in every State different views
come to its Senators from different
counties, cities, and localities, out
lining conflicting instructions and
opinions as to what its Senators
should do on given questions of tariff
taxation, but no diversity of opionion
has reached us as TO the necessity
and urgency of speedy action.
All seem to he united on that point
and willing to make concession on
other points to accomplish that re-
suit; and, Mr.. President, nothing
short of infinite wisdom could adj
just and fill in the schedules of a tar
iff bill that would meet the Judgment
and approval of every representative
in legislative body, or the varied
interests of the constituents they rep
resent, and if we could conceive a
point at which infinite wisdom could
halt and stumble it would be in rec
onciling the conflicting snd contra
dictory views We listen to from dav
to day from our Republican friends
on the other side OF the Chamber.
who, by constant "nugging,", i'm
| passioned criticisms, and fiery de-
nunciations, undertake to instruct
the Democrats low TO make n tariff
bill, and how to discharge their du-
ties and obligations to the country
under the Democratic platform and
teachings of the party leaders.
We are informed in one breath
that the Democrats have framed a
protective tariff bill in opposition to
the pledges and instructions of their
party, while in the Rext breath they
denounce the bill as a wicked and
monstrous free-trade measure which
will destroy the great industries of
the country. Others denuunce il as
sectional bill, favoriDg the inter-
csts eff one section of the country Mt
the expense of other sections, and
all predicting disaster and ruin to
follow in the wake of the passage of
the bill.
Now, Mr.. President, let us look
honestly and dispassionately at what
the Democrats are pledged to do,
and Whist we are aiming TO do, and
the good or bad faith i'm which we
are carrying out these pledges and
aims. We hear it stated over and
over again by the Republicans on the
other side of the Chamber, and by
the newspaper press generally, that
lry the Chicago platform the party is
pledged to q tariff for revenue only''
and 10 Stree raw materials."- Now,
let us see what the Chicago platform
says on these points. 1t says:
We denouncn the Mckinley tariff law. en-
acted 10y tile Fifty-first Congress rs the cuI- |
ninaiing ntI ority of class legislation. Vein
dorSe the efforts made lay the Democrats of |
the present Congress 10 modify its most op-
pressive frnturercs in the direction of free |
raw materials and cheaper manufactured
goods that enter into general consumption.
and we PR mise its repeal as one on the benc- |
iiceut results that will follow the lotion of the
people in intrusting power to the Democratic |
party.
This same platform also declares
it to be
a fundamental principle of tho Democratic |
party that the Federal Government has no |
constitutional power to impose aud collect |
tariff except for purposes OF revenue ONLY aud /
we demand that the collection of such taxes |