The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-28
STAND BY THE CONSTITUTION.

"The ordinary Democrat is nothing
if he is not constitutional" So says a
Republican contemporary. Thanks. 1t
is not often we have so frank an adj
mission from that source. The ordinary
Republican, then, by parity of reason
ing, is nothing if he is not unconstitu-
tional. And thereby hangs the argu-
ment which follows the foregoing con-
fession. 1t is on the constitutionality Of
a protective tariff The Democratic
party stands by the constitution on
that question, and per contra the Re-
publican party departs from it.
The plank in the Democratic plat
form of 1892, which declares that there
is no constitutional authority for the
levying of the tariff except for revenue
only. has never yet been displaced. The
jibes which our Republican contem-
poraries have uttered in the stead of
reasons have never moved it a 1ot or
affected its integrity. The only thing
that can upset it's force, ia the citation
Of a clause in the constitution which
gives authority to Congress to levy
duties for any other purpose than to
raise revenue for the government.
If no such provision can be adduced,
then the controversy should close. The
national government has no lawful
power but that conferred upon it by
the constitution. If the power claimed
is not to be found in that instrument,
then it does not belong to the govern
j oil Of
| ity is usurpation.
But now comes our Republican apol-
ogist for unconstitutional protection
and says:
There is no place in that coristitu-
ton which says that the expounders of
the constitution should have the privi-
lege of breathing the air or drinking the
water that runs down City creek, or
taking the chances of being poisoned
by drinking it when it runs down Par
ley's canyon, and yet men do breathe
the air and they drink the water some
times. That constitution does. however.
distinctly say that the government can
raise all the money it needs by differ
; emit taxations. and there is no place in
that constitution which forpids that
revenue from being raised by taxing
certain classes Of property So that it
becomes a protection to the American
producer"
That is very smart is it not? But it
does not answer the question where
authority is found in the Constitution
for levying protective tariff. That in
strument does not deal with the in
herent rights of individuals, it pre-
scribes the conferred powers of
the government. 1t gives author
ity to the respective branches
of the national government and re-
serves all the powers not therein be-
slowed, to the states respectively or to
the people. IF among those delegated
powers the authority to levy duties,
customs and taxes for any other pur-
pose than for the expenses of govern
ment can be found. let the dispute be
ended by quoting the provision that
confers it.
This has never been done, because it
cannot be done. The Herald has never
said that The constitution forbids that
revenue shall be raised "by taxing
certain classes Of property so that it
becomes a protection to the American
producer" That way of putting it is
the very reverse of the Republican
theory.
Republicans tariff is levied to pro-
tect and foster a certain class of Amer