The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-23
"HERRINGv DEMOCRATS.

The Chicago Chronicle tells of a. ru-
raj citizen who writes to Chicago
paper saying that he is a Democrat of
the free trade stripe, but that he is
clearly of the opinion that the best in
terests of the farmer demand that a
reasonably high tariff should be put on
wool. Too much land in his opinion
is now used for growing corn and
wheat and the rural citizen says the
farmers do not want that area en-
larged. Let the cattle and sheep have
all the lands requiring irrigation" is
his closing remark. This citizen" re-
marks the Chronicle, "is of the hear
ing variety. He is perfectly willing
that everything should be admitted
free except some particular thing, the
importation of which imagines affects
his interests" The Chronicle then goes
on to show that while sheep men don't
want wool admitted free. owners of
wooden mills are of the opinion that a
high tariff should be put on imported
wooden goods, and manufacturers of
pottery demand high duties on crock
cry, with the result that each in order
must concede to others what they want
and the end would be. if they had
their way, high protective tariff of
the Mckinley stripe would be shoulder
ed upon the people with it's unnecessary
and therefore unjust burdens of taxa
ton. Referring in conclusion to the
rural free trade Democrat with de-
sire for protection on wool, the Chron-
icle says, He is a Democrat of the
protectionist stripe. and so far as the
tariff is concerned is no better than
rabid Republican"
This free trade Democrat with a pro-
tection-on-wool attachment reminds us
of some kind of Democrats nearer
home. the Democrat who believes in
the payment of bounties for example.
at least in some cases. and usually
the cases in which he favors the boun-
ty is some industry or other in which
he is personally concerned. He forgets
or disregards the fact that the con-
cession of principle which gives him a
bounty for his business returns would
give to every other industry or bust
ness bounty also. And eff it be
said" to use the language of the Su-
preme Court of the United States.
that benefit results to the local pub
lie of town by establishing manufac-
lures. the same may be said of any
other business or pursuit which en-
ploys capital or labor. The merchant.
the mechanic the innkeeper, the bank
err the builder. the steamboat owner.
are equally promoters of the public
good, and equally deserving the aid Of
the citizens by forced contributions.
No line can be drawn in favor of the
manufacturer which would not open
the Golfers of the public treasury to
the opportunities Of two-thirds of the
business men of the city or town"
Protection and semi-protection DEM
ocrats, together with bounty paying
Democrats are simply not Democrats.
They bring reproach to Democracy, for
the reason that they wear the Demo-
cratic cloak only to be untrue to DEM
ocratic principles. Democracy is strong
only in the affirmation Of its whole
creed and only invulnerable when it
accepts and declares as right the le-
ultimate consequences Of its doctrine.
A man can no more be true Democrat
and a protectionist, or in favor of the
payment of bounties than he can be
a Democrat and loose constructionist,
or favor the Capitalization Of govern
ment to the point where it infringes
upon the rights reserved to the states
or to the people respectively.