The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-03
oonMAN's rINKDRED TARIFF.

Senator German has taken the stump
In Maryland, He does not hesitate to
touch that tarlfr question. which other
Democrats are so unwilling 10 handle.
The Democratic candidate for governor
Of Ohio, Campbell, says the tariff Is a
national lEsue and his fight VIA be made
solely on state Issues. Senator German,
having had 80 much to do with the franz
Ing OF the present law, cannot sfiord to
dodge the question.
He praises that measure in unstinted
terms. He says It Is wise and just"
that It is "the most logical ana the most
fair tariff legislation enacted In the last
thirty years." and that when business
has resumed its normal condition 1t will
produce revenue enough to support the
government, economically administered.
But he did not predict when that time
would come. For the present fiscal year
the deficiency is fifteen millions.
He says also "the enacted law stands
as the most marvellous achievement Sc
cured by the Democratic members OF the
committee which had this legislation in
charge" He means himself and Brice.
But this is not, or at least was not, the
opinion Of President Cleveland. He said
OF this measure which German extols:
II take my pace with the rank and file
Of the Democratic party, who believe in
tariff reform, and who know what 1t Is;
who refuse to accept the results embod-
led in this bill as the close Of the war;
who are not blinded to the fact that
the livery OF Democratic tariff reform
has been stolen and worn in the service
OF Republican protection, and who have
marked the plgces where the deadly
blight of treason has Blasted the coun-
ellis OF the brave in their hour OF might
The millions Of cur cUuntryinen who have
fought braveiy and well for tariff re-
form should DC exhorted to continue the
struggle, boldly challenging to open war
fare and constantly guarding against
treachery and half-heartedness in their
camp"
Senator German gays the struggle must
stop. because. according to him, the DEM
ocratlc party has given the people the
kind OF tariff law 1t promised them! He
says:
And there 1t stands. not all that somo
advanced thinkers may desire, but 1t is
a revenue tariff, as called for by our
platform from 1888 to 1892, inclusive not
perfect in all it's details, for perfection
is not within human power, but con-
forming to our platform
The platform to which he asserts that
his patched and tinkered tariff law con-
forms reads thusly:
'iWe denounce Republican protection as
a fraud: robbery OF the great majority
Of the American people for the benefit OF
the few. We declare 1t to be a funda-
mental principle Of the Democratic party
that the Federal government has no
constitutional power to impose and co..
ieet tariR duties except for the purpose
Of revenue only"
This was promise that duties which
gave protection as well as revenue sa9uIs
not be imposed But the German snw
abounds In duties which give conslIar-
able prctectlon, and which are there
fore, Unconstitutional" according to ire
Democratic platform
And yet. while any one can see that
the German law does not carry out ths
pseige OF the platform the senator Shows
political cunning in trying to make his
party take the ground that /, does. By
toning down the asperitles Of the wilson
BIZ he saved his party from Aoras
whipping than 1t received and KEEP, It
alive, II he can persuade the people that
his law is the last work OF the Democracy
on the tariff question he viii give 1t a
strength that 1t viii: not possess IL the
policy adopted is that favored by Presi.
dent Cieveiand.