The herald., 1896-04-05
1SUNpxx. APRIL 5, 1896.
THEN AND NOW

The assertion is often made by Repub-
Leans that protectionism Is one of the fun
damental principles on which the ''grand
old party" was founded, and that in these
days the party in upholding protectionism
is properly and consistently doing that for
which it was originally organized. To as
certain the holiowness of this pretense one
need only consult the early history of the
6. o.p.
The organisation of the Republican party
was perfected by its first national conven-
tion. which was held in Philadelphia in
June, 1856. Chattel slavery in the south,
and its champions' encroachments upon
free territory in the north, created a neces-
sity for an anti-slavery party. Not an
abolition party, but party that should
form barrier to prevent the extension of
the ''peculiar institution into new terri
tory. The sentiment against slavery ex-
tension was greatly augmented by the
passage of the Kansas-N Nebraska bill, and
finally it resulted in call for national
convention, as already stated. The pri-
mary and sole object for which that con-
vention was called was the organization of
= new party to oppose slavery extension.
1t had no reference whatever to the tariff
question, and the mon who composed the
convention represented all shades of
opinion as to the proper method of rails
ing revenue for federal purposes. The
call for the convention WAS an invitation
ITO the people of the United States, with
out regard to past political differences or
divisions, whcare opposed to the repeal of
the Missouri Crmpromise, to the policy of
the present (Eierce's) administration, to
the extensjon 0f slavery into free territory,
in favor of admitting Kansas as free
state, and OF restoring the action of the
Federal government to the principles of
Washinetop and Jeffersont'' to assemble
in convention and unite in presenting
candidatewvlsf president and vice-presi-
dent. ~ @A 81
The convention assembled under the
call and after adopting platform nomi-
mated John c.. Fremont and William L.
Dayton 3 for those offices, respectively.
The platform consisted of strong arraign.
ment of fhes slave power, opposition to
slavery extension. and an expression in
favor of the admission of Kansas as state
with her eeiconstitution. ltalso favored
congressional appropriations for river and
harbor improvements, and the building of
. railroad to the Pacific ocean. The clos
ing resolution contained these words
1--WE invite affiliation and cooperation of
the men Of all parties in support of the
principles herein declared"
Nowhere in the platform was there one
word touching the tariff question in any
way. Such a thing as protectionsm had
no place in the deliberations or platform of
the convention.
Then and there the Republican party was
born. Nobody, either in or out of the new
party, could misunderstood its principles
or it's purposes. In the light of these his
torical facts, what becomes of the assump-
ton that the so-called Republican party of
today had protectionism for one of its origi-
nal corner stones? But this is not all. The
national Republican conventions of 1860,
1854 and 1868 also failed to endorse pro-
tectionism. The convention of 1850 dealt
almost exclusively with the slavery ques.
ton. but did incidentally favor the raising
Of public revenue by duties on imports,
though saying not word about ''protect-
ing home industries by tariff laws.
srhe national Republican convention of
1854 dealt with the war, which was then
pending, and the tariff was not once men.
toned in the platform. The convention of
1868 expressed itself fully on reconstruc-
ton measures. and several other matters,
but ignored the tariff question entirely.
These are political facts of which there
isample proof. What audacity, then, is
involved in the persistent declaration from
certain quarters that the Republican party,
managed by such bosses as Mckinley,
Reed. Sherman, Harrison and similar
ehampions Of special privilege, is carrying
cut the tariff policy adopted by the real
Republican party at it's organization.
The cold fact 10 that the present organ.
isAtion. which carries and disgraces the
aame OF Republicanism, is very different
party from that of which such statesmen
- Lincoln, Seward. Sumner, Chase and a
eew others were the founders and leaders.
The corrupt, bloated and oppressive con-
ssrn now masqueradinR under . once hon.
Dred name 10 as unlike the original
Republican party as darkness is unlike the
49, l!elss nx midday. Th4 original party