The Atlanta constitution., 1897-06-28

quire a tariff higher than it should be,
and under the shadow of which there
is still wide room for protection-inci-
dental protection as the democracy re-
CARDS it. and TO the distribution OF
which the democratic principle quoted
Of 1910 should be applied. The trou-
BILE with our esteemed Albany contem-
porary is that it seems to confouhd the
work of amendment now going on In
the senate with the work of enactment,
which will take place when the main
question is ordered.
The tariff bill now under discussion
is republican in that it is for the pro-
lection OF favored classes at the expense
of all other interests. II is. in word,
the very acme Of legislative infamy.
The democrats of the senate. in the
preliminary stage. are but trying to
bring the bill into conformity with dem
ocratic principles. They are seeking
TO eliminate the foundation stone OF
nrotection 10 trusts and monopoiies, and
TO make its incidental benefits uniform
throughout the country. The apparent
division among democratic senators has
the basis OF unity: each one-Nest,
Jones. Bacon and others-is injecting
into il the element of local wants so
as 10 make its benefits uniform. This
right OF amendment is one of The most
valuable prerogatives OF the minority,
which. when they have exhausted, they
may unite against the completed work
as being still unacceptable.
The republicans have adopted poll
" Of protection for projections sake,
altogether divorced from the necessity
OF revenue. This party has led to such
schemes Of robbery and corruption rs
TO be appalling, benefting favored in
diyiduals and sections and robbins those
no. 50 favored for their benefit. The
creation Of a republican tariff bill is
but the work of log rolling between
those who have the power 10 influence
legislation. The democrats. on The 9TH
er hand, with TO alternative for rais-
ing the revneue save through the ports,
are committed TO do so. having in view
the actual requirements of the govern
ment and the uniform distribution Of
the inevitable benefits so as to fall. as
does the rain, upon all alike-a conse-
quence OF their citizenship. and not be-
cause of the presence of an attorney
at the council table. The republican
plan is wicked, unpatriotic unjust
whilst the democratic plan is as just
as taxation can be made between man
and man and section and section.
The Constitution speaks upon this
subject thus at length because there is
much misunderstanding as to The status
Of tariff legislation, for the pur-
pose Of showing its accord, not only
with the tariff declaration OF 1896. but
with that Of the fathers who first set
the pace for democracy in the first half
century Of the country's existence. \
tariff for protection is wicked and u2-
just. while a tariff for revenue. hon
ostly distributed, is absolutely essen
tial. In the language Of the national
democratic platform OF 1896
WE HOLD THAT TARIFF DUTIES
SHOULD 1885, LEVIED FOR PURPOSES
oF REVENUE. SUCH DUTIES TO BE
Sp ADJUSTED AS To OPERATE
EQUALLY THRoUGlioJ THE CotN-
thy AND NOT DISCRIMINATE Ai.-
TWEEN CLASSES OR SECTIONS. AND
THAT TAXATION SHOULD EE LIMIT
ED EY THE NEEDS oF THE COY
F.RNMENT HONESTLY AND Eco%oM-
IvATL.N ADMINISTERED"