The Atlanta constitution., 1897-06-28

90 nemocratic Possticn.

Ie enacted for the purpose OF raising
sue necessary revenue Uro1 which TO
run the government. ;hcrc can b. 10 cs-
sential division among democrats. From
the Inauguration q the government
down 20 the present day il has cost
money 10 run tire government. and no
better ulan for its collection than
through the custom houses has been
formulated. Therefore. the only elf
ference of opinion possible was whether
the government should be ran eztraya-
zantly OF economically. Under either
condition the tax collector stood al the
r1rr making huge demands upon the
pc-ulc. even under the most favorable
el-.uus,ances- The platform declara-
tions nf the democratic party have been
uniformly iu favor Of economical gov
e.lment-
Since THIS system of raising revenue is
tie most practicable scheme yeJ devised
lv which 10 meet the expensss af the
government. making a certain degree
81 protection inevitable. as an effect
rather than cause. The benefits
should he so adjusted as ;o reach every
uart of the country. II is a fact that
while democratic statesmen have as
suned the role Of doctrinaires. the re-
putIicans have 50 abused the tariff bin
as to center all of its benefits in sec
tIous where that party was dominant
THE expenses attendant upon the late
var between the states vastly affected
tariff legislation. Before that era both
PARTIES were under certain pledges Of
economy. and the protection which their
lecI=ration afforded was largely inciden-
-aI since only revenue enough was re-
rrs-aI to meet the normal expenses Of
E government at peace. The war add
5d thousands Of millions 10 the public
debt. the interest on which had To be
raer. 10 say nothing of meeting any Of
-he principal. The pension rolls added
hundreds ~ mf7-0ns more. which had
90 De me- as an annual charge. The
fixing 0f q tariff. therefore. sufficient
% meet this vast annual call necessa-
r-y affected a change. which introduc-
.i an era of lootins the treasury under
cover cf patriotism. The necessity
was bad enough. but the use made Of it
iy republicans was worse.
In the face ot this economic rev0lu-
Gon the democrats fought manfully
AGAINST the abuses committed in the
name oi legislation. but there was no
escape for them from the necessity ~
meeting fixed charges for which they
were I'm no manner responsible. The
vast sum 0f money 10 be raised forbade
she idea OF what our fathers looked
upon rs a low tariff. ~ the very
lowest figures possible. consistent with
meeting the public expenses. it would
eTI te - high as 10 astound tie states
mca ur the past generation were they
iu life.
What. then. IS to bs donee lu an able
article elsewhere Hon. james w. Rob
er-zon traces the history of democratic
tariff legislation and party platforms
He shows that beginning at the initial
point democrats stood at the ports to
raIse the amount necessary Tor thc
government. Taking tile democratic
platform 0f 1896. which demands that
'@srt duties te So adjusted as to ope-
rate equally throuEhaut the country.
auL not discriminate between class or
sact-un. lt is found to BE consistent
vi-E that ~ 1850. The principle OF which
was raa Hirmcd by every subs eqleut con-
ventfon down 10 the war. which said
--har Justice and sound policy forbade
tEe federal government to foster one
branch uf industry to the detriment
of another. or 10 cherish the interest
or one portion 60 the injury Oi anoth-
- portion ~ our common country"
Here g. democratic doctrine proving
tina. the party has been consistently
auI uniformly committed 10 the princi-
pIe of raising revenue by impos-s. 40
escape from ir is physical impossible
E
rows itself down as 10 whether $5JO,ooe,-
at8 year IS To be - raised as TO go
into New Eug'and's pocket exclusively.
o-. i'm the language OF 1910. repeated four
consecutive times ana aM-mea in
$40. be raised so as not TO cherish
tie interest of one portion 20 the in
jury of another portion of cur common
country Free trade is unalterahly cut
0t the question.
The warfare u the democracy has
been against abuses OF governmental
power. against the fostering OF trusts
and monopoliss under the euise q ta-
riE legislation In The furtheranoe of this
nght agains, class privilege ard abuse
~ isw. the democratic contention has
heen 10 restore ;ariS legislation 10 lis
legitimate purpose oi raising revenue.
vaicL. ~ before stated. would still re-