Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-07-29
THE WILSON LAVA MODEL MEASURE
ENORMOUS BURDENS or THE
DlNGLEY Law.

ENORMOUS BURDENS or THE
OlNGLEY Law.
CPnbgished By authority Of the Maryland
Democrats Editors Assoclation-y
There has been so much written in an
unfair spirit in certain class OF papers
claiming to be Democratic within the
past few years solely WITH view OF con-
fus;ng the minds OF Democratic voters
regarding the distinctive tariff principles
OF the two leading political parties, that
il becomes necessary as preliminary TO
an exposition OF the real cnormity OF the
tariff law just writteR upon the statute
keoks by the Republican party TO go
back TO FIRST principles TO some extent
and make an honest comparison OF the
distinctive and arrtagon.stic principles OF
the two parties. The present article viii
be devoted to that purpose.
BEFORE THE wAE.
Prior to the civil war the Democratic
policy on the tariff had become
thoroughly embodied in the phrase tar
iii for revenue. with incidental prOtec-
tion." The Walker tariff bill OF 1896,
drawn by Robert J. Walker. Secretary
.
IS still relied upon by Democrats as an
embodiment and exempiihcafion OF that
principle II levied duties only high
enough 10 raise the necessary revenues,
but these duties were so distributed up
on articles produced by American labor
as TO give TO the labor employed in
American industry an equitable distribu-
ton OF the protection necessarily Incl
dent TO the raising OF the Federal revc-
nue., but no more The Wing party
the then party of pFotection-lad also
Welded a reluctant but final concurrence
in this principle. After the compromise
tariff act of 1892, introduced by Mr.
Clay, the Wings. following their distin-
guislied leader. had yielded to the sturdy
determination of the American people,
as eyinced by the South Carolina multi
fcation act, not to submit 10 the exercise
of the taxing power for other than reve-
nue. purposes. So that, as stated by Mr..
Blaine in his book. I : many years prior
TO the war the tariff was not political
issue, all interests and both political
parties submitting TO tariff tor revenue,
with incidental protection" as cxempiifi-
ed by the Walker tariff
WAR TARIFFS on REVENUE BASIS.
But during the civil war the revenae
necessities OF the Government became
so great that the tariff had 10 be put up
to the very highest revenue point. and IN
addition 10 that an excise tax known as
the "internai revenue tax" had 10 be i'm
posed. Although the war tariffs carried
a very large incident OF protection to
American industries, they were 10 all iH-
tents and purposes revenue tariffs, prac-
tically applying the principles OF the
Walker tariff 10 the neceSsities OF war
revenue After the war was over and
the diminishing revenue necessities and
sesulting Treasury SURPRISES began 70
point TO a reduction OF tariff taxation,
the two conflicting policies which to-day
divide the two political parties sprang
into existence. The protected interests
with their appetites sharpened by the
large incidental protection which~ the
war taxes had brought them fought Wig
orously against giving any OF il up.
They succeeded in controlling the Re
publican party. then dominant, and the
.resuk was the Inauguration OF the pro-
lection policy upon a more aggressive
and insolent basis than had been dream
cd OF in the previous political history OF
the country.
nm NEN IDEA.
In order to have a proper understand
ing OF these conflicting policies il is nee
essary to- bear in mind that tie war tar
III being at the highest revenue point, j.
c., the point Intermediate between the
prohibitory point and the point OF no
duty. or free trade. the resultant revenue
could be diminished in two ways First,
by lowering the rates of duty in the di-
rcclion OF the point OF no duty, or free
trade; second, by raising the rates OF
duty IN the direction OF the prchibitive
point. The Democratic party, true to its
antebellum principles. which had then
found general acceptance. proposed to
reduce the redundant revenues by going
back In the direction OF the Walker rates
OF duty. while the Republican party,
catching It's inspiration from the greed
and insolencc OF tie rich ma: liiacturers,
who were willing TO pay for their priv
legeS, espoused the contrary policy OF ef-
feciing the necessary dininution OF the
revenues by increasing the duties in the
direction OF the prohibtive point. and
inaugurased the doctrine which has been
appropriately denomina.ed protection
run mad.
ExPoUSDED ny MAJ. MCKINLEY.
Although this idea oi diminishing the
revenues by raising the duties in the .di-
rection OF the prohibitive point is un-
questionably the essential principle OF the
new protective idea. as exemplifed by
the Republican party. they were never
bold enough to openly proclaim il in
their platform until the year 1888 when
William Mckinley. as chairman Of the
resolutions committee OF the national
convention, unequivocasly wrote il into
the national Platform OF that year in the
following WORDS:
THE Republican party would effect
all needed reduction 81 the national reyv-
nue. by repeating the tax on tobacco, etc.
and by such revision OF the tar
III laws as viii tend to check imports OF
such articles as are produced by our
people"
Major Mckinley subsequently. as
leader OF his party in the House. embod-
led this principle in the tariff law ed 1890
which bore his name. thereby 10 some
extent reyoking the policy OF reducing
duties which had been temporarily fore
cd upon his party BY the influenc. OF
President Arthu<,s tariff commission in
the law OF 1855 The practical result
was shown in ~the fact that, though the
average OF duties was largely increased
all along the line. the resultant revenue