The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-06-28
DEMOCRACY AND TIE TARIFF.
Am Interesting Statistical Statement of Party Position
ON the Tariff.

cratic candidate for president. without
platform. In 1910 VanBuren was again the
democratic candidate for president and the
following Is the tariff plank of the plat
form adCDted:
Resolved. That justice and sound policy
forbid the federal government To foster on"
branch of industry II the detriment or an
other, or to cherish the interest OF one por.
ton to the injury OF another portion 81
our cOmmC n country
This plank of the 1910 platform was incor-
porated in TIE national democratic plat
forms Of 1Si4. fSiS 1852 and 1856.
In the presidential election of 1866 the
democratic party split. Breckenridge being
the candidate of one wing and Douglass OF
the other; neither of the platforms adopted
mentioned the tariff. but both ~eaflirmed
the principles of the Cincinnati platform
of 1856 in which wac incorporated the
tariff plank Of the platform of 1910.
The platform of 1864. with Mcclellan, the
candidate. did not mention the tariff
Horatio Seymour was the democratic can
didate for president in 1865. and the plat
form adopted contained the following:
~ tariff for revenue upon foreign imports,
and such equal taxation under the internal
revenue laws will. without impairing the
revenue, Impose the least burden upon and
best promote and encourage the great in
dustrial interest of tho country"
In 1872 the democratic patty again split,
and those who supported Horace Greeley
for president approved the following dec
laration on the tariff, found in the sixth
plank of the liberal republican platform:
Recognizing that there are in our midst
honest but irreconcilable differences in opin-
ion, with regard to the respective systems
of protcc ion and free trade. remit
the discussion OF the subject TO the people
in their congressional districts and to the
decision of congress thereon wholly free
from executive Interference or oictation."
The "straight-out' democratic platform
of this year. 1872, made no reference to the
tariff.
In 1876 Samuel ]. Tilden was the demo-
cratic candidate for president and the plat
form was a series Of strong resolutions,
demanding reform i'm the administration of
the government. The following was the ut
tcrance on the tariff: I'VE denounce the
present tariff levied upon nearly 1000 ar
tclas, as q ma serpiece of injustice. Unequal
ity and false pretense-it has impoverished
many industries to subsi1ize few-we de-
mand that ali custom house taxation shall
be only for revenue
In 1850 with Hancock. the democratic
candidate the platform adopted made this
simple declaration on the tariff: "A tariff
for revenue only"
tariff plank in the platform of 1884 is
too long to quote entire in this article, but
the following are the salient expressions on
the subject: knowing full well. however.
that legislation affecting the operations Of
the people should be cautious and cOnser-
vative in method. not in advance Of public
opinion, but responsive to its demands.
The democratic party is pledged to revise
the tariff in spirit of fairness to all inter-
est" Prom the foundation of the govern
ment, taxes collected at the custom house
have been the chief source of federal reve-
nue.; such they must continue 20 be. The
necessary reduction in taxation can and
must be effected without depriving Ameri-
3 Iah of no a to
cessfully with foreign labor, ana without
imposing lower rates of duty than viii be
ample to cover any increased cost of pro-
duction which may eyist in consequence of
higher rates OF labor prevailing in this
country"
In lSSS the national platform adopted by
the democratic party contained the follow
ing in regard TO the tariff
"Our established domestic industries and
enterprises should not and need rot be en-
dangered by the reduction and correction
of the burdens OF taxation; on the con-
trary, fair and careful revision of our
! tax laws. with due allowance FOR the dif-
ference between the wages Of American and
foreign labor, must promote ana encourage
every branch of such industries and enter
priSes by giving them assurance OF an
extended market and steady continuous
operations. In tae. interest OF Amer
lean labor. which should IN no
event Re neglected. the revision of
our tax laws. contemplated by the demo-
cratic party. should promote the advantage
of such labor by cheapenins the cost Of
necessities of life in the house of every
working man and at the same time secur-
ing TO him steady and remunerative en-
ployment-"
The platform of 1892 made the following
utterance i'm regard 10 the tariff:
I'VE denOunce republican protection as a
I fraud. a robbery of the great majority OF
the American people. for the benefit of the
few. We declare il to be a fundamental
principle of the democratic party, that
the federal government has no constitu-
tiOnal power 40 impose and collect tariff
duties except for the purpose of revenue
only. and we demand that the collection of
such taxes shall be limited To the neccssi-
ties of the government when economically
administered
The principle announced in regard to the