The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-20

kind, and In order that there might be
no misrepresentation, defined raw
materials to be all materials which had
not been subjected to any process o.
manufacture" and in them / included
"all waste products, ut only TO be
manufactured. II is also true that the
leaders of tho party in the house.
Messrs. Morrison. Carlisle, Mills and
Tucker, did not at the time accept my
views as representing the principles OF
the democratic party.
This testimony of Mr.. Hewitt proves con-
that up TO fifteen years ago IL
had never entered the brain of the demo.
cratic party, or OF any considerable portion
OF It, to contend for the doctrine OF free
raw materials, and yet we hear men talk
today as II that doctrine were part OF our
ancient faith. Only few days ago a dis
tinguished senator from my own State tMr.
MiiIs) attempted To prove that the advocacy
OF free raw materials has long been the
established policy of our party by reading
from letter written by Hon. Robert j.
Walker in 1867. in which the ex-secretary
OF the treasury said:
But the tariff OF 1916, although IL re-
NAMED much longer in operation than
any other tariff and produced much
moro beneficial results, was susccptI-
Bile Of great improvements. especially
IN Its application to the present condi-
ton of our country
!. The raw material OF our manufac-
lures. as recommended In my first an
nual report. should be duty free. as Is
the practice Of all enlightened nations.
This proposition. then made by me,
was to some extent defeated at that
time by Mr.. Calhoun.
Without stopping 20 remind the house
that at the time this letter was written Mr..
Walker WIS holding an office under re-
publican administration, and had forfeited
his right 10 declare democratic policies;
that ha had abandoned the State OF Missis-
sippi. which had honored him with n eeat
in the senate, aud had bitterly trniuced the
people to whose favor he owed the .ippor-
tunity TO achieve the reputation which
makes his opinions worth remembering
1t is sufficient TO say that in the .e;ter
read by the senator from Texas Mr. Wal
ker grossly misstates the facts OF his own
record. He says IN tina, letter that In HIS
first annual report he recommended tina.
the raw material of manufacturers should
be admitted free Of duty. This Is his first
annual report which hold in my hand
and IL does not contain n line or syllable
which recommends or which hints at rlac-
ing raw materials on the free list. and its
whole argument f. adverse IN ,ha. theory.
In fact, sir. the report specifics as one OF
the most obnoxious features of the tariff
act OF 1872 that
IT dlscrimnatcs in favor Of manu-
features and against agriculture by
imposing many higher duties upon tho
manufactured fabric than upon the ar
ricnltural product ont OF which II is
made.
THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION.
This report. which has always been &C
cepted as correct exposition Of the dem
ocratic party's position on the tariff Gues
ton, states tho following principles as our
guide in all tariff legislation:
l. That no more money should be
cole ted than is necessary for the
wants of the government economically
administered.
.. That no duty be imposed on amy
article above the lowest rate which
will yield the largest revenue
3. That below such rate discrimna-
ton may be made. descending In the
scale of duties: or. for imperative rea-
sons, the article may be placed IN the
list of those free from all duty.
4. That the maximum revenue duty
should he imposed upon luXuros.
8. That all minmums and all spe-
cifc duties should he abolished and ad
vaIorcm duties substituted in their
place, care being taken 10 guard
h7''"N ''""'' ~ - '''
valuation, ana to assess the duty upon
the actual market Va'ue.
t. mat 'he dh'y hhoulu ne SO I'M
posed as 10 operate as equa'iy as pos
siDle 'hrouEnout ,ho un'oh' uIss' mn
hatihg noiiner TOT nor against any
class or section .,..,,
NJ, oil ms Is ,urn'lca' III pranviple a1a
much OF 1t Is iaehllcai IN 'amsu'se VIZ
the 'hieugo pIutoI,l, an" ! n'a! su, 80.
some or these EehtIehneh TO 'eaIh ,h"t .he
particular uNp' esTIoH !" w ,"so ~
FORM Wn , ,"eI I u",' ,rord tn. ,ynr5 From
~ va 49,, -, %s,,. o,a., The CON.
denim the democratic platform because II
demands that tariff duties shall he so ad-
jnstod as to operate elually tnFoushoua en'
cuunel. MIA an" :, "o a,1 va, thew nra,se Mr.
walkers report, which requires that the
duty should he so imposed as to operate
as equally as possible throughout tbs
Union, discriminating neither for MOI
t.a,nH