The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-25
DEMOCRACY AND THE tariffs.

The Iowa democrats managed to insert ,
few words IN their platform ON the subject
| import duties, though they appear not as al
important and separate plank In the platform
nut merely as incidental Ia the declaration
against trusts.
There WAS time when no democratic plat.
form was complete and orthodox unless IL con
u med strong and conspicuous declaration
against protective tariffs, but SO completely
mas the party been swallowed up by the new
ideas of free silver. anti-imperalism and OPP
position TO trusts that the tariff question has
been pushed aside and nntagonsm to pro
lection seems no longer TO be recognized as
Il cardinal democratic doctrine. 1t is con.
spieuous Illustration OF democratic stupidity
that tho party should cease to be aggressive
IN the advocacy OF rational thrills Just at
time when greater number of voters than
ever before are opposed to protection There
/ Y strong aud growing element in the repub-
! iican party In favor of abolshug protective
larns and thousands of men who were for
/ merry protectionists now recognize that tho
/ lnduStrios nt this country would he better OFF
! today II they had never felt the enervntlne
eheot OF q pampering protective tariff Kan
sas City Star.
1t is just possible that the Star IL
worrying too much over this apparent
oversight of the democratic party at this
iuncture of affairs. II can not be ignorant
OF the fact that the democratic press from
one side Of America to the other has. for
and the republican high tariff policy to
pieces. and demonstrating their utter fail
ure as revenue producers aud the absence
Of any necessity for them in view of our
easy competition abroad with all nations.
The very fact that there is now a
strong and growing element in the re-
publican party in favor OF abolshlng pro
tective tariffs and that thousands of
men who were formerly protectionists now
recognize that the industries of this coun-
try would be better off today II they had
never felt the enervating effect of n
pamperlng protective tarif"-is proof posi-
tive that these democratic journals have
not only been showing up the weakness
and evil effects OF the protective policy.
but that their efforts are productive of n
grent revolution of sentiment, Where else
could these former protectionsts' and
this strong element within the republican
party" have obtained the light that has
broken in upon them. II not in the vigor-
GUS attacks by democrats lately upon the
lniqulties and failures of the Mckinley
policy? Certainly not from Mr.. Mckinley.
nor from republican stump speakers. nor
the republican press, all OF whom strenu-
ously Insist that the presidents tariff
policy has been complete success and
restored prosperity" to the Nation!
Let the Star not be impatient--at the
proper time 1t will find that the democracy
has neither pushed aside its opposition TO
protection nor lost any of It's enthusiasm
In attacking that evil. New Issues are
exciting comment now simply because they
arc new. but old questions have neither
been forgotten nor abandoned, The "tariff''
VIII figure in the next democratic plat
form TO an extent to relieve even the fears
OF the Kansas City Star that the democ-
racy has gone back on" one OF It's card
nal principles.