The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-01
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER i. 1902.
MR. CLEVELAND AND THE. TARIFF

In his speech at Morristown. y. J.. on
Thursday night Mr.. Cleveland made some
Interesting ailus.ons to the agitation OF
the tarin question several years ago. and
to the part which he played In that ael-
tation, but he did not deal With the ques-
ton with his usual frankness. lie did
not tell the whole truth. de quoted from
his famous message in 1887. In which he
brought the tariff issue squarcly TO the
front and made 1t the paramount issue.
But for some reason which We could
never understand AIR. Cleveland himself
weakened on that question. and in the
convention OF 1892 his friends on the Plat
form Committee broughtEin d declaration
on the tariff question which was neither
4 one thing nor the other. and was most
appropriately denominated By Col Henry
Sbatteyson, who brought In minority re-
port as stump speech. Mr.. Wat.er-
son and his associates in the minority IN
sisted on a clear cut declaration in favor
OF tnrin for revenue only, and the MI
nority report was adopted.
II was an open secret at the time that
4 the Tammany delegation, who were bit
tcrly opposed to the nomination OF MI
Cleveland, threw their strength to the
minority report In order, as they sup-
posed, to enlbarrsSs MIR. Cleveland can
didacy But however that may have
been. the report was adopted and Mr.
Cleveland was nominated. Tho platform
denounced Republican protection as
fraud and robbery Of the great Maori
IN OF the American people for the benent
Of the few. 1--WE declare 1t to be fun
dsmental principa OF the Democratic
party said the platform, that the Fec
eral government has no constitutional
powcr to impose and collect tariff dues.
except for the purpose OF revenue only.
and we demand that the collection OF
such taxes be limited to the necessitles
IF government when honestly and eco
nomically administered.
Tha. was the platform upon which the
party planted itself. Democratic papers
throughout tile country rang the changes
on the Mckinley tariff and hraNeiy ad-#
rocatcd the Democratic doctrine of tariff
for revenue only. In vain did the Repuh-
licans plead that Democratic TRIUMPH
that wear would sound the death kncll to
prosperity; in vain did President Harm
son urge tie people to let well enough
nlone. A majority OF the voters oeiieNeu
In the Democratic doctrine. and the party
had a great triumph on election day
After the election there was a clamor
for an extra session of Congress. and as
soon as Mr. Cleveland was inaugurated
he was urged to call Congress together
In order 10 put the Democratic tariff
nrinciple into practice. The people re-
called what the Democrats had said about
the robbery of the tariff. and they In
sisted that this robbery should cease at
the earliest possible moment But MT.
Cleveland turned a deaf ear to that cry
He refused to call an extra session OF
Congress and finally when Congress old
meet a tariff bill was passed which was
20 much changed that its author. MI.
Wilson. did not recognize It, and the
principle Of protection was preserved in.
the Democratic law.
IN the convention OF 1896 the tariff aues-
lion was thrown aside altogether, for the
free silver question, and at the election-
which followed the Democracy was de-
feated.
1t lis encouraging. however, that Demo
Gratis are showing disposition to return
TO their first love. to make tariff reform
the paramount issue. and il they win on
that issue In 1904 it is to be hcped that
they viii show the courage of their con-
victions.
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