The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-09
Voice Of
the People
JEFFERSON AND PROTECTION

JEFFERSON AND PROTECTION
Editor Providence News:
The assertion OF certain bunco-steerers
for the protected interests that Thomas
Jefferson was a protectionist can spring
from only two possible sources. ignorance
or mendacty
During the campaign OF 1892, James c.
Blaine. In a letter to Joseph H. Manley,
then chairman OF the Republican state
central committee OF the state Of Maine
said
THE Democrats are in the habit Of
naming Thomas Jefferson as the founder
of their party, and yet on the subject
OF tariff they are In radical opposition
TO the principles laid down by Jefferson.
Toward the close OF his administra ton the
revenue from the tariff on imports pro-
duced a considerable surplus. and the
question was. what should be done?
Should the tariff be reduced or should this
surplus be maintained? Jefferson pointed
ly asks: Shall we suppress imposts and
give that advantage to foreign, over do
nestle manufacturers?' For himself he
recommended that the imposts be main
tained and that the surplus created
should be appropriated to the improve
ment Of roads, canals rivers and educa-
ton" 1f the constitution aid not give
sufficient power to warrant these appro-
priations, Jefferson went so far as 10
recommend that II be amended. This pre-
sents the strongest condition OF Affairs
upon which a protective tariff can be
justified and Jefferson did not hesitate to
recommend II. The Democrats OF the
nj ie 20 81
direct opponents OF the policy which JEFF
ferson thus outlined and adhered to-
To anyone acdusinted with Mr.. Jeffer-
sons writings, IL will appear at once
that this pretended quotation by Mr.
Blaine Is distorted and garbled Mr.
Blaine put into the mouth of Jefferson
words that the latter never uttered or
wrote and suppresses words which make
Il clear that the inference that Mr.. Blaine
forces Is entirely without Justification.
There is no passage In existence any
where in all OF Mr.. JefYerson's writings,
extensive though these are. that will
bear out the assertion that he was a
protectionist on the contrary every
scrap OF evidence available stamps him
as an absolutely uncompromising advo-
cate OF the freedom OF trade. Here II
the passage from Mr. Jefferson's message
to the congress on Nov. s. lses. which Mr..
Blaine garbled In 1892. ana which garbled
passage served as text for the hitler
bunco-steerers OF Mr.. Blslne's party ever
since.
The situation into which we have thus
been forced. has impeled us 70 apply
a portion OF our industry and capital 10
internal manufactures and improvements
The probable accumulation OF the
surpluses OF revenue beyond what can he
applied To the payment Of the public lebt.
whenever the freedom and safety OF our
shall be restored. merits the
OF congress. shall 70 lie
unprod Jctive IN the public vaults? Shall
the revenue be reduced? or shall n not
rather be appropriated 10 the improve
nents OF roads. canals. rivers. education
and other great founds lions of prosperity
and union under the powers which con-
grsss may already possess. or such
amendment OF the constitution as may be
approved by the stste2"
Nowhere does the word tariff occur I'm
this passage. Mt Jefferson speaks OF
revcitue and recommends that the SUI
plus when N shall appear (for he II only
areskine OF a possible. no. an actual sit
usuon. as Mr.. blaine depicts 10 be an.
nroprlated 10 the Improvement Of roads
etc. Nowhere does he use the words at
tributed 90 him hy Mr.. Blaine. Shall ne
suppress the imposts and give that al.
vantage TO foreign over domestic manu-.
facturers7'' Nor can these other words
which Mr Blaine declares Jefferson used