The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-17
WILSON AND FREE TRADE.


Governor Wilson Of New Jersey is
tho Democratic candidate for Presi-
dent on a platform which declares
against the consttutionality of levying
custom duties for any other purpose
than revenue. He declares that his
campaign will be fought along tariff
lines, for the relief Of the people
from excessive burdens OF tariff taxa
ton, and that this tariff relief will
also bring down the cost of living. That
platform clearly says: "We declare it
TO be fundamental principle of the
Democratic party that the Federal Gov
ernment, under the constitution, has no
| right or power to impose or collect
tariff duties, except for the purpose Of
| revenue -
Here us a complete, explicit declara
tion on fundamental principles of gov
ernmeDt. 1t is denial of the right
of Congress to impose tariff duties for
protective purposes. 1t is also an evil
dent reversal Of repeated decisions of
the Supreme Court of the United States
declaring protective tariff duties to
be constitutional. And yet Governor
Wilson's supporters object to the cita-
tion of former declaration by him in
the interest of free trade. Thus the
Springfield (Mass) Republican, de-
clares it to lie unfair to cite "the
opinion of n young man as declared so
long ago on this question: 1t pro-
tests as follows;
When the tariff commission thirty years
ago visited Atlanta, Ga, TO take testi
mony regarding the reduction OF tariff
duties, young man named woodrow
Wilson appeared before It TO deliver his
Views on the tariff question. He was then
% years old, Congressman Hill of Con-
necticut now thinks the opinions expressed
in 1852 by young Mr. Wilson so impor-
tant that he has obtained the unanimous
consent OF the House to have the address
printed as a public document 1t will be
circulated In order 10 prove that Mr..
Wilson is today. dangerous free trade
doctrinaire 1t is not necessary to decry
consistency To maintain that man has
the right 10 change. modify or develop
his opinions on any conceivable subject
between the ages of 20 and So 90
Which would be of more force and
would appeal more strongly to the
American public were it not for the
fact that Mr.. Wilson is running as can
didate for President on practically
identical principles with those which
he at that time declared
But statement contravening the
Democratic platform is culled by the
New York Tribune from work of
Woodrow Wilson g, entitled "Division
and Reunion 1s29-lSS9," in which Mr.,
Wilson objects to the plea Of the seces
sionists Of 1S60-lS61 that the tariff
law of that time was unconstitu-
tional, and urging that for their trea-
son against the Government, palHating
their rebellion by reason of the "tariff
Mr.. Wilson put his OBJ
lection in the following language:
1t was this gross inequality in the op-
Grafton of the tariff this burden thrown |
upon Il particular section from which the
other sections were exempt. that gave
emphasis TO the claim OF the Southern |
leaders that such legislation was uncon-
even deliberately and pal
pably" unconstitutional, The Constitu- |
lion Of the United States explicitly be-
slows upon, the Federal Congress both the
power TO levy taxes of all kinds and the |
power to regulate commerce with foreign |
nations The only limitation imposed is |
hat all taxation shall be uniform through
out the United States and that It's object |
shall be 10 provide for the common de-
tense or general welfare Of the country. |
Plainly 1t would seem to be within the
right Of Congress TO regulate commerce
oy means OF duties or imposts In any |
way that seemed to it calculated TO pro-
mote the general welfare of the nation.
At any rate. such an exercise OF power on
ts part could certainly not be deemed
within reason a deliberate and palpable
Violation OF the Constitution.
It appears, therefore, that Woodrow
Wilson IS free trade principles became
fixed more than thirty years ago, but
that he did not excuse the secession
and the rebellion on the same ground
which is now pleaded in the Democratic
platform Of the present year, that pro-
tective tariff duties are unconstitu-
.ional. It appears therefore that Gov
ernor Wilson is inconsistent with his
OWN principles, in pleading first for free
trade, then supporting the constitu
tionality of the protective tariff, and
now denying it. He now holds that
protective tariff duties are unconsti-
in indorsing the Democratic
platform, whereas he deliberately and
argued in his book that they
are not, thus reversing himself and
using the same argument which he
condemned in the secessioBists.
Governor Wilson is a new man in
politics, but he is not new man in
giving his views on political and econo-
mic questions; and the more his writ
ngs arc looked into, the more ground
s found for dstrusting him politically
md opposing him as an unsound publ
list, and theorist who is unfit to be
.rusted with the great office of Presi-
lent Of these United States.
A READY. MADE CONSTITUTION.