Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1884 — THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE TARIFF QUESTION. [ARTICLE]

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE TARIFF QUESTION.

By reference to the following platform declarations of the Democratic party in past years it will be seen that there is nothing new in the position of the majority of the party upon the tariff question: Free commerce with all nations* political connection with none—Dera* oeratic Congressional Caucus. 1800. Hostility to any and all monopolies by legislation, because they are violations of the equal rights of the people. The tiue fouudution of republican government is the equal rights of every citizen in his person end property and its management.— FfrstDemocratic National Platform, 1836. Resulted, That justice and sound policy forbid the Federal Government to foster on- branch of industry to (he detriment of another, or to cherish the interests of cqo portion to the injury of another portion of our common country. Resolved, That It is the duty of every branch of the Government to enforce and practice the most rigid economy in conducting our public affaits, and ihat no more reveuue ought to be raised than is required to defray the necessary expenses of.the Government— Democratic National Platform, 1840; reaffirmed, 1844. Resolved, That the fruits of the great political triumph of 1844 have fulfilled the hopes of the Democracy of the Union in the noble impulse given to the cause of free trade, by the repeal of the ,tariff of 1842, and the creation of the more equal, non est and protective tariff of 1846, and that, in our opinion, it would be a fatal error to weaken the hands of a political organization by which t ese git-nt reforms have been achieved, aud risk them in tbe hands of their known adversaries with whatever de lusive appeals they muy solicit our surrender of that vigilance which is the only safeguard of liberty. —Democratic National Platform, 1848.

Resolved, That it is t' e duty of every branch of the Government to enforce and practice the most rigid economy in conducting our public affairs, and that no more revenue ought to be raised than is required to defray the necessary expenses of the Government and for the gradual but certain extinction of the public debt.—Democratic National Convention, 1852. Resolved, That justice and sound policy forbid the Federal Govern meat to foster one branch of industry to the detriment of another, or to cherish ‘he interests of on a portion to the injury of anjther portion of our cominou country. Resolved, That it is the duty of very brand! of the Government to enforce and practice the most rigid economy in conducting our public affairs, and that no more revenue ought to bo raised than is required to defray the necessary expenses of the Government, and for the gradual but certain extinction of the public debt.

Resolved- That there are questions connected with the foreign policy of this country which are inferior to no domestic question whatever. The time has come for the people of the United States to declare themselves in saver of free seas and progressive free trade throughout tne world, and, by solemn manifestations, to place their moral influence at t e side of their successful example—Democratic National Platform 1856; reaffirmed in 1860 We denounce the present tariff, levied on nearly 400 arreles, as a master-piece of injustice, inequality and false pretense. It .yields a dwindling, not a yearly rising revenue,--It has impoverished many industries to subsidize a few. It prohibi s im*» ports which might p rchase the products of American labor. It has degraded American com erce from the first to an inferior rank on the Jhigh seas. It has cut do n the sales of American manufactuiers at home and abroad, and depleted the returns of American agriculture—nn industry followed by baif of our people. It costs the people five times more than it produces to the Treasury, obs;ructs the processes of production and wastes the fruits of labor, it promotes fraud, fosters smuggling, enriches dishonest officials, and bank** rupts honest merchants. We demand that all Custom house taxation shall be only for revenue—Democratic National Pl.ttform, 1876. Home rule, honest money, consist* ing of gold, silver and paper convert* ibis on demand; tne strict mainten. ance of the public faith. State and National, and a tariff for revenue only —Democratic National Platform 1880.