sive official action, can not be restored, the Government is lost. The Constitution owes its present state of preservation, entirely, to great, conspicuous members of the Courts. Its ultimate supremacy can only be assured by a pure, learned, and fearless judiciary, imbued with the deepest veneration for our system of government. This will be achieved by continued, conscientious, Democratic rule. The last three years experience has demonstrated this. Under Democratic interpretation and administration of the Constitution, the South, the field where usurped Federal power produced class acrimony, and industrial depression, has been lifted from confusion to composure, from irritation to peace, from commercial stagnation to thrift, from dispair to confidence, and from the reign of arbitrary power to the reign of law.

CHAPTER II.

THE NATIONAL REVENUES.

F

Hon. JOHN G. Carlisle,

Speaker of the National House of Representatives.

IF the doctrine of protection be correct, then that

doctrine should be carried by its friends to its logical and legitimate results-absolute prohibition of foreign imports. It has been stated by the leaders of the Republican party that such is their purpose, and the purpose of their political associates, if necessary, and that they will preserve in this country all of its own trade and wealth, even if compelled to erect a Chinese wall around it. China preserved all the trade and wealth of her own people within her own limits for thousands of years, and I do not think that the advocates of diversified industries, or the friends of labor, can find much to encourage them in the social and industrial condition of that country to-day. There the doctrine of protection, pure and simple, was carried to its logical results, and it produced its inevitable effects. With the oldest civilization in the world; with every variety of soil and climate and natural resources; with a frugal and industrious people; with a literature abounding in

philosophical and speculative thought, the useful arts and manufactures are still in their infancy and labor is still the abject slave of capital.

We do not want another China here, nor do we want, or expect, absolute free trade.

We all recognize the fact that the Government must have a revenue for its support, and that this revenue must be raised by taxation in some form or other. All taxation is an evil which it would be well to avoid, if possible, and therefore we are simply reduced to a choice between that system which would confine the trade of our own people, in a large measure at least, to our own limits without increasing the revenues of the Government, and the more liberal system which will make trade and commerce as free as possible

consistently with the raising of sufficient revenue for the support of the Government.

If our manufacturing, or mining, or any other industries in the country, receive a benefit by the imposition of duties upon imported goods under this system they are entitled to it, and they are welcome to it. It is impossible to impose taxes under any system that can be devised without hurting somebody or helping somebody; and for my part-and this is the sentiment of my political associates-I would rather help them than hurt them. The actual situation which now confronts us-a situation which makes it the imperative duty of the Representatives of the people to reduce the revenues at once-will be best