“Who knew democrats were once capable of such restraint, foresight, and respect for the constitution and the people it protects?”

The Democrats were the party of free trade during that era. Grover Cleveland apparently lost his reelection bid to the Republican candidate because he was adamantly opposed to protectionist legislation. Also, never forget that Herbert Hoover signed the disastrous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law! The Republicans have often been the party representing big business at the expense of the mom and pops.