The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-11
ford, VIM, Nesb, james Penney and s.
Wainwright.

hbI llhuut TtuubJlNhnla uuu OtueE 5bAIes.
Mr.. John 81. Ricketson was introduced
and spoke at considerable length. After
stating the purpose for which the meeting
had been called, he appealed 10 the Amer
ican people to judge the system Of pro.
lection by It's fruitP, and say whether
history does not show and observation
prove that it has Ssecured the greatest good
TO the greatest number OF the people, and
given US foremost place as Nation.
Mr.. Ricketson quoted from the last report
Of the Secretary Of the Treasury TO show
that reduction at this time Is not neces.
sary. On the 30th OF June, 1878. there
will be surplus Of $33, ,069, 1856 2s, to be
applied to the sinking fund for the pay.
ment Of the public debt. The estimated
receipts from all sources for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1879, will be $780,.
100000, while the estimated expenses
will be S243, ,492,T51 81, which expenses
the Secretary says can be reduced SILL
900, 900, without impairing the efficiency
OF the service. There will, therefore, be
a surplus Of S37, 600, 900 on June 80, 1879,
the full amount required by law to be
carried TO the sinking fund. And these
are the estimates made at this time, when
the people are economizing and importa-
tions have decreased. The speaker then
adverted to the proposed reduction Of the
taxes on whisky and tobacco, and con.
demned the policy which would,take the
tar off these articles, and put II on tea
and coffee. He explained fully the work.
ings Of protective tariff, and cited the
case Of England, whose manufacturing
interests lie PROSTATE TO day, the result
OF free trade and open ports. He claimed
that the new Tariff Bill would strike n
severe blow at our chemical industries-
business representinga capital Of S75,-
000, 900, and giving employment 10 thou.
sands OF men. MIR. Ricketson closed with
a stirring appeal to the people Of the
country, and particularly those Of the
Southern States, to join in this protest
against policy which would inevitably
work ruin to our national interests and
bring disaster upon US as nation.
Mr.. Joseph Bishop, President OF the
Amalgamated Iron and Steel Workers
Union, addressed the meeting from the
workingmens point Of view. This gen
tleman's speech was one OF the strongest
arguments against free trade presented
by any Of the speakers. The industrial
ciassep, he said, constitute nineteen.twenti.
eths Of the population Of the whole coun-
try. They are the people by whom and for
whom the Government exists. The pros
perity OF these, the development OF our
resources,t the increase Of National wealth,
the advancement OF the people in all that |
should constitute their true glory, must
Hnd root in the recognition OF this truth,
as We hope it is, or will be, recognized by |
those who arc now considering the new |
Tariff Bill. Labor may need protection
from other dangers, but that menaced by
foreign competition is now the most i'm
minent.
Mr.. Bishop spoke at length OF the effect
which the new Tariff Bill would have on
the iron and steel industry Of this coun-
try, and clearly showed the disastrous
effects which would follow its passage.
No: only will the blast and pudding fur
naces, that are now idle, remain 30, but
their number will be very largely in
creaEcd. The mining interests will be
silenced, and idleness and poverty forced
upon hundreds Of thousands Of American
workmen.
Postmaster Geo. Fl. Anderson, who ad.
dressed the meeting from the Ohio stand,
reviewed ut length the events Of the war,
and showed that one reason OF the great
prosperity then was the high protective
tariff which the gold premium imposed
on foreign products. He stated that the
imports Of foreign goods which could be
produced in thia country, reached an.
nually SsOO,O0O,0O0, one.half Of which
Represented The gain TO foreign workmen,
and loss 10 the American pocket. He
claimed that the protection OF honest in
dustry was a vital principle Of the Gov
ernment, and one which called for no
apology.
Mr.. John II. bravo reviewed the coal
trade OF this country, and showed that
free trade, or reduction OF the tariff on
iron, would be direct loss to the miner.
He alao gave the history OF our legisla.
tive experience with free trade, and
showed that financial disaster had in
every case followed reduction Of the
tariff.
Other prominent speakers were Mr..
George Archibald, Colonel Isaac Cline,
John Adams, Hon. Miles s. Humphries
and VIM. II. Singer AT the conclusion
OF the speechmaking the Committee on
Resolutions reported as follows:
"Tho agrieulturAlStS, merchants, manufacturers
and wOrklngmen Of Western PennsylVania, East
Convention assembled representing all shades Of
political opinion, having considered the proposed
changes In the present tariff laws, and their effect