The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-10-04
Are the British Free Traders Work.


sre the British Free Traders work
Ing for Cleveland
This Is plain question, but mighty
interesting one 60 American operatives and
business men generally. If tho FREQ Trade
leagues and clubs of England are spending
their own money to secure the adoption by
This country Of a certain industrial policy,
is it not reasonable to suppose that they do
1t for the advantage Of their own people
their own operatives and capitalists2
But the question is, arc Englishmen, by
the use Of argument. sophistry and gold,
trying to induce this country TO abandon
the Protection policy, and TO adopt the
policy Of Free Trader Fortunately VIC are
not left to conjecture in this matter. Wit
nesses are at hand and ready TO testify on
the subject and they arc mon of high stand
ing in their respective homes. Hoar what
Hon. f. P. Dollver, the great Iowa orator,
has to say ON the subject:
There is not the slightest doubt that British
gold Is to bo used In this canvass; no moro
than that II has always been used during the
last Thirty years. Since 1884 large sums OF
corruption money have found their way to this
country 10 be used where money would do the
most good. Tho Golden Club is working here.
In our part OF tho country We have boen
flooded with tracts and pamphlets for ten
years past. They fall among us like the leaves
Of autumn, and appear to do about rs much
good, 10 all appearances. As l remember them
there nro "The New Protection Cry," "Free
Trade and English Commerce." "rhe Western
Farmer OF America" "Reciprocity," and so
on. These tracts, or croeds, or whatovor you
may call them, aro scattered broadcast through
the length and brendth OF Iowa, ohio, Illinois
and Wisconsin. They are sent In the farmers
mail, they are distributed In tho crowded
cities and at public meetings.
Do you hear that, worlSmen of the East
The farmers of tho West are to DO induced
to abandon your industries, under the
specious plea that it is to their interest to
buy where they can buy the cheapest, while
the question as to where thoy are to sell
their products is deftly kept in the back
ground.
Next let us hear from the extreme East:
Ex.Congressman Murch, who represented
the Fifth Congressional District of Maine for
two terms, being elected on a Greenback. Labor
ticket, is now supporting Mr.. Blaino. Ho
said "Certainly know that English infiu.
have heard something about Bigelow's mis-.
eion, but know nothing definite. All through
Maine the Golden Clubs influence is felt.
Their pamphlets nnd their way, Into every
farmhouse. There can be no disputlng tho
fact that Democracy, Free Trade and British
interest are bound up together. Tho money
ana lnuuencc OF EngliSn manufacturers play
n much greater part In American politics than
most persons would believe"
Now, let us hear from tho solid centre.
Here is some testimony from the old Key
stone State-a State, thank God, that is al
ways true in tho hour of national peril.
James s. Weeks, of Pennsylvania, was at
the Republican headquarters in New York
on the 1st instart, aud in answer to the
above interrogatory said
$40 English manufacturers spend money
friendlness 10 Free Trader Yes, cir. l have
heard OF Mr.. Bigelow's mission. ! don't doubt
IL Is for some such purpose as drumming up
funds, although, OF course, 1 can't cay. But
one thing do know-that Engllshmen med
die with our politics with an impudence that
is colossal. Do you suppose that for one moment
the British would tolerate our going over to
London, or Manchester, or Birmingham and
attempting to run their elections"
Thus we have evidence from the East,
the West, and the centre, and it is all to the
same effect, viz, the British are trying to
influence our elections to suit themselves,
and they are trying to break down Ameri-
can industries in their home and supplant
them with products of British labor and
British capital combined. Under such cir
cumstances, what is the duty OF every son
af iba ITninn natiua mr. ,,a atpralinado