The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-22
RESULTS OF FREE TRADE.
What Hon. William d. Kelley Saw in Switzer-
land, Holland and England.

What Hon. William ID. Kelley Saw in Switzer-
land, Holland and England.
Interview in New York Tribune.
II have recently been in Europe studying the
condition Of the working classes in the free trade
countries. These are Great Britain, Holland
and Switzerland I spent most of my time on
my recent trip in Switzerland. Why sir, | dare
not tell in public what saw there Even the
persons who knew me best would refuse to be-
lieve me- A public speaker who undertook to
relate his experience among the laboring classes
of those three countries would risk his reputa-
ton for veracity Oh, saw the most horrible
sights. 1t makes my heart turn sick within me
to think of them
''The misery, squalor and absolute starvation
that stare in the face on visit to the garrets
and cellars of London is almost beyond belief.
Robert p. Porter went to England, and wrote
letters home telling what he saw, and was in
stantly charged with sensationalism and exag
geration Some went so far as to say that his
statements were not founded on facts. visited
the places he visited and saw the things he saw.
/ can only say that his pen pictures were drawn
with delicacy and grace. He overstated nothing
but withheld much that would have made un
pleasant reading, and the publication of
which would have caused him to be branded as
a writer of falsehoods by Americans who visit
England and see there only the best and bright
est side of life. The condition of things in those
countries can not exist much longer The peo-
pie will grow weary of slow starvation. and
some startling social readjustments will take
place. found a deplorable state of affairs in
Switzerland, as in England. Free trade and
the principles enunciated by Golden, Peel and
Bright forty years ago are dwarfng and blight
ing the inhabitants OF these countries. Those
men have taught the doctrine of cheapness.
horra 41,,, &aok1 oh
which waste be bought and paid for at the low
est possible price, and they overlooked the fact
that the laboring men were animated beings,
blessed with minds and souls. This terrible
doctrine has done its work Labor has been
cheapened. In Switzerland they are reaping
the harvest which advocates of free trade
theories sowed nearly half a century ago.
Life with the working people is a struggle
for food. Not for abundance of food,
but for enough to barely sustain life, and
q man esteems himself fortunate if he can get
all that he wants to for himself and family. He
does not think of saving money, or adjoining his
home. He knows that that is impossible Moth
ers give their infants fusil schnapps, low, poi
sonous grade of brandy to deaden their appe-
titles, while they go out to work through the day
to assist in earning food for the family.
This treatment of the babies, coupled with
the lack of food, has its effect upon the health
and lives of the people. The race is degenerat-
ing. The children are sickly ard dwarfed and
are victims, to large extent, to that horrible
malady. pernlclous aneemla, disease which
causes the bones to rot and to shrink into the
flesh. l turned my back on Switzerland and
journeyed to England by way of Holland which
| found country bristling with the monuments
Of dead manufactures The mills were idle and
the doors of the factories were closed Free
trade has bl oxen up their industries. ! crossed
over to England again, and saw the miserable
halffed laborers looked to Ireland and saw
her Frustrated and famished, and said: Free
trade has wrought this woe and ruin. Its per
nicious principles are responsible in a large de-
gree for it all