Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-11-20
THE DEATH-KNELL OF FREE TRADE.


purposes of all hopeful political par.
ties in this country for generation
to come. 1t is no doubtful or indie
finite verdict. 1t is the solemn judg-
ment of ten millions OF American
sovereigns proclaiming the death
knell of free trade, and it is a trum-
pet-tongued call to deluded Demo
cratic leaders, who have been be-
wildered by free trade sophistry, to
return to the true American policy
of Jefferson and jackson. Most of
the aggressive free trade leaders
have been disastrously defeated in
strong Democratic districts. Speaker
Carlisle is probably returned by a
majority of less in hundreds than he
should have received in thousands ;
Morrison, the most arrogant free
trade leader, is smitten by his own
people, and Hurd again falls by a
majority of 1900 where his party
has over 5000 majority.
But the lesson would fail in i'm
pressiveness if only few of the
most fervent free trade leaders had
been defeated. Such results might
be imputed to the accidents of poll
tics; but the verdict of Tuesday is
the same from the Eastern to the
Western sea and from the Northern
lakes to the Southern gulf. In Con-
necticut there is one Democratic
gain for Congress, Mr.. Vance, and
he is the man who declined the NOM
ination of his party because the plat
form was not distinctly in favor of
protection. In Massachusetts, Low
ering, who voted for free trade, is
defeated. In New York, there are
SIX avowed Democratic protection
lists elected.
In New Jersey, the Democratic re-
cord in favor of protection is most
emphatic. In Pennsylvania, Ran
dali and Sowden are reelected with
out opposition, and every Democrat
except Scott, is distinctly pledged to
incidental protection, while Scott
avows his emphatic hostility to free
trade. In Ohio there is only one
Democrat in the new delegation who
has any sympathy with MOrrison's
free trade vagaries, and the second
defeat of Hurd in stroag Democra-
tic district is an admonition that
Ohio free traders will respect. In
diana is now a declared protection
State. Even Holman, presumably
the strongest man with the people
of any in the delegation, is returned
by greatly reduced majority, solely
because he was suspected Of a pas
sive support to free trade, and if the
Democrats shall lose the Senator, as
is more than possible, the men to
thank for it are Carlisle. Morrison
& Co., the new free trade dealers
who have nailed their business sign
over the Democratic organization OF
the House.
Even the purely agricultural States
on the Mississippi are each year raj
lying stronger and stronger for pro.
lection, and California is solid for it..
In the Northwest, where bota par
ties were broken By free trade, there
will be stronger protection delega-
tions in the next Congress than at
any time during the last ten years.
In Illinois, Morrison is beaten near
ly 1000 in a district that would have
given him $500 majority but for the
aroused antagonism of industry to
the free trade suicide, and Springer
narrowly escapes defeat from the
same cause. There is not now a
single State in the North where any
party can hope to escape overwhelm-
ing defeat if even suspected of sym.
pathy with the theory Of free trade
in any of its various phases. The
people of all parties, as rule, de-
mand Tariff revision and reduction
of taxes, but on the basis of inciden-
tai and adequate protection to our
great productive industries.
! Nor is the South in positive an
tagonism to the North on the great
issue of protection. Speaker Car.
isle is likely re elected by a nomi
nal majority where he should have
had over 5000, solely because the
industry of his district has asserted
itself, and he will never again cast a
free trade Committee of Ways and
Means nor will any man be permit
ted to reach the chair of the next
House who will not respect the un-
mistakable verdict of the nation
against Tariff revision on any basis
that approaches free trade. He may
be again elected Speaker, but it will
be only in case he learns the lesson
the people have taught him in the
exercise of their sovereign authority
In Tennessee and Alabama there
are bold protectionists in the new
delegation. and 1t is notable that
the new Congressman from the
birmingham district was specific in
his pledge against free trade. Louis
lana sends solid delegation of pro
tectionists and the Corolinas will not
be wholly on the wrong side. In
Virginia there is arevolution against
the pet policy of the free traders tt
maintain the internal taxes, and free
, trade has given the Old Dominion
Republican delegation for the first
time in her history. Both Virginia
and North Carolina have repeatedly
demanded the reduction or repeal
of the Internal taxes and they are
exhausted in patience at the free
trade theory that sustains high In
| ternal taxes to reduce customs and
! thereby destroy protection. AND
each of the States of the South ars
directly interested IN the protection
of her products. Tennessee, the
Virginias aud Alabama have i'm
|. mense treasure in iron and coal
, with water highways tempting CAPT