Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-06-26
n.mncrats For Free Trade.


The recent vote 1pon taking up the
M prison Free Trade Tariff bill for con
sideration defines very clearly the posi-
ton Of each party upon that measure
or the Democrats 146 voted for 1t and
80 against, and OF the Republicans 3
voted for 1t and 1875 against. The
Democrats were counting largely on
the help Of western Republicans, but
they have been disappointed. OF the
Ave who voted for 1t three OF them al
least did SO through courtesy that the
bill might be considered. and 1t is not
known positively that more than one
would have voted for the bill on Its
passage. This makes the Republican
party practically unanimous for tariff
projection. The Democrats lack that
nnanimity. Free trade In the United
States Is such an abhorrent idea<hat
even mauy southern men, who lose no
opportunity to strike at everything
which helps the North more than the
South, would not vote for 1t, and hence
there were more Democratic votes In
the solid South against taking up the
bill than there were Republican mem
bers in the North and West for 1t.
Though there were 80 Democrats
who voted on the side OF protection the
Democratic party may without any
stretch of veraci.y be called free trade
party. Everything possible that could
be done has been done to break down
the principle OF protection in the
country. Mr. Carlisle, one Of the most
incorporating free traders OF the day
was elected by the Democrats as theil
Speaker OF the House. Mr.. Carlisle
had the appointment of the COMMITTEES
OF Ways and Means, committee tha
had the power to formulate laws and
report them to raise means TO carry or
the government. The Speaker wa
careful in appointing his committee Il
give it q free trade cast. Out OF thirteeI
members that compose 1t seven wer'
Democrats and six Republicans, aDC
every one OF the Democrats was an out
and-out free trader. A free trade com
mittee was sure to report tariff bill
favorable TO free trade. Mr.. Morrison
. Democrat and 8 pronounced fire.
trader, chsmpioned the measure.
Democrat President, forgetting the i'm
partial dignity that should surroun
his position, stepped down from hi
pedestal of honor and tried his hand O
whipping recalcitrAnt democratic mem
bers OF Congress into the free trad
traces. 1t will be seen then that thi
latest covert attack on the America
policy OF protection was engineered b
Democrats. Let the people look at thi
and they cannot help but say OF til
election nearly two years ago: Is 1t an
wonder that it was hailed in Englan
rs free trade and English victory?
AT that time the Democratic part
had not the honesty TO openly declare
was not in favor OF free trade. 1t kue
that such a declaration would hay
driven from Its ranks thousands
Dem ocrats OF the working class wi
voted for Cleveland. The manner
which the Mug wump element supportt
the Democratic Presidential candida
convinced thinking men that his ele
ton meant nothing less than an orga
lied crusade against protection durlI
his administration. The course adopt,
by Mr.. Cleveland and the Democrat
maj 1rity in the House has shown tn
the men who had such thoughts We
not mistaken. Ever since the meetiI
of Congress the Democratic House a
the Democratic administration ha
been busily at work trying to advsr
the cauee of the free traders. A
result Of these attacks on the Americ
policy OF protection the country
suffering from business depression u
would not exist If capital had not b
rendered timid by Demo ratio adVooj
OF free trade. The country is to be G
gratua ted on Mr.. Morrison defes
his second attempt to force free tr
measure through Congress.