River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-09-27
Evading The Issue They Have Made.


the part of its votaries. Realizing the
overwhelming drift of public senti-
ment against acceptance of their sug.
gestion to remodel the fiscal policy of
this country after the English pattern,
the free trade workers are now busy
explaining that nothing like free trade
was ever intended. Even the Presi-
dent. whose denunciation of our Pro-
tective policy as svicious, inequita-
BILE and illogical source of unnecessary
taxation rallied to his support every
free trade writer and speaker on both
sides of the ocean, now deems it adj
visable to demand that he shall not be
called free trader.
In view of certain precedent circum-
stances, however, there are likely to
be found those who will hesitate to
admit the adequacy of this eleventh
hour protest. The past attitude of
the President and his party are likely
to be deemed quite as safe criteria for
conclusions in this direction as are
present assertions, known to be
brought forth under pressure of ex-
treme party emergencies. And what
does such retrospect reveal, but
sympathy and consistent concession
to those who have long been recog
nized advocates of free foreign trade!
Going back to March, 1885, the
President is found signalling the adj
vent of his administration by the ap.
pointment as his counselors of two
members of the Golden Club of Eng
land-Messrs. Bayard and Lamar. One
of these he put at the head of his
Cabinet and the other he subsequently
promoted to the Supreme Bench. A
number of other members of the same
free trade organization are now doing
service as foreign COnsuls, and still
another, Mr.. Morrison, has been APP
pointed on the Inter State Commission
in charge of the internal commerce of
the country. The party majority in
the lower House of Congress, with the
Presidents approval, if not at his die
tation, elected as Speaker another
Golden Club member, Mr.. Carlisle,
who placed at the head of the Ways
and Means Committee representa-
tive who several years previously in
voked blessings upon country dedl-
Gated to free trade, and who evidenced
his consistency by formulating the
Mills bill, which puts on the free list
long array of articles heretofore
recognized as properly subjected to
duties, and materially reduces the
protection to nearly every product of
domestic manufactures.
Getting outside of the Cabinet and
Congress, the record for free trade is
found equally clear, the support of
free traders equally strong and con.
sistent. The Convention that named
the President for reelection placed at
the head of its Platform Committee
Mr.. Watterson. a member of the Cob
den Club, and applauded to the echo
the work of that Committee and the
still more radical speech of its Chair
man. 1t named for Vice-President
man who has since denounced the
policy Of protection to home indus
tries as a deception and branded as
"humbugs" those who believe that
Protection is a benefit to the laboring
men OF the country.
Attracted by the consistent record
thus made. with faith in the sincerity
of party thus fortified, Mr.. Henry
George, Mr.. Frank Hurd, und num-
Der of other free trade apostles, are
already on the stump advocating the
Presidents reelection as a long stride
toward the goal of their ambition.
Every foreign mail comes loaded with
praise of their work, and if rumor is
to be believed there is not wanting
even more substantial evidence of
British sympathy in the success of the
present crusade against Protection
thus confirming the British determine
ton expressed by the London Times,
not to ''rest while the United States
are unsubdued."
No impartial student of the existing
political situation can fail TO recognize
full warrant for the conclusion of the
London Chronicle: 1T is immaterial
to discuss what President Cleveland's
crusade should be called. He may
give it any name he likes, so long as
we know it is, in fact, a crusade for
free trade"