The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-09-21

The British Press and the Democratic Party.
TO the Editor of the indianapolis Journal
Some OF the newspapers aud public speakers
have lately denounced published extracts from
the British press commencing the free-trade at
titude OF President Cleveland. and OF the Demo
cratic party. as forgeries. On examination of flies
OF these English papers. / And oven stronger ut
terances by them than have been Published, COM
mendipg President Cleveland and his party for
the bold step in advocacy Of free trade. IL there
are any doubling this, aud they will call on me,
/ will show them the Identical British free-trade
papers from which make the following ex-
tracts, as they lie before me. The following are
from the editorial columns Of the London Times:
Both proteetionists and free.tr.ders perceive that
Il Ms. GlsT re- policy oe carried out . gre Tsat al.
it seems probable that parties viii be reconstructed
and the presidential contest of 1855 decided.
And again the London Times says:
The Presidents emphatic denunciation Of the mis-
chief Of heavy duties on articles OF general consump-
ton has plainly raised the :ree-trade issue, and if the
Democratic party follow Mr.. Cleveland. the next
presidential election will be fought on those lines.
In another issue the London Times again
Gays:
The message viii 10 furiously ssssiled by all con.
nected with the protected interests throughout the
Union, anu il must not be forgotten that those inter
ests are no longer mainly concentrated IN Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey and New England. Manufacture
ing industries have been fostered by tariff in the Mis-
sissippi valley, in the Northwest, and even in the
South. II is all the more remarkable that Mr.. Cleve-
land should have the courage TO confront the serried
phalanx OF the protectionists on the eve OF the con-
test for the presidencv. . e = His message is a
bold stroke which at least deserves success.
On June 6, 1888, the London Times again saws:
1t is clear that the success of the Democratic ticket
would DO popularity regarded as a step towards free
trade. The protectionist interests, in general, may
be calculated upon rs hostile TO Mr.. Cleveland
The following are extracts ! copy from the
London Spectators editorial columns, as that
great free-trade weekly lies before me:
President Cleveland has taken the little wind there
was out of Mr.. Howard vincent's sails. His terse and
telling message has struck a blow ~ American protec-
ton such as could never have been struck by any Fair
trade League.
Again the Spectator says:
We shall be surprised 10 an American Free-trade
League does not soon spring up in the United States,
TO second the policy OF President Cleveland.
From the editorial columns Of another able
free-trade journal. the London Saturday Re-
view, / copy the following:
It may be taken for granted that the President has
not acted without previously consulting the leaders of
the Democratic party and securing their approval.
He and they have taken mp again the old free-tyade
policy of the South Carolina politicians. e r =
President Cleveland has decided to force on the de-
cision. he declines cautiously to dub himself a free
trader, but he takes up the free-trade position with
out disguise
could make many more extracts from these
and other well-known British free-trade journals
to the same purport, but for the present this
will suffice. There ia no doubt that the English
press regard the election of President Cleveland
and q Democratic Congress as very important to
their own commercial prosperity. The policy
pursued toward ireland, aud ali other countries,
by Great Britain, show that she is perfectly self
ish, and 1t is not to be presumed that her inter
est in our election is anything else.
The denunciation OF. these extracts as forgee-
les is confession of judgment. and only makes
stronger the charge that the Democratic party
has struck out boldly for free trade. though in
the language OF the London Saturday Review,
they decline cautiously to plainly say they are
fos-free trade. .Not guilty" is the usual plea at
the bar of public opinion under such circum-
stances, as il is in courtP6y the detected crimi-
nal. JNo. b. CONNER
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 20.