Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-04-13
LIVE WASHINGTON TOPICS.
SENATOR MORRlLL'S SPEECH ON THE
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The Sophistries of Free Trade Fully Ex.
posed-The Democrats Agree to Break
the Deadlock To-day-The Tax Bill
to be a special Order Dec. @.


noon. He contrasted the message with
Washingtons last letter encouraging
manufactures aud said A tariff for
revenue only was synonym for free
trade. Henry George. the free trade
propogandist characterized the mess age
and the Mills bill as deadly blow to the
ugly fetch, protection. There was no en-
couragement in the message for the wool
growers, for any new or old enterprises,
for any growing city or town, for the
opening of new fields of labor. On the
contrary it would slaughter the present
industries. Free wool would ruin the
wool industry, causing a prodigous loss
to the landed. estates. Since securing
power the democratic party had reversed
its platform. If the anti-tariff raid was
successful, the fondest hopes of the new
South would disappear for ever.
The chronic failure of the democratic
House, during l0yearslof power, TO reduce
the revenues proved the republican party
could be best trusted with that work.
The net ordinary expenditures of the re-
publican administration for the four years
ending in 1888, were S19l, $40, 1873. against
SS13, 730, ,224 for the democrats during 1856
and 1887 and their estimates for 1883 aud
1889 The internal revenue taxes were
war taxes and should be abolished except
such as are necessary to meet the war
debt. He favored reasonable reduction
of the revenues, but deprecated the at
pected surplus, SO long as u there
remained debt of $1,000, 900, 900
which the treasury was authorized to
pay at any time. There could be no
congestion of the treasury save by will
full refusal to pay the public debt Still
there would be no opposition from his side
of the chamber to any reduction that did
not prostrate Or ruin great industries and
reduce wages. All parties professed to
seek diminution of the surplus revenues,
but it was prepOSterOuS to suppose a sim
pie reduction of duties on competing i'm
ports would reduce the revenues, as the
imports would be increased thereby. EX-
perience proved this, particularly in the
1888 revision.
Another vitally important matter was
to preserve the bl-metallic coinage SyS-
TEN. If the duties were so far reduced as
to make the imports exceed exports, the
balance of trade would be against us.
Gold would soon command premium and
90 abroad The standard dollar would
be based on silver alone and represent
only the commercial value of that metal.
The revenues would all be paid in silver
and business arrangement and reduction
in wages would follow to the extent of the
difference between the nominal and the
intrinsic value of the silver coin. Gen
eral disaster had intleXibly followed an
excessive reduction in America, as in 1897
1S4i and 1851 General prosperity as in
variably followed a rise in duties, espec
tally IN the 1861 tariff. The results of that
bill alone vindicated the protective policy
No constitution could have found favor
after the revolution which did not provide
for protection. Madison championed the
theory till his death. Protection original
ed with the far seeing farmers who wanted
constant and sure home market and i
should be maintained by them. 1t brough
the manufacturer and farmer together
and enabled the country to support two
men where only one had been supported
before.
The increased wealth of America tn,
past 20 years was great source of public
telcitation. Our savings bank deposit
exceed those of all other countries. From
1872 to 1856 they increased from 1868, 900 90
to 81, ,235 ,000, 000 while $947 900 600 of tn
public debt was being paid. The saving
bank deposits now would more than pa
the natio - drut Thi showed that th
domestic prolucuU. So. ely increased
while the laborera' sho OF the profit
was increased relatively more than tn
capitalists share.
The advent of 4 ,222, COO emigrants froI
Great Britain in the past 30 years BRANDED
as false the assertion that the cheape
cost of living in Great Britai
compensated for the lower rate of tre
trade wages. Ii WAS beyond all dsput
that wages were higher here than in an
other country in the world, while the co,
of living here was increased only by ii
higher grade and more generous amoun
The protective tariff had vastly il
creased and diversified American mani
factures, had excited the brain power {
men of science and the inventive facultie
Of great multitude of practical worl
ingmen, and had promoted their happ
ness and thrift. New inventions ha
diminished the hours of labor of the Worl
ingmen and increased their wages. III
busy race of American inventors shoul
not perish for the lack of friendly car
they were necessary in peace and indl
pensible in war. The inventions in II
arts of peace would fill an encyclopedia
In the diversity of employment resultir
from protection American women ha
been elevated and made much more ind
pendent, largely participating in Il
worlds useful work. Far more than u
men would the fortunes of the women
affected by any steps toward the Britl
goal of free trade.
The Mills bill, if enacted, would cripI
many manufacturers aud destroy othel
increase the revenue, force sacrifices
the farmers. Ii was free surrender
the border markets TO those who wou
not allow Americans to fish or cut bt
within three miles of their shores.
hoped If 1t reached the Senate the latl
would so amend it the tariff would
American and not British.
The Deadlock to be Broken To-day.
At o'clock Mr.. Taulbee called attenti
to the fact that the House had been &C
structively in session eight days, and CT
tinuously in session over 27 hours ; in I
interest of good health and good natu
he asked unanimous consent that a rec
be taken until 1l:45 tomorrow.
O'Ferrall objected and the House agi
sank into a state of innocuous desuetu
After various unsuccessful attempts
obtain such result Taulbee at Z o'clC
asked unanimous consent for recess
til 11i5 tomorrow, There being no
lection q recesss was taken.
One hundred and twenty-five democri
members of the House attended the C
Gus this evening. Messrs Cox, Holm
and Oates advocated harmony. Ate
long discussion the caucus adopted II
luton to the effect that the House on
assembling tomorrow, adjourn with