St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-24
In Rambling Way Senator Frye Tells
What he Knows Of Tariff
Reform.
Like Other Republicans the Presidents
Message Somewhat Worries
Him.
However the Democrats Will See That
Cleveland's Policy Is Carried
Out.


the presidents annual message. and
proceeded to discuss the message. in
which he said the president had clearly
thrown down the gauntlet of free trade.
There was an attempt, he admitted, at
disguise, but so feeble that it ought not
to deceive any one. The message had
been received with unbOunded joy in
Great Britain. And why not? England
had been seeking the American market
for years with perSiStency which
never tagged, a courage which never
failed, faith never hopeless, although
for quarter of century she had seen
her aggreSSions met by strong defenSes.
But now the president of the United
States declared that these defenSeS were
to be erased. The British press had at
once proceeded to Observation-Disclosures
and to strip off mercilessly the presi-
dents disguise. These CONGRATULATIONS,
he said, would have continued if voice
of warning had not been heard. The
warning was that such English express
sion of opinion had to be curbed or the
full fruitiOn of English hopes never
would be enjoyed. He quoted from the
Pail Mall Gazette to that effect, and
transformation. The free trade papers
of Great Britain had dropped at once
their self-cOngratulatiOns, and have pro-
ceeded to congratulate the United
States and to predict undoubted pros
perlty for this country. Great Britain
had seemed suddenly to recognize the
fact that this country was her daughter
and to evince to her friendship and
affection. He declared emphatically
that England had never in one single
instance evinced any sympathy for this
country, and that she never had per-
mitted an opportunity to injure this
country to pass unimprOyed. He de-
clared that the counsel. the advice, the
friendship of Great Britain to any
nation in commercial matters was in
variably resultful in injury to the
nation which had accepted it. Ireland
he, Great Britain hoped and the Demo-
cratic party expected
THE IRISH VOTES
next fall for MIR. Cleveland as the Demo-
catic candidate for the presidency. One
of the leading free trade speakers in
England had declared years ago that
the greatest triumph of Great Britain
would be the SubjugatiOn of the markets
OF the United States. In the promise of
the presidents message they could see
that subjugati0n nigh at hand. Great
Britain to-day had her market open to
the world, while other countries had
their markets partially closed to her.
She found now, within her own borders,
the fiercest kind of competition, and
her industries were falling Off. Her silk
industry, for instance, had been abso-
lutely destroyed. Fifteen years ago
there were 10000 persons employed in
the silk industry in London, and to-day
there were only 5000. Her cotton manu-
features were crippled, Germany and
Belgium were Selling her iron and steel
industries. and were already controlling
One-half Of her foreign trade in that
line. Her agricultural lands were de-
creasing in value, and from one-third to
One-half of her agricultural laborerS
were out OF employment, while those
who had employment only earned from
a shilling to one and siXpence day.
But England heard the president of the
United States declare in his annual
message that the tariff (the only obstacle
to English possession of the American
market was vicious, illogical, inequita-
bic, and what wonder that the English
their cries of Hear! hearT They saw
him adopt the slogan of the Democratic
party for the presidential battle of 1883.
the old fundamental doctrine of free
trade, that duty is tax paid by the
consumer" What wonder that they
hailed Mr.. Cleveland as their cham
pion? They saw him promise to open
to them participation in the American
market,and they knew that that partici-
patton would start their hating looms
AND FEED THEIR HUNGRY.
unemployed men and women. What
wonder that the approval of the presi-
dents message went ringing over the
world? But the attitude of the Demo-
cratic party of this country was of
more Importance. practically, than the
attitude of Great Britain. Would the
Democratic party of the United States,
he asked, indOrse their new chief? He
was strongly inclined to think it would.
He knew that members of that party
had been maSquerading for years as re
formers, fay0ring tariff for revenue
only, with incidental protection" or a
tariff for revenue exclusively" and
that in manufacturing districts of New
Jersey and elsewhere they masqueraded
as mild hammered prOtectionists. In
the South they had had more boldness
and less diversity of industry, but, even
there, within the last year or two.
blinded probably by the smoke Or
newly-built furnaces, or disturbed by
the hum of looms, there was found,
here and there, friend of protection.
The senator from Missouri (VesO had
declared the other day that he Endorsed
every line, word and letter of the presi-
dents message. The senator from In
prepared speech, in perfect GOODNESS,
with no excitement whatever, de-
clared that the doctrines enunci-
atpd bV the president in
his his recent message had been N
the doctrine of the Democratic party for
eighty-seven years, and that he in
dorSed them. The senator from Ten
nessee (Harris) had also, i'll a speech
made elsewhere, declared that his voice
or his vote would never be for the pro-
lection or encouragement of any Amer
lean industry. So that he (Frye) was
inclined to think that the Democratic
party of the country really shared in
the presidents convictions, and really
believed that the tariff was vicious,
illogical and inequitable. and that a
duty was a tax paid by the consumer.
And why should not the party so think?
The controlling element of the Demo-
cratic party had been always in the
South; and the Southern wing of the
Democratic party controlled it to-day as
powerfully and completely as it did be-
fore the rebellion, when it compelled
the party into the championship of
slavery. There was
NOT THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT
as to the attitude of the South on the
question. When the South went into
rebellion, it declared in the Confederate
constitution that 10 bounty should ever
be granted from the treasury, nor law
be enacted, to foster or encourage any
branch of industry whatever. That
had been the solemn declaration of the
Southern Democrats; and they believed
now. as they believed then. These
Southern gentlemen learned very slowly
and forgot as slowly, and they were
blind to-day to the marvels which
were being wrought in their midst
-.l<... l1.I.A 49,