The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-07-26
DEMOCRACY UNuASKED.
QUESTIONS POINTEDLY ASKED.

Mr.. HartshOrn Exposes the Mills Bill
In'al its HIdeOus Deformity-That
Golden Club Medal-SOme of the
Members of the Free Trade Body.
The Hon. E. A. Hartshorn enjoys
National reputation as authority on tar
iff matters. A few days before the pas
sage of the Mills bill he wrote the fol-
lowing, which we earnestly ask our
readers to ponder upon and carefully
peruse. By way of introduction it is
well to say that the Mills bill passed
the Democratic House of Representa-
tiyes Saturday, The vote thereon be-
ing: Yeas, 1852; nays, 146. Three Re
publicans-Messas. Nelson of Minnesota,
Fitch of New York and Brewer of North
Carolina-Yoted for the bill; and four
Democrats-Messrs. Bliss, Greenman
Democrat of Troy and Merriman of
New York aud Sowden of Pennsylvania
voted against it.
The Hon, Roger Q. Mills of Texas is
chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee of the Fiftieth Congress, On the
Fourth of July in public address deliv
cred in the city Of New York he assert
that, "no Democrat in this country de-
sires free trade" and in Analysing his
tariff bill. now pending in Congress, he
asked the question /: docs that look
like free trade ?"
In this remarkable address the attempt
ed straddle of 1888 was officially inau-
uurated.
But can the straddlers again strad-
die?
The Mile bill declares, for
Free trade in lumber, which we pro-
duce to the value of three hundred mil
lions of dollars annually;
Free trade in wool, of which we pro-
duce over three hundred millions OF
pounds annually;
Free trade in salt, of which we pro-
duce nearly forty millions of bushels
annually;
Free trade in flax, hemp, jute and
other fibres;
Free trade in cement, potash, lime and
brick;
Free trade in meat, game and poul-
try;
beans;
Free trade in marble and stone;
Free trade in at least one hundred
other articles produced IN this country
most of which would be produced in
sufficient quantity for home consump-
ton if properly protected.
This bill is supported by nearly every
Democrat in the FiftieIh Congress
THow true this was is noted in our in
reduction is approved unanimously
by the National Democratic Convention
at ST.. Louis, and yet, and yet-"No
Democrat in this country desires free
trade"
The committee on resolutions in the
Democratic Convention in 1884 were in
session thirty-six consecutive hours
wranglIng over a tariff plank, Was
there any wrangling over the tariff
plank in 1888? Does that look like free
trade? Where were such men as Patrick
Walsh of Georgia, Samuel }. Randall OF
PENNSYLVANIA and Hon, Smith M. Weed
of New York when the Democratic con-
ventlon met in 1888? They were left
at home. Does that look like free
trade?' 800.
Patrick Walsh said Slavery is
dead, and its twin sister free trade
should be buried in the same grave;
and Patrick Walsh didn't go to St,
Louis. "Does that look like free trader
The issue of 1860 is again upon us.
The Hon. George d. Tillman, M. G
From South Carolina says Twas j
not our incorporate zeal for free trade
that led to notification, and was it not
as much to enjoy free trade as to pro
tect slavery that South Carolina seeded
in 1860 ?"
The constitution of the Confederate
States of America read as follows THE
Congress shall have the power to lay
and collect taxes, duties. imports and
excuses for revenue, : but no
bounties shall he granted from the treas
cry; nor shall any duties or taxes on
importations from foreign nations be
laid to promote or foster any branch OF
industry" Does that look like free
trade ?" Fortunately it 80 happened
that this free trade constitution was
soon trampled under the unhallowed
feet of Northern mudsills;" and then
the British lion assumed forlorn ap-
pearance. This was in 1860, mari
you.