Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-10-24
VoODPORD EXHIBITED IN THB ALHANBRA
RINK.
4 Big Audience Turns Out 10 Sc the Sh'w-Ganzy
Arguments" in Behalf Of High Taxes,
Lower Wages and Pro
tscted Milhonarss.

gentleman never Comtnitteu hiihoeii W
single fac. or statement which would elow
where he and his party stood on this great
question.
CONDITION NOT A THEORY.
In the words of Grover Cleveland, q
condition not theory ccnfronts us TO-
day." and not one word in Mr.. Wood
ford's long flow of high sounding phrases
indie ,ted that he wss aware of this con-
di,ior or could propose any adequate rem
e5y 70, it. Mo- ons word IVES spoken on
the subject Of rsvitiug the tariff, or cutting
down tsxation. The surplus in the Nat
ioral treasury was entirely igror>d. TIE
necessity which corfcon:s the government
of entering the market, and buying it, own
bonds at q premium was over looked.
Mr.. Woodford did not attemp: to stoS
how the Republican party propose to deal
with these evils, and if he believes that
tba. party is in favor Of any form OF tlriil
revision he KEEP: it religiously to himself.
Mr.. Ralph Whitehead called the meet
ing to order and nominated Pro-! Crsgo
chairman. The speaker of the evening was
Immediately introduced, and without moie
ado opsned mp his trla3Sides. Mr.. Wood
ford first paid his respects tc Prehdert
Cleveland In terms that would undoubt'
edly csuee that distinguished Democrat the
loss a great desl OF slstp if they cane to
his esrs. AID thtn proceeded to jump on:o
''free trade" and sno!e it hip and thi2h.
| He laid down the premise that every free
trader was q Den O2rat, ard was immedi-
stely called of by man in the audierc
who announced that he was 8 ttee trsdcr
aud intended 10 vote for Fsske Mr.
W,odford began to see that he was 9 Il IL
his bearings and returned to take cb!e:v
tious again. He said: No fre trader would
vote for Harrison. The Ecening Post Of New
York City, su out-and.oat free trade
papsr. Prot Chples Sumoer, Of Yale, and
other fra traders were against him. The
Democratic patty terd5d toward free trs de,
and the fartht it's policy was pursued, the
nesrec they wouid come 20 it.
NO FREE TRADE IN OURS, PLEASE
This may have 6sen all well and good
for Republican stump sfciksr to tell al
audience, that desired to believe it; it will
not be swallowed by thinking men. Free
trade is al impoS bili:y in this country.
None know 1t Det!sr than Mr. Woodf,rt
The Democratic party has never advoca!ed
it, aud does not ro1 make the first ap-
proach to it. For sixty years Cceding
the war this couatry grew and lHurishsd
under Dem ocrstic guidarcs. The legitl.-
tive and executive branches o. the gov
erument were in Democratic baud; ylt ia
all this time tariff drtiss were maintained,
and manufacturing int IS amply pro
tectei. The country wss never moi pr os-
porous and reVer adv ,nced more rapidly.
But il is useless 70 sygue an assertion that
has cs en- so often b7snied lie on it, face
Mr.. WoSdioris s free trade chestnut is wtrl
out. He ought u spring som thing ncy
on the community.
The greatest fee treds country, the
speaker CONTINUED, WAS E1alln5. Sh'
was vitality intc-c'hd in thu disssmins'
tion of this doctrine. ElRlapd ecu da't
grow enough WHEAT, and ezra and beef 20
support her millions Of people. But III.
stead che asked thai thty send her the r
rs ma erials, and she would manufacture
them sni sell than b.ck at her Own
profis. Every leader of English tbouRht,
every prominent Eaglish journal to-day &C.
su cl 10 see the America p !otsctivs systen
broken down ard symp.th!zed with the
Democratic party.
Mr.. GLADSTONE's OPINION.
Mr.. wsodf,ri is eviden ly not reader
of the REGISTER. II he had b.en, he
would not have made srch recl l.ss ss-
ser,ion. William f. Gladstone will p:Cb-
ably rank as high "a any other leader o!
English thought" l, asp e,h deliver d
at Leeds, ne ussd tie following laugusg::
81 will say this, thst az long as America
adhsrss to the project We system, your
commercial primary is secure. Nothicg
| in the world can wIest it from you WI e
America continues to fetter re: own ssroug
hands and arms, ani with these fettert d
arms is content to emp te with you who
ara free IN neutral msrketS. And as lci 2
as America fJllows tae doctrines rOS
known as fair trada, you are perfectly
safe, and you peel not allow, any of yo-,
even your lightest slunbsrs, to he dis
turbsd By the fear ira. America will take
from YOU your commarcisl primlCy."
| MI. Gladstone was there speasIcg TO y {
/ lesdiug business men of f. ,aud's great s.
mannfsci uring csnt;e It's hardly to be
praumed that he welcomes measure like
the Mills bill. which uufetters America
sstrorg hands aud arms" and 'llaws be-
10 compete with England in free sni
neutral markets" While we a-e quitting
from Glsds one we beg to call Mr. Woo I.
ford's special attention to this other choice
extract:
"I teg you to cast en- eye Of Gym
psthy upon the American sgriculturist. II
has been very we'll oaid, snd ry freely
said, though it is smart antitAesis, that
the American agricalturist has 10 buy
everything that no wants st priCeI thai
are fixed at Washington by the Legislation
Of America, bat he has got to sell evsry'
thing be produces st prices which sr;
fixed in Liverpool-fIed By the free c)m
petition Of tie world"
This is the Opinion Of an unbiased and
intelligent observer. Under our present
high tariff law tie American sgriculturisi
buys at pri,ss fx9d By monopolistic legis
lation at Washington, ''but he hiss get tc
sell everything Re pr oduces at p:icss fixed
in Liverpool-fxsd by the free oonpsti
ton Of the wnli."
SOME HIGHFALUTIN ORAT0RY.
But les us rs;urn to Mr.. wo)dford and
his speech. The dist 9u see orator fol
lowed up his E1glish free trade break with
q glowing description of tie beauties o.
or present tariff, and the prosperity o.
American workiugmer. No one rjoicet
more than the REGISTER that such an sd
dress could be made to o Wheeling audi
erca. Ii would not have been 60 apo
pirate before gathering Of protected
Psnnsylv suis miners, whose wages do nc
ave age five del ans n week. whose homes
are mere hove's, ard whose days Of lsbo'
alternate with strikes and lockouts. II
might not have been 60 appropriate, oefo' I
an audience OF western farmers, who's
homes are mortgaged to pay taxes, ant
whose products do not more than pay 'ht
price Of marketing. These are o ne OF tn
fruits Of the press n tariff system that NJ
Woodfo,d failed 10 mention.
The rsmainder of Mr.. Woodford's sd
dJes, was confined TO al explanation OF M
;e,sous for being in favor Of protect VI
t r.ff, and with few illusions wou'd has'
.eJved jut ss we'll for Dmccratic as
Republican argu nent. 1t was msss G
plitteripg Renerslities. prsisins the prc