The Portland daily press., 1888-08-07
English Opinion.

The Portland Argus, which in the Ham
cock campaign quoted approvingly the COM
pliments paid by the English papers to the
free trade position of the Democracy in that
campaign, still has, as we are glad to see
from its approving quotation from the Lon
don News, its old respect for English author
ity. But the Argus cannot prove on English
authority that the Mills bill is a protectionist
measure. The full weight of that authority
is the other way. The London Times may
or may not have said that England's only use
for an Irishman is when he emigrates to
America and votes for free trad Q, but 1t is
certain that the London Times d say this
of President Cleyeland's position:
1t would be hardly possible to put the free
trade case more clearly or more strongly. The
arguments which President Cleveland uses are
years ago, and which any English free trader
would employ now, They are purely free trade
afgumenss, ana as such we are very glad to see
popular intsi'iation which makes 1t dangerous TO
give Their sir right name.
And Saturday Review, another leading
English journal, said this:
President Cleveland declines cautiously to dub
nilnsen Tree trader; but hetakes up free trade
tne Democratic psrty have taken up again the old
free trade policy Of the South Carolina politicians.
The Scotsman, probably the greatest
British journal outside of London, greeted
Mr.. Cleyeland's message with these words:
The President proposes radical reduction on
the duties ON raw materials, or even their free
turers for the sacrifice which they are asked TO
make. The free importation OF iron, coal and
ae Il with prE
the tariff upon cotton, wooden and other manufac-
lures, the artisans of this country would derive a
marked benefit from 1t. III once the United States
finds herself on the road 10 free trade she will
hardly know where to stop. For the principle
which President Cleveland, as head of the Demo-
cratle party, lays down is really that no import
duties are justfable which are not levied solely
Tor purposes OF revenue
The London Morning Post commented
upon it thus:
The message will produce profound sensation
Ia EUROPE as well as 10 America, and will
world.
And the London ID ally News, the great
Gladstonian paperl ed in:
MT, Cleveland particu rly refers to the WOO
tarin which he thinks should be at once reduced,
mers lose more by the dearness Of clothes than
lney gain by DEAFNESS Of wool. He must know
pe d well tnat IN thus arguing he comedies
The Argus claims that tno Daily News has
io0oiy uociaIou tuab tne Mills Dill is pro-
tectionist measure. If it has it probably did
SO out of Difference to the advice which the
Pail Mall Gazette gave the English free trad
ers soon after Cleveland's message was is
sued
English free traders would be well advised II
tney moderated the ecstacy of their jubilation
over President Cleyeland's message. Every word
when they say in Its praise will be used as pow
erIul argument against the adoption Of its recon-
mendati0ns.
From English authority certainly the Ar
gus car lot prove that the Democratic posi-
ton is a protectionist position. And Eng
iish authority may be looked up to with all
the respect which the Argus expressed for it
in the Hancock campaign, for the English
are disinterested observers, who look upon
our political controversies from a pure bust
ness standpoint.