The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-23

IL lh u free lEuuc EuEly'
A writer in the Register in detailing an
imaginary conversation, gives the follow
ing:
"Brcadwinner-Why, the Democratic
party, to which you belong, is Free
Trade party. >.
"EIobnail-That is silly charge. Ii
you will name Democratic leader who
breaches Free Trade, or show Ito me in
any Democratic platform, or in any
measure introduced by Democratic
Congress, ! will admit that there is some
excuse for the charge
Mr.. "Hobnal" is made here to resort
to favorite bluff argument OF the Demo-
Gratis. In denying the accusation that
their party is Free Trade party, they
invariably, with a due amountof buster,
utter the above challenge. 1t is bold
thing for them to do, knowing that it is
very easy to name many Democratic
leaders who preach Free Trade. Form
stance, Senator Zeb Vance, OF North
Carolina, n leader high in the councils
OF the Democratic party, and one OF the
most prominent members OF the United
States Senate, said at Pittsburgh last
Saturday, "7he South ,rdnts Free Trad"
Henry WatteBon, who wrote the Ma
tional Democratic platform ut st. Louis,
has said more than once in the columns
OF his paper, to the MISREPRESENTATION the
stump: "The Democratic party is for Free
Trade or nothing. Democrats who are
not for Free Trade had better leave the
party" Henry George says: 81 am for
Cleveland, Free Trade and no custom
houses" Frank Hurd, one OF the most
prominent Democratic leaders al the
country, breaches Free Trade pure and
simple, and said of the famous Morrison
horizontal reduction bill: at is the first
firm step in the direction OF Free Trade. :"
The list might be extended to great
length. Hundreds OF Democratic lead
ers in this country are members OF the
Golden Club-among them Secretary OF
State Bayard, Senator Beck, Speaker
Carlisle, W. II. Morrison, Sunset" Cox,
L. Q. G. Lamar, Thomas G. Sherman,
from whose history OF the Tariff the
Register makes copious clippings,
Henry NNatterson, and many others.
Their names may be found among those
titled Englishmen in the last annual re-
port OF the Golden Club, which by the
way, contains the following paragraph: :
Something has been done by this
club in the twenty-five years since Mr..
Golden died to keep the name OF the
great Free Trader green andhiS influence
fresh in the current OF political life. His
policy and his work have been kept
well in evidence ut home and abroad.
There are champions Of Free Trade in
all parts OF the British Empire, and in
most Of the countries Of the world, whose
interest, zeal and enthusiasm in the
cause are due in u large degree to the
work and the teachings OF the Golden
Club"
All Democrats are not Free Traders,
but all Democrats who support the
platform that endorses the Mills bill,
which the rankest Free Traders pro-
claim is the entering wedge to ultimate
Free Trade, are, to that extent laying
themselves liable to the just charge that
they desire to see the wiping out OF
every Protective feature OF our tariff
laws.
But this Register tariff talker,"
speaking through Mr. "Hobnail," says
also that he will admit there is excuse
for the charge that the Democratic
party is Free Trade party if he can be
shown Free Trade in any Democratic
platform or measure.
In the National Democratic platform
adopted at Baltimore May 90, lS4S, are
recited some of "the fruits of the great
political triumph OF 1874, which elected
James X. Polk and George NJ. Dallas
President and Vice President of the
United States" Among these fruits was
"the noble impulse given to the cause
Of Free Trade by the repeal OF the tariff
oi'42, and the creation OF the more equal,
honest and productive tariff OF 1876"
This may be found in Resolution 81 OF
the platform of lS4s, The platform Of
1888 is not far behind that Of 1913 in its
endorsement Of Free Trade, for it com
mends tho Mills bill and the Presidents
policy, both of which have given an
impulse to Free Trade. They are the
entering wedges-the keys that would
unlock the doors OF Protection to Ameri-
can labor and American industries, and
admit the monster which would destroy
our whole protective system,
Verify the Democratic party is a Free
Trade party.