The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-24
THE POLICY OF PROTECTION
Senator Frye Argues in Opposition to
the Views of President Cleveland,
And Claims that the Surplus Is the Result of
Democratic Incapacity Title
Confirmed by Vote of the House.
THE SENATE.
Mr. Frye Delivers Argument in Support
of the Policy of Protection.

rnittee on finance the Presidents annual mes
sage and proceeded to discuss the message, say
ing that tho President had clearly thrown down
the gauntlet of free trade. There was at
tempt he admitted, at disguise, but it was SO
feeble that it ought not TO deceive anyone. That
message had been received with unbounded Joy
in Great Britain. And why mott England had
been seeking the American market for years
with persistsncy which never tagged. a cour-
age which never failed, faith never hopeless,
although for quarter of q 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
srased. The British press had at once
proceeded to self-congratulations and to strip
off mercilessly the Presidents disguise. These
congratulations, he said, would have continued
if voice of warning had not been heard. Tho
warning was that such English expression of opin-
ion bad to be curbed or the full frution of English
hopes never would be enjoyed He quoted from
the Pall-Mal Gazette to that effect and said that
Immediately there had been a Transformation.
The free-trade papers of Great Britain had
dropped at once their self-congratulations and
had proceeded to congratulate the United States
and to prophesy unbounded prosperity 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 af-
lection. He declared emphatically that Eng
land had never in one single instance
evinced any sympathy with this country;
and that she never permitted opportunity to
injure this country to pass unim proved He de-
clared that the counsel, the advice, the friend
RhiD of Great Britain to any nation in CONNER
cial matters had invariably and inevitably
resulted in injury to the nation which had ac-
eepted il. Ireland instance of that.
And yet said he. Great Britain hoped, and
the Democratic party expected the Irish votes
next fall for Cleveland as the Democratic candi-
date for the presidency. One of the leading
freetrade speakers IN ENGLAND had declared,
years ago, that the greatest triumph of Great
Britain would be the subjugaton of the markets
of the United States In the promise of The
Presidents message they could see that subju-
cation nigh at hand. Great Britain to-day had
her markets open to the world. while other
countries had their markets partially closed to
her. She found within her own borders
the iercest kind OF competition, and her indus
sries were falling off. Her silk INDUSTRIES, for
instance, had been absolutely destroyed. Fiji
teen years ago there were 90, 600 persons en-
ployed in the silk industry in London, and to-
features were crippled. Germany and Belgium
we're seizing her iron and steel industries. and
we're already controlling one-half of her foreign
srade in that line Her agricultural lands were
decreasing in value, and from one-rhird to one.
half of her agricultural la borers out of en-
ployment, while those who had employment
only earned from shilling to and six pence
n day. But England heard the President of the
United States declare in his annual message that
the tarf-the only obstacles to Englands
possession OF the American market-was
vicious. illogical, ineQuitable, and what won
der that tr- English people deafened American
ears with ,n.,.r cries of Hear, hear" They saw
party. fol he presidential battle Of 1888, the old
fundamental doctrine Of free trade, that duty
is q tax paid by the consumer" What wonder
that they hailed Mr.. Cleveland as their
championi They saw him promise to open to
them participation in the American market, and
they knew that that participation would start
employed men and women. What wonder that
their approval of the Presidents message went
rim ging over the world2 But the attitude Of the
Democratic party OF this country was of more
Importance, practically. than the attitude of
Great Britain Would the Democratic party of
tie United States, he asked, indorse their
new chief He was strongly inclined
that members of that party had been
asqueradine for years as reformers, favoring
tariff for revenue only. with incidental protec
that in manufacturing districts OF New Jersey
and elsewhere they masqueraded mild man
nered protectionists. In the South they had
had more boldness and less diversity of indus
try but even there, within the last year or two,
blinded probably by the smoke of newly-ouilt
furnaces. disturbed by the hum of looms,
there was to be found here and there a friend of
protection The Senator from Missouri Mr..
Vest] had declared the other day that he in
dorsed every line, word and letter in the Pres-
dents message: the Senator from Indiana
prepared speech. in perfect GOODNESS.
with excitement whatever, declared that
the doctrines enunciated by, the President
doctrine of the Democratic party for 81 wears
and that he Endorsed them. The Senator from
Tennessee Mr.. Harrisl had also, in a speech
made elsewhere. declared that his voice or his
vote would never be for the protection or en-
couragement of anv American industry. So
that he Mr.. Fryel inclined to think that
the Democratic party Of the country really
shared in the Presidents convictions. and really
believed that the tariff vicious, illogical and
inequita0e. and that duty was tax paid by
the consumer. And why should not the party
80 thinkf The controlling element OF the Dem
ocratic party had been always in the South; and
the Southern wing of the Democratic party con-
trolled IL to-day as powerfully and completely
the party into the championship OF slavery.
There was not the slightest doubt as to the att
tude of the South on this question. When
the South went into rebellion, it de-
clared, in the confederate constitution.
that no bounty should be granted
from the Treasury. nor any law be enacted to
roster or encourage any branch of industry
Whatever. That had been the solemn declara-
ton OF Southern Democrats; and they believe
now as they had believed then. These Southern
gentlemen learned very slowly and forgot as
wells which were being wrought in their midst
under protective tariff. The Democratic
party he'd come into power in the House of Rep
in the Forty-eighth Congress and
had held power In that House ever since except
in the Forty seventh Congress; and it had illus
trated its promotion TO power by demanding
that the tariff be revised and the whole business
of the country disturbed. The Demo
cratic chairman of the committee of
ways and means since then had been
Fernando Wood with Randolph Tucker as an
sssistant) ana VIM. r. Morrson-al three
Of them outand-out theoretical free-traders;
md to-day Mr. Mills. of Texas was chairman of
hat committee. and Mr. Mills was ever a crank
q his devotion to the principles of free trade.
Ind Endorsed the message of the President. The
distinguished Speaker of the House-for whom
he had a profound esteem-in his devotion to
he principles of free trade had dared, in the
asst Congress to arrogate to himself almost des-
ootic powers, and TO declare, from his nigh
place, that he would recognize no member of the
house to make any motion 20 cut down the sur
olus unless it was first submitted to a Demo
cratic caucus. The Democratic Secretary of the
Treasury had also joined III the choral song of