San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-08-09
What an Honest Republican Thought

Wuht an uVuVst hVVunhVhu AuOuSiN
Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts
who died as Vice President under the
second term of General Grants ad
mtnistration, when senator in con
gress a few years previous to his
death, was strong opponent of the
abuses of our present tariff system
In one of his speeches he made use
of the following language. which
reads very much like Democratic
speech of the present day. 1t is es
pecially commended to our Repub-
lican friends:
The manufacturers, Mr.. Chairman,
make no war upon the wool growers.
They assume that the reduction of
the duty on wool, or repeal of the
duty altogether, will infuse vigor into
that dropping interest, stimulate
home production and diminish the
importation of foreign wooden manu-
factures, and afford a steady and in
creasing demand for American wool.
They believe this policy will be more
beneficial to the wool growers, to the
agricultural interests than the pres
ent policy. The manufacturers of
wooden fabrics, many of them men of
large experience and extensive knowl-
edge, entertain these views, and they
are sustained in these opinions by
the experience of the great manufac-
turing nations of the world.
Since the reduction of duties on
raw materials in England, since wool
was admitted free, her wooden manu-.
factures have so increased, so pros
pered that the production of native
wool has increased 100 per cent. The
experience of England, France and
Belgium demonstrates the wisdom of
that policy which makes the raw ma
terial duty free. Let us profit by
their example. If our manufactures
are to increase, to keep pace with the
population and the growing wants of
our people; if we are to have the
control of the markets of our own
country; if we are to meet with and
compete with the manufacturers of
England and other nations of western
Europe in the markets of the world,
we must have our raw materials ad-
mitted duty free, or at mere nomi-
nal rate. We of New England be-
lleve that wool, especially the cheap
woods, manila, hemp, flax, raw silk,
lead, tin, brass, hides, linseed, and
many other articles used in our man
ufactories can be admitted duty free.
or for mere nominal duty, without
injuring to any extent any considera-
Bile interest of the country.
In closing, Mr. Chairman, the re.
marks have felt it my duty TO sub
NIT to the senate and to the country,
that the commonwealth I in part
represent on this foor-I say in part,
for my colleague, Mr. Simmer, after
an enforced absence OF more than
nine months, is here to night to give
his vote, if he can raise his voice, for
the interest of bis state-has deep
interest in the modification of the
tariff of 1916 by this congress, Her
merchants, manufactures, mechanics
and business men, in all departments
of varied industry, want action now
before this congress passes away.
They are for the reduction of the
revenue TO the actual wants Of an
economical administration of tho
government; for the depletion of the
treasury, now full with millions of
boarded gold; for n free list, embrac- /
ing articles of prime necessity VIC do
not produce; for mere nominal dnties
on articles which make mp n large
portion of our domestic industry, and
for such an adjustment of the duties
on the productions OF other nations !
that como in direct competition with /
the products OF American capital, /
labor and skill as shall impose the
least burdens on that capital, labor