River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-05-17

WV WI i iSat sr SaS e SiaGn ni&
hon. A. ). HOPKINS Mr.. Blaine, had in
dorsed the same ideas. Under the opera
ton of protection this country had made
a marvellous showing Of National prosper
ity. Continuing, he said;
The Republican par " in the campaign OF
1854 called the attention OF the public TO the
platform OF the Democratic party adopted at
Chicago and claimed that change OF Adm n
istrRtion meant a change In these economic
principles which govern our revenue system
and industr al interests, but, like the answers
OF the Goddess Diana. the Chicago platform
was interpreted by the Democratic speakers
and leaders TO meet the wishes and rcdu re-
ments OF all classes, trades aud callings. In
our industr al centers IL was interpreted To
mean protection TO the wage workers, while Ia
the bluegrass regions OF * 'ntuclxy II was in
terpreted 20 mean trade as free as the ar we
breathe or the sunlight we absorb. In other
words Mr.. Chairman, your patty came into
power by pracilcing system OF false pretenses
on the American people unequailed in the his
tory OF political parties.
The issue presented is the issue of free trade
as against protection. Aud in support OF that
charge hold IN my hand a paper which g yes n
list OF the American members of the Golden
Club and the dates OF their becoming members.
In running my eye over that list find that
John q. Carlisle, OF Coy ngton, Ky, became an
American member in 1883, WHAT a spectacle
does this exhibit to the manufacturers, bust
ness men and labOrers in New York who were
deluded into votilg the Democrats ticket in
1894 under the promises and pledges of such
speakers as Mr.. Randall What a spectacle,
Mr. Chairman, does 1t exhibit TO our industrial
interests wherever they may be fouudf The
follower OF Richard Golden, and firm believer
in his freetrade principles, by solid Demo
cratic vote Is made the Speaker OF this House
where he has almost autocratic towers in shap-
ing the legislation of our country.
The chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mlttee. in opening III debate gave expression
to these sentiments with an abandon and Free
dom that are truly refreshing Ana the trade
he has received from free-trade sources has
been unstnted. quote but a single paragraph
from Henry Georges paper, the Stdedgri,
under date OF April p:
Mr.. Mills speech in opening the tariff de-
bate. as printed IN fun in the Congressional Re
cord, just fes the impression produced by the
telegraphic reports. 1t is q manly, vigorous
and most elective free-frade speech, Astounding
with telling points that go to the heart of protec
ton. II ought to be largely circulated as cam
pagn document"
In IN c course OF Mr.. Hemphills speech Mr..
Perkins asked: IF we should be permitted TO
buy where we can buy cheapest why should we
not be permitted 10 hire where we cGu hire
/ think that is right" Here are the answers of
a maa who is too honest in his convictions in
favor Of absolute free trade TO hesitate or dodge
when the direful consequences OF such policy
are so pointediy brought out. THIS doctrine,
you VIII observe, II is found necessary to state
in advocating the enactment into % law OF this
so-called Mills b H. What does this doctrine
that the manufacturers and the employers
IN this country should be permitted 10
hire where they can hire cheapest" mean:
1t means, Mr.. Chairman. that the owners
and managers OF the coal mines OF Mary
land and Illinois and the coal and iron mines
of Virginia, Alabama, Pennsylvania and
those other great States interested in
these industries can lock out their employees
for any cause or p.etense and iii their places
with the contract labor OF Europe. 1t means
that the factories and furnaces in all the great
manufacturing States can be supplied By starry
temperatures from Belgium, England and other
overcrowded co untries of the Old World. II
means that the scenes Of squalOr, of poverty
and distress found among the lal oring poor Of
Europe, which make the heart sick to coatem-
late, shall be the future lot and portion Of the
great laboring classes OF America. Aye, M.
Chairman, 70 means even more tAa1 that. II
ntans that the Importation OF the Chinese
coolies. which to-day, like great cancer upon
the body polite OF the Pacific coast States
threaten their lives, shall be renewed and be
unrestricted. The contemplation OF such re-
suits shocks the sens bilities OF every friend Of
labor.
This bill is presented under the seductive
title: TO reduce taxation and simpl ~ the
laws In relation TO the collection Of revenue"
An examination OF the bill. however, discloses
Ierent purpose, The trainers of the bill
fear The result OF the exposure OF their free
trade doctrine and seek 10 cover their real pur-
poses by pretending that they are not to inter
fc-e with the manufacturing and laboring in
Of frrFt ri
assault upon the tar 4 laws. but rather by q
iudicious and equitable revision OF the same
This bill Is sectional in character. l propose
now to call the attention OF the COMMITTEE and
the country 20 some Of its provisions In support
OF the charge.
Wool is an agricultural product, and one IN
WIN Oh the farmers OF this country arc extern
sively interested. In Vermont, New York,
Pennsylvan a, Ohio and Michigon IL is an i'm
poriant branch OF husbandrv More or less
attention is paid TO shcer-rasing. eitht for wool
or for mutton, in all OF the No thern, Western
and Northwestern States and Territories More
than one million persons are engaged in this
industry. The capital invested AT q low est-
mate, on the very highest authority, gggve-
gates sc5loOOOO0 The number Of sheep in this
country aggregate 1854, 15i. And the total
clip of wool for the year 1881 was 259,00G,0o0
pounds The Democratic majority OF the Com
mittee on Ways and Means propose to "sim-
PLY the laws n EtldllOu 10 Inc COlltCIlOu Oh
revenue" by putting this vast industry
on the free list And IN their report
20 the House accompany ng this bill they give
enc of their reasons for putting it on the
free list that 10 is raw material" / deny
this, Mr.. Chairman. Wool is no more raw
material than wooden cloth is a raw material
II is the finished product OF tho farmer An
other excuse given is TO reduce the price Of
wooden goods. II the Democratic members Of
that committee are not seek ng to strike down
this great industry, but believe, as they pre-
tend, that putting articles on the fee list will
reduce the price TO the consumer, why did
they not in the bill put all wooden goods on the
free list along " IN IL To reply in the style Of
argument. in which they freely indulge,
they deprive the farmers engaged in this
INDUSTRY OF all benefits OF our protective
tariff system and stlll make him pay tribute
In the purchase OF his wooden goods TO
the already overproiected wooden manufacture
er. Gentlemen, TO be consistent, you should
have the courage OF your couv ictions. and put
all articles in which wool is used on the free
list along with it. This IS the test from which
you shrink. You are afraid that the people OF
this country Will not sustain you in the
coming campa gn in this attempt TO interfere
with our protective system, and hence seek to
cover these attacks upon it by the spec Gus ar
guments set forth in your report accompany
ing this bill. That this vast industry will be
injured by beng placed on the free list is APP
parent to the most casual observer.
To illustrate the sectional character OF this
Pill now call the attention Of tho committee
and the country to the manner in VIII Oh this
Democratic majority OF the Committee on
Ways ami Means has ieg'sisted on the subject
CT rice. This also is farm product. AM OF the
ITO, i3, $40 pounds produced in the crop OF IS 9,
as reported in the census OF 1881, 100 SIS, sig
were produced in the Southern States OF South
Carolina, Georgia and Loulsiana--a Southern
product as YOU viii see, and cultivated in