The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-07-14

If there was nothing Objectionable
in the free-trade features of the Mills
Bill, and no mlsgivings upon the part
of prominent Democratic leaders as to
the effect of its passage upon the masses
of the American people, why should
these gentlemen disavow their own
free trade opinions and deny that they
are tree-traders? Yet both Mr.. Carlisle
and Gov. Hill at the recent Democratic
ratification meeting in New York took
especial pans for poicy's sake to say
that "the Democratic party does rot
advocate free-trade." Now the fact is
that they may not advocate free trade
when talking to voters in the pivotal
states of New York, New Jersey, Indi-
ana and Connecticut, but a glance at
the recent doings of the Democratic
party will very soon show whether its
most prominent opponents advocate
free-trade or not 1t is only seven
months since President Cleveland sent
to Congress message that has been
shown over and over again to be free
trade document. Three months ago
the Democratic majority of the Ways
and Means Committee framed the
notorious Mills bill, the author of which
believes in "free men, free labor and
free-trade." The very discussion of
this bill has caused the suspension of
many industries and threatens many
others, while Mr.. Mills says: The
more confusion the tariff makes TO bus
mess the better | like it, because it will
the sooner be done away with. / de-
sire free trade, and / 70iX not helb TO
perfect any lar that stands in the
7Oav Of free trade" This Mills bill
adds over fifty products to the free list,
and is supported by every Democrat in
Congress with two or three exceptions.
The Democratic National Convention
passed resolution endorsing this bill,
and now Mr.. Carlisle says the party
does not advocate free-trade. Even
the New York SIN, which pretends to
be supporting Cleveland, says:
"The Mills bill was introduced by
free-trader. 1t was universally praised
or criticised as "a step toward free
trade 1t contained just as much free
trade as its promoters thought the stu
alton would bear. The debate upon it
up to the time it became subject to
amendment was marked at the close
by this astounding colloquy:"
MIR. McCcNAs (Rep.)-Has any
friend of this bill in this debate uttered
one sentence in favor of the tariff sys-
tenn which disCriminates in favor of the
home producer and laborer?
Mr.. HOOPER Dem. mo; there
was no one, and you will not find any
Democrat to utter one.
"This does not describe programme
on which the Democracy can go to the
country with any reasonable prospect
OF success. Amendments enough to
crafty every local interest in the four
States now held debataDle would not
make the Mills bill less the product of
the free-traders, or deprive them of
the prestige of having plucked the first
fruits of domination in the popular
uranch of Congress"
1t will not do for Mr.. Carlisle or
Governor Hill to tell the intelligent
voter of New York that the Democratic
party is not in favor of free trade.
Every free-trader in the country is
now shouting for Cleveland and tariff
reduction. Henry George, who
wants to abolish all customs duties
Frank Hurd, the radical free-trader,
who was defeated for reelection to
Congress for his free-trade principles
Horizontal Morrison, who was also re-
tired for the same reason Parsee Mer-
chant Moore, who drew up the Mills
bill every foreign importer of New
York and Boston every British manu-
facturer and public man every Cana
dian who wants open American mar
kets all are On the side of Cleveland |
and the Democratic party in this cleo
ton.