The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-01

Van BurtR DeHSog, Ill. d., In AmatcaR uuE
and Export Journal.
The quality OF human nature was
never more conspiCuoualy illustrated
than by the great and philanthrophio
Richard Golden, the foremost apostle Of
low duties on the importation OF foreign
competing products; For In 1867,
when the cry came up from Ireland that
the repeal Of the corn laws had brought
ruin TO the Irish farmers, 1t was accom-
panied by this argument; Under pro-
lection to corn, bad crops had pre-,
viously been so well compensated
by high prices the Irish farm.
ers would frequently sell q
scant crop for a better price
than an abundant one. This would gen
orally lead to a larger planting the next
year. Thus the effect OF every scant
crop Lad been to extend the area Of til.
lage, increase the use Of manure and
keep the capacity OF the country up to
It's increase in population. But with the
repeal Of the corn laws the Irish farmers
were met by a new combination, q scant
crop and q low price, together with o
heavy drain Of gold to pay for imported
corn and a consequent bank crisis and
financial panic, all OF which could only
lead to an abandonment OF tillage.
In this crisis it was known that the
Anti Corn Law League had a full treas.
ury and no legitimate channel for ex'
pending It. An appeal was confidently
made to 1t, the spirit Of which was In Ell.
feet, Of course, this; "You cannot deny
that this crisis and famine are in part
the result OF our taking your dose, for
you predicted 1t would hurt us some,
but the benefits TO you would more than
make up for the injury to us. Your pre-.
dictions have been verified and your
sellshness has been severe. Now, there.
fore, kindly give us a little aid, though
II be but in the name Of sweet charity,
out OF the several millions OF pounds
sterling Of League funds for which you
now have no use."
But the shrewd and contemplaiye
Golden did not lose his head In this
emergency. He remembered the stern
obligations Of honor which the league
fund who were too numerous and too
anonymous to be consulted on this or
any other occasion. He stood fearlessly
on guard, therefore, over the leagues
chest Of treasure, and said: "Not q
farthing for the poor OF ireland. This
fund is sacredly set apart to securing q
tariff for revenue only. It cannot be
prostituted to the base alternative OF
paying rents to absentee landlords, for
know you not II 1t be distributed In
corn, peradventure some OF the corn
may be sold TO pay rents WITH ll 3
Meanwhile what became OF the money
which Golden thus withheld from the
starving Irish?
Seldom Is unselfsh virtue and infexi,
BILE integrity SO conspiCuously rewarded.
Alittle later tho managers and crsto.
dians Of the Corn Law League fund met
and said: "Behold, here is this surplus,
what shall we do with it2 The protaC.
tionists are all converted, the donors OF
the fund cannot be consulted, they are
too numerous. Verify, go tot Isit not
a shame that our'great economist and
philanthropist-th the brilliant Golden,
our idol, our wire puller, our boss,
should be q bankrupt and an impecu.
nlous cuss, in short, an adyenturGr and
an ont at elbows mere Montague Tigg,
ESQ.,? Behold, II shall DO that we will
convert him into a retired country gen.
tleman, with an estate worth Of knight.
hood or the peerage. And 1t shall be.
heralded throughout the world that
'The bounty Of his Countrymen hath
done this thing" 9 Y .uaLJA,
And thereupon they took $4,000
tS40O,O0O OF the funds Of the league and
bought an estate in West Sussex and
presented II to Mr.. Golden. IN
Aiterward, in a speech at Aylesbury,
when MIR. Golden spoke Of himself TO a
great audience as q charlottesville
owner OF a modest estate"-the crowd
shouted back: "You got 1t out Of the
league iundsl" ta,t .raa- .
Then tho graceful Golden, with that
London assurance which has sometimes
been remarked in very successful men,
said:
dYes,1 am proud to say that / am in.
debted for this estate to the bounty Of my
countrymen." wi d
Ali 81 which appears in Bright &.
Rogers edition Of Cobden's speeches.