The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-02-23
Current Events,


world, Ia all times and countries Inc
stamp act was famous "Cnesthu' Nv
wears ago Ia the Colonies. The right o.
search was another famous chestnut -, %
wears ago In the young iepuo'lc' Tue
Missouri compromise ana the slavery q"es
ton was "A still more famous "che'hut
Still, Americans have beeh aoie 10 ach
them all, and destroy the worms i'll theih
Protectionists and republicans ui February
1899 are pleased 10 call tariff reform" n
"ches,nut." Well, perhaps, II Is; and,
VIVA, II more, II is likely to continue to be
one. Tariff reiormeis are equally certain
that "protectionism is Chestnut IN
which they know there turks 'haWsty
worm, which it is their aim and purpose T.
eXpel and destroy. Instead oil being dls
heartened and discouraged by The results
of the ideas Of November, the tarlll reform
ers. and the few real free traders OF the
land, have been m"re active than ever, IN u
way; their eyes have been opened 10 the
situation The strength OF both SIDES mas
In measure been disclused-there remains
but the marshaling OF the hosts, "A summon
ing of reiriorcemeIts, 10 win the victory
There has been considerable t,r!n reform
ia the air this week, b tn east ana west,
and pa ticulariy in the west On Sat'
urday, Mr. Mills, from the ways ana means
committee, reported 10 the house ms thrlH
bill with the senate substitute, which were
reported 20 the committee ot the Whole'
Mr. Mills also reported resolution ueciar
ing that the action Of the senate, IN sun
shutting new bill for the the house bl!l,
was in violation Of Sec Z, Art |, oi the
Constitution, which provides that all rev
enue bills sball originate In the house
The report of the committee was history
of the house bill, with strong argument
for Justice 70 the masses by giving them
lower taxes. The report means OF course,
no tariff Legislation at this session, and
n probable extra session, either immediate.
ly after the dissolution Of this house or
early in the fall
On Tuesday the tariff reform convention
met at Central Music Hall, continuing three
DAYS. The meeting WAS largely attended,
there being 300 To 800 hundred delegates
present, with the balance Of the house filled
with spectators nj each session. Many able
papers were read on rs many different
phases of the subject; and a permanent
organization was effected which will soon
issue an address TO the public, embOdying
the resolutions adopted and the plans per
fected for future work of the League.
The convention vas made up of bOtn tar
iff reformers and radical free traders,
though the former were largely In
the majority. Every mSn, however, spoke
the thought that was in him, however rad
ical, or however conservative. The men
who took part in the proceedings were men
of conviction. and those convictions were,
AS a rule, considerably in advance of the
demands of the democratic party in the
last campaign, for, as Is always the case,
the people, especially the thinkers of the
people, are In advance of the politicians,
while the reformer Is In advance Of both
people and politicians What this conven,
lion may have accomplished may only be
a STRENGTHENING of the weak, an encourage
ment 10 the wavering. Ii will give men
the courage OF their convictions, set them
- thinking. The whole protection theory
Is an economic error as well as an injustice
1t Is a constant aud increasing menace 10
our commercial Independence and growth.
1t is an injustice to the agriculturist, n
wrong 70 the labOrer, Il break TO the Tree
dom of the merchant. Ii benefits only n
class, who abuse their privileges by taking,
through their trusts and syndicates, and I'm.
reasonable, and economically unwhole-
some, advantage of their privileges TO
muct the !abOrer and the consumer Econ
omics Is one of the last studies common
people take up. They appear to dread ii
as something beyond them. In tact II Is
not 80 In the least and the study of this
question of free trade and protection Is but
the application of common sense the APP
plication Of every day phenomena in local
husinass relations 10 national trade Sweep
away the sophistries, and protection is
doomed. II is every mans duty TO study
the question. When men do study 1t, the
protection "chestnut" will be cracked and
the noxious worm destroyed,
The House has passed the bill admitting
to statehood the territories Of the northwest
and 1t Is more than likely the Senate will