The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-05-08
FOR FREE TRADE,
Dir. Mills Talks About this Iniquities of the
Protective Tariff.

Dir. Mills Talks About ths IniQuItics of the
vs.. Protective Tariff. 70
Mr.. Mills, OF Texas, foilowed: +
He declared that this was the first bill
that had come before the American
people with its mask torn off; like
highwayman, demanding their purses.
| lApplause.] To check importation, was
to check expectation. Split hairs as you
may, no man could show that we might
sell without buying. When we refused
to take the products OF other nations
that refusal was an Introduction aeains:
our exports, and as We. removed the
barriers to free exchange, We increased
our trade. Protection, boiled down,
meant more work and less result; and
carried out to its conclusion, it meant
oil work and no result. Pig iron was
the base OF all our iron and steel manu-.
facturcs. In 1871 prices were raised after
a period OF depression and the imports
Of pig iron were increasing. From g.
5000 tons in 1870, the imports OF ply
iron rose to 7.000. 900 tons in 1873. III
the Republican doctrine was true then
every ton imported displaces ton OF
American iron. But the figures showed
that our domestic product rose from 81,
900. 900 tons in 1870 to ll0, 100000 tons
in 1872. That showed conclusively that
the Democratic position was right-that
increased imports increased the demand
for American labor. Following out the
figures, it was seen that from 1850 to
1885 when the!imports Of pig iron drop.
ped oil, the domestic production :ell of
more RAPIDLY. These figures presented
an argument, absolutely overwhelming.
ly horse foot and dragons. "9,
Mr.. Mills criticised the provisions OIL
the bill relating to hides, tin plate and
sugar and then said -.
At length these gentlemen were
brought to their knees at the confes
sional, and were bound to ndmit tha,
there was widespread depression
throughout the agricultural regions.
What did the bill do to aid agriculture
1t put sugar on tho FREQ list, though all
the Republicans did not come up like
little gentlemen and take sugar in theirs
Gentlemen on the other side expressed
sympathy for the farmer, and their zea
to relieve the distress which they a,
length acknowledged surrounded the
agriculturist. Two years ago the Coun
try was on the edge OF dark shadow
The Republicans had ridiculed this, and
had said that the farm mortgages wert
onlya further evidence Of prosperity ant
wealth. tLaughter1. 5 tE5S
BONE SILLY QUESTIONS.
Why did not the committee treat sugal
as It treated wooden goods and cotton
goods and iron goods? Why did it nd
put protective duty on sugar and com
pei its production in this country anG
carry out the protective policy2 The
committee has found out that the wheat
production was in danger, and had in
creased the duty 50 per cent, The
United State exported $4,000, 900 bush
els Of wheat year, and Inst year it i'm
ported the startling amount of ], ,40t
bushels. Laughter.] 4l lS5.a ls,ls I
The increased duty was to protect ths
American farmer against tho pauper o
India. Corn was to be protected. Tn,
J United States last year exported GO, 900.
900 bushels Of corn and imported 9 IS!
bnshels, This immense importatio,
must be stopped. The committee pro
posed to deliver tle'rye farmer from al
peril. It was going to speak words o
comfort to him, and till then hn woul,
have to compete with pauper laho,
How much rye did the United State
import2 Sixteen bushels, daughter
Some adventurous farmer had bough
this rye to improve his crop, and he wa
10 be rehuked for this at the capitol 9
Ills nation He attributed to the major
| ity OF the committee one bold and 'au
daciaua move. which meant the deliy