Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-04
WHY THEY STARVED.
England Under Protection and Her
Hungry People.
Prosperity Taking shape When Free
Trade Principles Were Adopted
What Britaiu's Leading Think ers
say Of Anne rican Faliary.

Howard Wells, postmaster of this city.
attempts to prove that British free trade
is an injury to that country and cites in
proof that man in London died of STAR
walton. He quotes Ruskin to show that
the British idea of free trade was and is
to have all the free trade 10 itself. With
out discussing that feature of the case, il
may be said that the protectionists claim
they can accomplish the same thing for
this country, and while. if successful. it
might be bsrbarous mode of national
progress, yet the protectionists must have
learned by bitter experience that all their
legislation in that direction has been a
failure.
Matthew Arnold is also quoted to show
that free trade has been the means of in
creasing highlands trade, business and
population, the very thing that free trad.
ers in this country claim by the adoption
OF That principle. or rather principle
more nearly allied to it than the Chinese
wall theory adopted by the advocates of
high protection. Even if true according
to the quotation from Matthew Arnold.
that about one in nineteen of England's
population is d pauper, it does arise from
free trade principles. However, that
country had tried protection for nearly
two hundred years before America
schieyed its independence. Adam Smith
in his Wealth of Nations" showed the
utter fallscy of such system, but against
all opposition it remained in force until
the country was Frustrated in every
branch of industry and labor. 1t has been
argued that England adhered TO protec>
ton until she had placed herself in such
condition that che could defy the world
and that then she practically abolished
her custom houses and invited the world
to enter and compete But this is
not true. Protection in England was
not altogether abolished until 1916. For
some years before it was dying fast. The
people were on the verge of starvation,
and they looked askance at those who
were making the laws. They could not
understand why bread was denied them.
They had seen meat but once a year. and
that at Christmas, the sight of which al
most created a panic among the strug,
Cling masses to reach it. This was the
condition shout the year 1912 When Sir
Robert Peel was minister the thoughtful
people were grieyed and alarmed at his
position because of the condition of the
| people. The manufacturing districts
were stTicksn and mutterings of an UNI
pleasant nature were heard. The EN-,
| ployers themst Ives could not see their
way out. and matters looked for them as
hard almost as for the employees Daily
matters grew worse. All branches OF in
| dustry were affected. In some districts q
fourth of the population was reported to
be in starving condition. and that they
would actually die from want unless
some prompt and extraordinary measures
were taken. In the wooden districts the
allowance to the independent lsborer was
not two thirds Of the smallest amount in
the workhouse. Half the master spinner:
in q certain district had failed before 1912
their dwelling houses to the number Of
| 5000. were were shut UP, and those who
lived in the others couldn't pay thei
rent. In one manufacturing town 5,oOt
workmeu were walking the streets I'm,
able to find anything to do. and the ma
tioual authorities were notified that mat
tiers were getting beyond control. so tina
the government was obliged 10 come Il
the relief at once. In Manchester thos,
who were employed in collecting rent
dare not face their employers becsus,
no rent could be collected
Dealers in provisions were openly preyet
upon for food for starving children
Frantic women held starving children I
their breasts and demanded food. Par
ties of depraved men marched the street
taking from those who possessed materia
for food. New clothes were never though
of. The cid ones were continuall
patched until the original was not seen
Bread to the amount of half penny wa
an ordinary purchase. People once wei
off were obliged to buy pennyswor,
of something 10 moisten their potatoes
There was starvation everywhere. Poo
rates were increasing in q startling man
ner. The trade of the shop keepers wa
falling off at ruinous rate. One man il
1888 had retired from business leavin
property worth 100000 to his sons
Both his own and his sons fortunes wen
and he was living on salary of less tina
SIS week Families that had been com
Portable were sleeping on shavings an
trying to get blue milk" on every othe
day 80 use with their oat meal and thi
was finall replaced by water. Premium
were offered people to leave the country
The poor held meetings after dsrl
lighted by tsllow candle. and talke
over their grievances-told how in tb
better days they had had enough to kee
body and soul together. but evan the
they could net have now. The tales c
sorrow aud suffering were pathetic as tol
by the sufferers themselves
1t will not do TO say that all this poy
erty and degradation was the result of th
corn laws, for while by them, it is tru,
the food productions of the farm and RAJ
materials were ''protet ted" everythin
and everybody was protected slso-tt
land owner and mill owner and the gath
erer of seaweed. Everybody that msnu
featured was clamoring for protection an
got it. And it was not until 1916 wLe
the barriers to national prosperity wei
, torn away, that the date Of England
manufacturing progress began.
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
1t has been given out that England hs
. been writhing in agony about the McKir