Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-03-26
Several Interesting Inquiries as to
Economic Subjects Ans wered
In Detail.
Proof Of the PerniciOus Activity OF
the Golden Club in American
Affairs.
Why Henry Ward Beecher Sup
ported ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Garheld's Record.


denied by some that they do so, and those
that derry it say that very few documents
or pamphlets by the Golden club are
printed, and scarcely any are circulated in
America" Hon. Frank Hurd, of Ohio
admitted that he had circulated 100000
copies, in his district of the Golden club
pamphlet. The Western Farmer of Amer
lea, written by August Mingre diem, for
circulation In the western states of Amer
lea. More than 3d. 900 copies of Golden
club pamphlets were sent to Milwaukee at
one time. One of the subscribers to the
Golden club is a democratic lawyer living
In Milwaukee. A Milwaukee lawyer was
a subscriber for confederate bonds, as we'll
as a subscriber to the Golden club that
had printed over 100000 documents
for America. 1t is the richest club in the
world and is reported that sit has aband-
oned all hope of recovering any of the
governments of Europe to free trade but
had great hopes in the United States. It's
joy following the election of Cleveland was
intense The receipt of his free trade
message set the club. and all the press in
England wild with delight. 1t has said
in one of its reports that they were about
to enter contest with their friends in the
United States, with a foeman worthy of
their steel, and that the conflict would be
with the gloves off
In 1874, during the campaign between
Henry Clay and James Polk, the London
Times says: "a subscription was recent
ly opened to raise funds to circulate free
trade documents in foreign countries.
about .e410,000 were subscribed.
Some of these facts are to be
printed IN New York for circu-
lation in The United States" so that So,
200, 900 were subscribed to propagate free
trade doctrines, mostly, as is well known
in the United States
England's Duties.
A manufactures writes: Looking back
through the files of one of our city repub-
ican papers, | found this statement in an
editorial: In England no duty is placed
on imports of articles of kind produced
in that country Several persons say
that is a correct statement, and only one
or two deny it, Will you give us the facts,
as it will settle dispute and oblige sew
eral? On the 18th of this month another
of our republican city papers said, editor
tally: The new tariff law has boosted the
price of champagne so high that the
market for it has been affected seriously.
Please inform us if that statement is cor
rect also. The first quotation given is en-
tirely void of truth. If the writer of it
had been at all familiar with, or had even
read the English tariff, he would see that
there are number of articles in the Brit
ish tariff list heavily taxed of which "a
like kind are produced there. For in
stance ale, beer, playing cards, cordials,
preserved fruit in spirits, pickles, gold and
silver plate, soap, gin, varnlsh, etc. The
paper from which the quotation is taken
is not and has not been of late years an
authority on the tariff question. England
has the highest tariff in the world, and
has collected in single year upward OF
Of $500, G, 900 more on American products
brought into England than the United
States collected In tariff dues on English
1881 England collected in tariff duties on
imports 500, 100000, while the United
states, with nearly twice as large a popu,
lation, collected $l86,000,0 900 Germany
with much larger population than Eng
land, collected from customs SIS, 600, 600
1T is fact that, comparatively to ropu-
lation, more revenue is annually collected
at English custom houses than at those OF
any other country in the world" cite
these facts to show the utter folly OF
papers and others asserting that England
has real free trade. Many are so i'm.
pressed with this falsehood by the teach,
ings of the colleges and universities that
they are of that belief. The ''look out ;
on Shakespeare Cliff, near Dover, in the
English channel, watching day and night
for smugglers from France and the close
searching of American baggage by Eng
fish customs officers, would alone disprove
the statement.
The tariff on champagne was increased
cents bottle by the Mckinley bill. The
old law was 81 dozen and the new one
Is s. The editor was probably off. OF
may not have read the law at all.
Beecher and Protection
A Congressional1st, writes: ut was
said during the last campaign that Henry
Ward Beecher had publicly denounced the
protective tariff system as monstrou:
one; that it violated the divine law, anC
was in real conflict with the principles O.
Christianity and that it was unjust i'm
moral and wicked. 1t was also said tina
he had publicly said that dollar da,
and bread and water was good enough fol
working man. Both of those statements
were made in Iowa; some believed then
and others denounced them. 1t was als(
said that Mr.. Beecher was at one time {
strong protectionist and that he did no
change hls views until after Mr.. Cleveland
was nominated Will you anlighten u
on those matters and explain them?"
AT a free trade meeting in 1881 in New
York city. Mr. Beecher said: The pro
tective system not only is impolite and un
Just, but wrong in fundamental morals
In its principles and results it is directl
opposed to Christian ethics. 1t is oppos
ed to the ethical organization of society
Men are organized on principles of eqult
and justice in fellowship, and those VIII
violate these in the long run come to de
struction, while obedience to them lead
to success. In direct contradiction t
Christian morality and the gospel Of Chr S
is protective tariff for it is organize
im orality" This shows Mr. Beecher t
b e been free-trader long before MI
evelanJ's nomination.
As to Mr.. Beecher's dollar day. wit
bread and water, for workingman, tn
facts are that the New York Times.
free-trade organ. published Mr. Beecher'
speech July 60 1877, and the Chicag
Tribune repubhshed it. 1t was as follows
1.-The necessities of the great railroad CON
panies demanded that there should be
reduction of wages. There must be COZ
tinual shrinkage until things come bac
to the gold standard, and wages, as we'll {
greenbacks, provisions and property, mus
share in it. 1t was true that 81 day W.
not enough to support man and fN
children, if man would insist on smol
ing and drinking beer. Was not 81 a da
enough to buy bread? Water costs notl
ing. Man cannot live by bread alone, it
true, but the man who cannot live on brea
and water is not fit to live When