The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-30
The Record Against Cleveland.


The esteemed Register quotes Mr..
Cleveland's vague statement hal the
Democratic party "contemplates a fair
and careful distribution OF necessary
tariff burdens rather than the precipita-
ton OF free trade" Mr.. Cleveland made
this shrewd modification OF the Chicago
declaration in the hope Of heading off
the revolt against the free trade plank,
but he knows, and every other intelli-
gent man knows, how insincere he is.
The Chicago convention was a delibera-
tive body Of the chosen representatives
of the Democratic party, and neither Mr..
Cleveland, nor any other individual
member OF the party, can place any
meaning upon its tariff plank than that
which its plain, frank English contains.
But lot us SEQ whether Mr.. CIeve-
lands sneer at 'the spectre of free
trade" and his denial that there is to
be a precipitation Of freetrade, are iusti-
fed. Just previous to the meeting Of
tho Chicago convention which adopted
the free trade platform there was a de-
bate in Congress on the Springer free
wool bill, which was participated in by
Mr.. Walker, OF Massachusetts, Mr..
Bushnell, and Mr.. William L Wilson,
of West Virginia, who was afterward
chairman Of The national Democratic conrcn-
ton, and to whom Mr.. Cleveland's let
ter of acceptance was addressed. In
this debate Mr.. Wilson acknowledged
that his party is in favor OF free trade
and opposed to protection to American
industries. The Democrats in Congress
were not so cowardly on this question
as they have since been and did not
straddle the question as Mr.. Cleveland
does in his letter Of acceptance.
Here is an extract from the official
record of the debate, it is taken YER
batim from the Congressional Record and
Mr.. Wilson will not denythat he is cor
rectly reported:
Mr.. waller-Now, ] would like to ask, and
will give time to any gentleman on the Democra-
tic side to answer this question, II there Is q
Democrat in this house who Is in favor ot the
principle of protect!0n:" whether any one OF
them would vote for It's application on a general
principle or TO any single article, or as II Is I'M
derstOod in Its application 10 the Mckinley bill.
Is there u Democrat here in favor of the proteC-
ton principle in any form, in other words?
Mr.. Wilson. Of West V~irginia-No.
Mr.. Walker-Vory well. The gentleman from
West Virginia saws not You all agree TO that:
you all agree that there Is not Democrat In this
house in favor OF the principle Of protection, do
you? waiting for an answer Then you are in
favor OF the principle Of free trade, are You not2
Mr.. Wilson, OF West Nirginia-As far Us We can
get 10 1t with sufficient revenue for the needs oil
the government.
Mf. WalRer-Theu you favor free trade-the
prlnoiplGG free trade?
Mr.. Wilson, of West virginiR-As far as we can.
Mr.. Walker-Now, then, l ask the question
again: Is therea man here on the Democratic
side who does not stand with my friend here
from West Virginia in favor OF the free trade
Mr.. Bushnell-we are in favor Of that kind Of
protection which leads eventually to free trade.
Here we have a direct acknowledge
ment from Mr.. Wilson that his party
ia a tree trade party. Three weeks af-
terward the Democratic convention
met and nominated Cleveland on a free
trade platform.
All the hedging Mr.. Cleveland can do
will not wipe out the facts.