Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-02-18

adeluhia correspondent of the Times In his re-
cent letter lie shows how the democratic
party realize now that the people who are
dependent on daily wVges will not hear OF
Tree foreign imports, and how, consequent
", "Alr. Cleveland and his,radica ideas of
tariif reform have been sent to the rear. u
q his amply confirms the statement in my
report to the Sheffield chamber OF commerce
upon British and American trade in Canada,
that "any hope thai the Mckinley Tariff
will be repeated, or considerably modified
in the near future is to a great extent de-
lusve." [Chsers.l To that l adhere 1t is
unwise for mortal man to prophecy But
when L see with my own eyes the enormous
prosperity OF America, and the total absence
of those unfortunate ill-fed and underpaId
men end women present IN every street IN
our great towns; when | cross the Atlantic
with some of our best Sheffield workmcn
going to double wages; When Stockholders in
the United States aud Canada tell me and
show now they are thriving under the nation-
al policy; then l say to cry free trade as We
have done for 80 years past is to cry for
the moon. [Cheers. Even the London
chamber of commerce is reluctantly forced
to admit that "the signs of the the times
point generally to democratic communities
as comprising the uost extreme protection
ists.n New South Wales, the last hope,
the much Wanted colony OF the Golden
club has now declared that Temunerativc
self defence is better than empty political
economy. Hear, hear.1 The people
Of England have now the finest
opportunity in the world to rem
der themselves independent OF foreign
tariffs, to secure the integrity of the empire
for all time and to obtain once again free
dom to trade with their own countrymen.
IcLeeIs.l 1t is to be taken or left"
This is very interesting, for it is the tes-
timony OF a patriotic Brton OF world wide
observation, as to the beneficial effects of
protection and tho baneful effects of free
scade.
But Col. Vincent then makes q remark,
which may be natural from the British
standpoint, but from which as an American
protectionlst | wish to dissent. He says
The aim Of the Washington government
is to brenk up the British empire piecemeal
10y the reciprocity clause of the Mckinley
act. Treaties under it have already been
concluded with Brazil, Spain and Venezuela.
American goods are TO go in free while
British products are to be practically ex
cluded. Notice is about to be given that
retaGtory duties will be levied on states
not entering into reciprocity treaties "
1t is mistake to suppose that our com
Britain or any other country. As Mr. Nc
Klnley said in his grea5 speech in Congress
advocating the new tariff: "Ihis - an
American bill. Ii is made for the
American people and American in
terests.' w believe that protection as
home aud reciprocity for such trade as IS
helpful and not injurious is our best policy
aud we arc willing that every other country
should adopt it.
Il has been the whole theory Of CoLdenisri
that England should be the workshop and
other countries the producers of food and
crude materials. But our fathers baliev ell
that America could be its own workshop
and the very FIRST public act OF the first
Congress under the rev constitution was Il
protective tariff, and it was appropriately
signed by George Washington on tue ami
versary Of the adoption OF the declaration
Ct Independence, for few year later
Thomas jefferson, the father OF the demo
cratic party, but from whose teaching Il
large portion Of the party has strangely de-
parted, said:
TO be independent for the comforts OF
life we must iabrieate them ourselves. E1
perierce has taught me thai manufactures
are now a. necessary to our Independence
Us to our comfort
So ia protecting our manufacture and
A4-~-- 4'N-"'iJ ~" N1i - b-S''o ttllS 'ut COll
merce lro-n the aggressive competition o.
BRUSH and o'her foreign interests, We nave
no. done 1t TO Splte or injure then!
L-' 20 |cn'e'1 '"aI industrial hdependehc.
WliL1uI "D.ch lcAucal Independence would
he OF no A'J'e worth. And We have been
very successful. NJt only have on. pro
tecute tariffs since 1851 yielded moca
revenue tAuu the so-cal.ed revenue toriA
tuat existed Tor II years prior to that year,
and under which per cent bonus of ia :
greet country went begging at a discount
Of j. per ccn;, but tuey have enabled tho
people to prosper In their industries until
the statistics OF our growth are simply he
wildering.
IL seems to me TO be pertinent
to cite few facts from our recent
census. In loG0 tne ABSOLUTE wealth
Of The couatry was estimated TO be %)l1 per
cbptai IA 46'O 1t had increased TO 500
IL 10 years more to $50, and in lS.l
TO near $lVJo ond all Iris "bi.o reducing
the iup.lo debts on SGT forth. The porula
ton Increased 2t.eb per cent in the las. de-