The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-01
M'klNLEY's ABSURD STATEMENTS.
He Would Stop Trade and Make Hormits
and BarbarIans of Us All.


and Barbarians of Us All.
The election in Ohio this fall will de-
termine whether or not an idiot asylum
should be built around the governor
simply, or if it should extend around the
whole state. The statements made by
the tariff Napoleon can come only from
a demagogue, from fanatic or from
one whose gray matter has gone on a
vacation. Take this from his speech at
Warren, O.: IF had my way, would
not buy one dollars worth of goods
made in Europe so long as there was an
idle man in this country" 1t is reported
that this remark met with tremendous
applause, though whether the crowd took
the major seriously or not is not stated.
Now, the governor does certainly have
his own way as to the goods he pur-
chases, and yet he probably not only
wears clothes made of English goods,
but eats English Inarinalades and jellies
and drinks French wines from Belgian
vessels His clothes are made from
English goods because he had his own
way and put duty on wool which
makes it out of the question for our own
manufacturers to produce goods with
fine finish and compete, even with 100
per cent protection, with their British
rivals. He eats English preserves be-
cause his protective duties ON tin plate,
glass and sugar prevent the establishing
here of large canning factories to work
up tho surplus of small fruits, which
must therefore be left to decay at the
loss of the fruit farmers and the mil
lions of wage earners who would be
only too glad to eat more of such food
if it were cheaper.
But suppose the governor does not
mean 1T as pure buncombe and that he
really thinks that God made mistake
in not making an ocean of fire instead
of one of water between us and Europe.
What is the only logical meaning of such
q statement? Is it not that commerce, in
stead Of being the greatest educator and
civilizer known, while it at the same time
enables man to supply his wants with
less exertion, is q curse to mankind? Is
it not saying that there is no article but
what we can produce cheaper here than
it can be produced abroad, no matter
what the advantage of soil or climate?
Is it not saying that it is n mistake for
us to sell our surplus grain, cotton and
meats abroad? Is it not clear that if we
do not purchase goods of foreigners they
cannot purchase of us? And if this prin-
ciple of nonexchange holds good between
nations, who not between states, coun-
ties and individuals? If we are not to
take advantage of the opportunities and
inventions of other nations, states or in
diuiHt1olc ,hof
ilization? Without trade or exchange
we will have no use for wagons, cars,
boats or ships. Is it the opinion of tho
governor of the fourth largest state in
this Union that these implements of
commerce should be left to decay and
our roads and highways allowed to re-
turn to the primeval state in which Co
lumbus found them, 400 years ago?
Would the major extend his protective
system until we are all commercial her
mits? Would he then think it wrong
for two individuals to exchange ideas so
long as each could make an idea of his
own?
These absurd conclusions are not only
logical deductions from Governor Nc
Alnley's statement, but they are in line
with his often expressed idea that cheap
ness is not blessing. In his opinion
the inventions which cheaper produc-
ton and save human labor are to be
feared as we would fear a rattlesnake
At least foreign inventions are extreme
ly dangerous. Thus he stands with
both feet on these two mainsprings of
civilization and progress-trade and in
vention-while the populace of Ohio APP
plaud. Is he fooling themp Are they
fooling him? Or are they all in the same
boat9 BYRON w. HOLT.
ALesson of Pain.