The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-31
Qh ~gntdiserrer
lilly III. 1903.
WnEELlNG, JULY 81, lsO9.
A RernarkabIe speeeh.

Tho current number OF the american
Economis publishes tho full text OF the
address delivered by United States
Consul Benjamin Folsom at Sheffield,
England, on tho 4th day OF July. An
extract from the speech appears else
where in this mornings INrELIldENcER
Great importance is attached to the i'd
dress because Of some remarkable
statements contained in it, aud because
these statements are from the lips OF q
United States consul, who is also a
cousin Of President Cleveland. The oc-
casiou was q dinner given by Mr..
Folsom, at which over q hundred
British manufacturers were present,
aud was in celebration OF Americas In
dependence day.
Sheffield is one of England's greatest
manufacturing centres. and Mr.. Folsom
has been consul there for eight years.
having been appointed by his cousin,
MIR. Cleveland, and permitted by Prest-
dent Harrison TO remain.
The important feature OF Mr.. Folsom's
address is the declaration to the Brit.
ish manufacturers that the American
policy OF a protective tariff no longer
to obatruct their efforts to gain o foot
hold in America. "You have passed
the worst period" he tells them; 'tyou
have passed the highest barrier that can
DO raised between tho United States
and England in the way Of trade OBJ
atruction." And the reason is, he goes
on to tell them, because "for tho first
time since 1860 the Democratic party,
4phich has been the party Of FREQ trade, ID in
power, not only in tho executive but in
both Legislative branches"
It seems strange that an American
consul should thus give to foreign man
u%iacturers tho assurance that his gov
ernment intends to knock down tho
wall OF protection and permit them to
come in free with their products OF
cheap labor and compete with tho hon
est and better paid labor OF his own
country. 1t seem strange that an Off
ciat representative of this country
shouldcongratulatea foreign rival on the
fact that the party has come into power
which intends to legislate in the inter-
ests of that rival; that tho Democratic
party intends to lowerthe tariff, not
for the benefit OF American industries,
but in the interests Of British manu-
~faeturers. And yet this Is what our
official representative at Sheffield, cou-
sin and appointee Of President Cleve-
land, has done.
Not satisfied with merely congratulate
ulating Great Britain on the fact that
American protectionis to be wiped out,
"Cousin Ben" Folsom, in order to show
tho Sheffield manufacturers that his
statements are not merely the utter
ances Of an individual aud therefore
unauthorized, roads to them tho taFiG
plank Of tho Democratic platform upon
which his cousin aud the present Con-
gross we're elected to power. This is TO
convince his British hearers that the
Democratic party Is pledged to legistate
10 their interests and that his congrat-
ulatory speech is warranted. 1t 10 not
surprising TINT his remarks were re-
ccived with cheers.
After reading tho platform Consul
Folsom proceeded to express to tho
English rivals OF American manutac.
turors his great satisfaction that "bOioro
another twelve months has rolled by
Sheffield will not DO subjected to the
onorous and oppressive tariff duties
that have restricted hcr trade"
This is tho climax OF tho speech as 1t
is published IN tho EaglIsh papers. No
wonder tho Eeonombl in commenting II
declares;
Tic American EtOaomtt has always hold that
tho ftst duty VI an American was toward his
own county, but here wC ind not only M
American CltlgCn, but ono Who holds u high
otiglai position mi foreign country. und ono
WhO-Beuiamln Folsom, cousin Of the Demo
rratin Tfcsldont OF tho United statcs-eXprNs,OS
his nkuilsiaotiOn' that our Atllf duties VIII DO
lowered because they have 'rcsltlutgd' tho
irnde " fOruign tnntfufadiHf8rs. such utter.
nnuul nro d disgrace TO AInerlUanisn. Wo may
nsk, Indeed, n This United SlitQs consul Ina not
diSinrdcd hls citizenship and hOGOuiO u nAtut.
siISgd Aubipulht Queen VlGiOtla2
~ ii "A With AhamO that we have road MS speech
Amino iOr tho United BtltpsOi America alanig
iOt our American cltilOns, shame for our Inaln.
melircfS, shame iOf nur l%nborcrS, ana With
amino iOr Ur0vcr Cleveland, tue Democratic
PfCSIdunt OF tho United SIuloi, whose oYlln.
iienjamIi Folsom, has thus qyOwed ihn objects
mid Intentions Of "thO Democratic party,
which IS 'ihp party Of free trade
What do our manufacturers and
woikingmon think Of tho party whose
representative Ia Europe are conarat-
ulallng aud assuring tho manufacturers
and laborera thoro that American pro-
,oclion IL 10 DO wiped OUT aud that tho