Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-04
PROSPECTS NOT PROMISING.

Some of the Mugwump journals pre-
tend to be very hopeful of the future,
claiming a new era of prosperity under
the workings of the Democratic tariff
system. They state that the market for
our manufacturers will be broadened as
free raw materials will place the marts
within our reach. Can it be possible
that Cleveland and his immediate sup
porters are so impractical and ignorant
that they imagine any such result can
follow the pro-British legislation which
is bound to place our market under the
control of the British and other foreign
capital? Had the opportunity existed
abroad to sell goods made of free raw
materials is 1T reasonable to suppose that
the manufacturers there would have
piled up goods, wool and other materials
waiting for the time when the Demo-
cratic party should give them the oppOr-
tunity to sell them in American markets?
1t is hopeless free trade delusiOn which
the Democracy assert for the purpose of
deceiving those who by lack of expert
ence and practical knowledge cannot un-
derstand the question or discover the
shallow fallacy.
By the repeal of the Mckinley act mar
kets which had beeu secured by the rec
iprocity clause of that law for our man
ufactures and agricultural products have
been destroyed. However much the
people may desire a revival of trade after
the long and deplorable depression it is
idle to believe that the Wilson German
patchwork will afford the necessary re-
lief. The manufacturing plants that
have been closed or partially idle for over
year are not to be stimulated into ac-
tivity by an assurance of enormously in
creased foreign importations staring
them IN the face. Two millions of our
people who have been idle or only par
TALLY employed at reduced wages have
not the means to supply their wants.
The millions of dollars they might have
had if the industries of this country had
not been threatened are lost. 1t will
take long while under the most favor
able conditions to restore to this coun-
try the prosperity it enjoyed when the
Democracy gained the ascendancy by re-
sorting to the most fragrant deception
and false pretense.
The loss to this country by the free
trade crusade has been immense and is
as absolute as when property is destroyed
by fire. 1t will take years of economy
and suffering to restore to this country
the conditions which existed two years
ago and it never can be done under an in
competent, reckless and free trade ad-
ministration. When the people are ed
ucated to appreciate the benefits OF a
protective policy and, when aroused to
action and Indignation, their patriotism
induces them to sweep from power the
whole nest of Bourbon Upers and the
free trade crew, and they place the helm
of government in the hands Of compe-
tent officials who believe in and will
fight for the industrial independence of
this country then will confidence be re-
stored and reign of prosperity ensue
unequalled in the history of any Nation.
During the next few years our wage earn
ers and farmers will have TO contend with
ruinous foreign competition and our
gold will be drawn to foreign markets to
pay for goods which we should manu-
facture and produce. While foreigners
will be busily engaged working to sup
ply'our markets, numbers OF our work
men must remain in a condition OF en-
forced idleness or at best be only par
TALLY employed at reduced wages to en-
able our manufacturers to compete with
foreign imports.
Z The outlook is not bright. America
has buried the talent given her by the
Good Master in the surrender OF her
markets to foreign control.-Telegram.