Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-10-18

What the Leading British Paper Had 70
Say About the Free Trade Professor.

What the Leading British Paper Had to
Say About the Free Trade Professor.
A cordial welcome was extended on
Thursday evening by the members OF the
London chamber of commerce TO Mr.. w.
l.. Wilson. the author of the original
measure for the revision of the United
States tariff, which was unhappily trans
formed by the senate into bill only de-
gree less protectionist than that bearing
the name of Mr. Mckinley. Mr.. Wilson
deserves all honor for making stout,
though not very successful fight on be-
half of a system which would have been
at least an approach to the recognition OF
the principle that freedom of trade is more
favorable to the development of great
commercial and industrial community
than protection. 1t is not Mr.. Wilson's
fault that the measure which has actually
become law is, TO use the language OF
President Cleveland's letteZafter its pass
age through the senate, not in line with
honest tariff reform" There is much that
is instructive as well as interesting In Mr..
Wilson's speech at the dinner given to him
by the chamber of commerce, all the more
because good deal Of it appears to have
been intended for American readers as
well as British auditors.
Mr. Wilson was naturally anxious not to
say anything which might tend to leopard
ize the prospects of his party. I'VE
have" says Mr.. Wilson, ''just fought and
Just won the first battle in that conflict.
1t is to be feared that Mr.. Wilson's praise
worthy zeal makes him somewhat forget
full of the warning that he that girdeth on
his harness should not boast himself as he
that putteth it off The victory over the
protectionists has been incomplete, and its
results, inadequate as they are, can by no
means be regarded as placed beyond doubt
1t was certainly far from what earnest
tariff reformers, not TO speak of convinced
free traders confidently expected when Mr..
Cleveland was raised 20 the presidency,
and when the Mckinley tariff was thought
TO be doomed.
The victory which consisted in the sub
stitution for the Wilson bill of a measure
denounced by President Cleveland as IAN
inconsistent absurdity' and a violation OF
all sound tariff principles, is expected to
Ego forward from this time forth by its
own impetus We wish we could feel
sure OF this, for we are convinced that
freedom of trade is good for all the world,
and we are not at all alarmed by Mr.. VIII
sons highly colored picture of the future
supremacy of the United States in indus
trial production and in external COM
merce. But we confess that the cause OF
tariff reform in the United States seems to
US far from being certain to go forward by
its own impetus, as to stand in need OF all
the efforts of those who believe in it, and,
perhaps even more, of clearer views on
their part of what they mean. The greater
part of Mr.. Wilson's speech was a logical
and telling argument in favor of free trade
pure and simple, and an exposure of the
mischiefs of protection in any shape or
form. 1t is not easy to apply his reason
ing to the principle of n tariff for revenue
only so limited in practice as to secure
the freedom from duty of raw materials
and to protect favored industries against
foreign competition. - We do not
expect to see any decisive overthrow OF
protection until it is confronted by real
free trade policy-London Times