Birmingham age-herald., 1894-09-30
DEMOCRATIC WORtD-TRADE.

Commercial freedom for the people of the United States is the present aim of the Democratic party. For the benefit of all the householders and tax payers of the land the Democratic tariff bill has reduced to minimum the cost of the necessaries of life. For the benefit of manufact urers it has stricken the Mckinley taxes off mate- rials. For the benefit of working men it has broken the trusts which, by curtailing production, have steadily reduced wages. The advantage to be gained by American manufacturers in foreign markets under the new law is but dimly foreseen in this country as yet. Except for the tar-sighted few it will not be appreciated fully for year or so. Hon. William L. Wilson, in England, has frankly declared that the commercial thralldom of American pro- ducers has been broken; that England, France and Germany henceforth must reckon on rival of whose resources they have poor comprehension. The distin- guished tariff reformer, in speaking to toast at the recent dinner given in his honor by the London Chamber of Commerce, used these prophetic words:
 All the people saw that our syst em was gen erating brood of monopolists so powerful as
 
 drew from sharing i1 the power of taxation to increase their privileges, debauch elections and corrupt Legislation. am quite sure our protective policy has already served to pro- mote the trade of other nations, and, If con- tinued It would still further promote such trade, pre-eminently your own. So, standing before you, representative of those who are striving for freer commercial policy for the United States, fear cannot ask you to re- iOiop nt its adODtiOn. nXoaDt fer right principles to selfish advantage. Protection has seen our voluntary withdrawal from the seas and from the neutral markets. Cur proteetionists have been building de- lenses to keep you and other nations from competing with us in our home market. The tariff reformers are breaking down these de- lenses. Let us compete in all the markets of the world. Not only is our pro- duction of cotton and food products growing more rapidly than our consumption, but we have today a manufacturing plant which, urged to it's full cap acity, can in six months fully meet our demands for year The tariff hitherto has given many temptations to form trusts, limit the output and lessen wages. But, fortunately, the way now seems open to give the working people more control over their wages and to break up the monopolies which are corrupting our politics.
 Without boasting, may say it Is not in our lineage or character to long be underlings. This is the real meaning of the aspiration for the greatest reform movement in America. It is in no selfish. exultant temper that I thus give you neighborly warnings of our plans and expectations.
 Now, when released from such vicious (so. called 'protection'D laws, there will be new era and a revival of the American merchant marine as well as a steady increase in our ex- ports, both of food products and manufao- tured articles. The nations of the world are drawing into nearer and more neighborly in. tercourse, and the manufacturing supremacy of tho world must eventually pass to that nation which, having the largest supply, shall apply to 1t the highest intelligence and enter prise.
 We are constantly confirmed in the belief that our supply of material is more nearly ex- haustless and more cheaply handled than that of any other people, and if we continue to be underlings it is our own fault.