The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-12
MR.. WILSON.

Nothing cond more fitly illustrate the
Democratic infatuaiion for impotence
than the public career OF Mr.. WILLIAM
l.. WILSON OF West Virginia, and the
present attitude of the President and
prominent Democrats in Washington
toward him.
Coming from State that is essentially
new and crude, and struggling TO de
velop business for itself. Mr.. WILSON
has never in any sense represented it.
West Virginia sorely needs protection,
and its people recognize the need. No
State has ever shown hat need more
plainly, yet Mr. WILSON puts himself
forward as the champion Of a
tariff policy that for West Virginia,
with its coal. iron and lumber interests,
meant pure and undefiled free trade.
As a representative Of the people and for
the interests OF West Virginia Mr. Will
son has been an unqualified failure.
But this failure is to be charged to Mr..
WILSON'S will. He might have served
his State; but, while the necessities of
the situation could not have escaped his
notice, he turned his back upon his home
people and devoted himself to policy
that meant ruin to them.
Mr.. WILSON essayed TO be the ex-
ponept Of Clevelandism. He determined
10 compound dose of " tariff reform"
for Congress that should exemplify the
radical buncombe of the Chicago plat
form, as the President interpreted il
after election. His bill was passed by
the House, but tnot until Mr.. WILSON had
been served with many liberal dishes of
crow, and his theorem so altered as to
leave his distinctive qualities almost
wholly out of it.
When the Senate took the bill every
last remaining trace of WILSON was
carefully ard thoroughly expunged
from it. and his effort 10 pauperize his
own State--along with the rest CT the
country-was another conspicuous fail
ure TO his credit.
But Mr.. WILSON'S pliability and amia-
bility Of temper, aided by his lack of
fundamental faith, enabled him to gulp
This biggest dfsfr of CROW, and smilins1y
insist upon keeping his name on the
abortion that was made to do duty for
tariff act by the Senate. His chief
showed his gorge by refusing to sign the
act, but Mr. WILSON was more con-
formahle.
After the West Virginian had rinsed
his mouth and political stomach with
the antiseptic of complete self-esteem.
he went over to London and told the
Englishmen how far on the road toward
the shining goal of "tarif reform" the
American people had advanced-follow-
ing gladly in his glimmering wake. The
reckoned the potential
"pun" they could add to their incomes as
the result Of the new tariff, and thumped
the floor and cried "Hearl hear r. to
Mr.. WILSON'S inspired words.
Then Mr.. WILSON went down among
his West Virginia fellow citizens, and
they simply buried him beneath Repub-
lican and protection ballots. 1t was the
apotheosis of defeats - the crowning
event in the long series of regulations
that go TO make up the public record of
amia6le Mr.. WILSON.
Now the Administration is reported
TO be considering what can be done for
Nc. WILSON. There is just one thing
that would exactly suit him, and that
would be exactly suited to him. Let
him be given some minor berth in the
New York Custom House, where ne and
Mr.. j. ScHoENHoF can frequently
come into intimate contact. Mr.. VIII
SONS theories will fit Mr.. ScnoENHoF's
figuring, and Mr.. ScHoENHoF's figuring
will fit MusnN,s- theories. 1ff1ur,
and only thus, can simple and consistent
justice be done to two extraordinary
men, who have each made of life such
an extraordinary failure.