Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-10-05
Speech Before the London Cham
Der of Commerce.


DELIVERED SEPT 26TH BY HON. W. L. WILSON
AT HIS RECEPTION BY THAT BODY
MI Wilson, rising to respond to the toast,
was greeted with cheers, which lasted for
several minutes. The various points in his
speech were also warmly cheared. After
acknowledging the honor conferred III on him
| and reciting the events of the long struggle
to overthrow protection, Mr.. Wilson said:
AL the people saw that our system was
generating a brood of monopolists SO powerful
as to defy the law, and which used part Of the
wealth they drew from the power Of taxation
to increase their privileges, debauch elections
and corrupt legislation.
II am quite sure that our protective policy
has already served to promote the trade OF
other nations. and If continued it would till
further promote such trade and pre- -eminentiy
your own.
$50, standing before you, representative
Of those who are striving for freer CONNER
cial policy for the United States, l fear cam
not ask you to joice at it's adoption except
as you may prefer right principles to selfish
advantages. Protection has seen our volun-
tary withdrawal from the seas and from the
neutral markets.
"Our protectionists have been building de-
fences to keep you and other nations from
competing with us in our home market. The
tariff reformers are breaking down these de-
fences to let us compete in all the markets Of
the world. Not only. is our production of
cotton and food products growing more rap
idly than Our consumption but we have today
manufacturing plant which, urged to its
| f,l caY nil pcix fol
our demands for a year.
| "The tariff hitherto, has given mauy temp
tations 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 Boosting may say that it is not in
our lineage OF character anywhere to long be
underlings.
| sThis is the real meaning Of the aspiration
OF the great reform movement in America It
| is in no SELFISH eXultant temper that | thus
| giveyou neighbor1y warning of our plans and
| expectations
| After referring to the growth Of American
trade returns, 'even under protection Mr..
Wilson predicted that 'Now, when released
: era and revival of the American merchant
marine, as we'll as steady increase in our
exports, both of food products and manufac-
tured articles.
''The nations of the world are drawing into
nearer and more neighborly intercourse, and
the manufacturing supremacy of the world
must eventually pass to that nation which
having the largest supply, shall apply to it
the highest Intelligence and enterprise.
"We are constantly confirmed in the be-
lief, continued MI. Wilson, "thatour supply
Of materials is more exhaustless and more
cheaply handled than that of any other peo-
pie, and if we continue to be underlings it is
our own fault.
"Your and our institutions are strong be-
cause they are deeply rooted in the past. 1t is
for you and for us to show that while other
nations have been great in war. commerce
science, &C., we can be great in all and also
great in the greatness Of permanent free
DOM