Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-10-20
WILSON AND THE "Tn1Es."
What the Leading British Paper had
to Say About the Free Trade
Professor.
London Times Editorial. Sept. ?.


A cordial welcome was extended
on Thursday evening by the members
of the London Chamber ofCommerce
to Mr.. w. L. Wilson. the author OF
the original measure for the revision
OF the United States tariff, which was
unhappily transformed by the Senate
into bill only degree less protec-
zionist than that bearing the name of
of Mr.. Mckinley Mr.. Wilson de-
serves all honor for making stout,
though not very successful, fight
on behalf of 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 CONNER
cial and industrial community than
protection. It is not Mr.. Wilson's
fault that the measure which l. S
actually become law is, to use the lam
guage of President Cleveland's letter
after its passage through the Senate,
mot in line with honest tariff re-
form. . There is much that is instruct
i've as we'll as interesting in Mr. Will
sons speech at the dinner given 10
him by the Chamber Of Commerce, all
the more because good deal OF it ap-
pears to have been intended for Amer
lean readers as we'll as British audi
tors. y =
Mr.. Wilson was naturally anxious
not to say anything which might tend
to jeopardize the prospects of his par
ty. { y 1--WE have" says Mr.. Will
son, "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
forgetful of the warning that he that
girdeth on his harness should not
boast himself as he that putteth if off.
The victory over the p-otectionists
has been incomplete, and its results
inadequate as they are, can by no
means be regarded as placed be.
You'd doubt. 1t was certainly fai
from what earnest tariff reformers.
not to speak Of convinced free traders,
confidently expected when Mr.. Cleve-
land was raised to the Presidency, and
when the Mckinley tariff was thought
to be doomed X
The victory which consisted in the
substitution for the Wilson bill of
measure denounced by President
Cleveland as Inconsistent absurdity''
and a violation of all sound tariff prin
c Piles is expected to ''go forward from
this time forth by its own i'm petus. II
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.. Wilson'S
highly coloured picture of the future
supremacy Of the United States in in
dustrial production and in external
commerce. But we confess that the
cause of tariff reform in the United
States seems to us SO far from being
certain to go forward by its own i'm
petus, as to stand i'll 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 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 reasoning to
the principle of tariff for revenue
only so limited in practice as to Sc
cure the freedom from duty of raw
materials and to protect favored in
dustries against foreign competition
4 We do not expect to see any
decisive overthrow of protection until
it is confronted by real free trade
policy.