The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-03
NEITHER FISH. FLESH NOR FOWL.

just what the trainers of the Wilson
bill had in mind when they drafted the
measure that is arousing such antagon-
ism from every section of the country,
if indeed they had any other object in
mind than deliberate intent TO see how
much ruin and havoc they could create
among American industries, is, after
an examination of the measure for
several weeks, hard to discover. The
bill itself is neither fish, flesh nor fowl.
II is not protective tariff, nor was it
designed 10 create revenue, but rather TO
decrease it. Most assuredly it is not a
free trade bill.
1t is admitted by the administration
that fathers it that there will be def
cit of over 70,00O,O00 yearly in the rev.
enues of the government caused by the
pacing of this proposed law on the
statute books.
This deficit it is proposed to meet by
revenue and income taxes, raising by
direct taxation from the people sum
sufficient for its payment.
The effect of the Wilson bill does not
cease with the creation of deficit of
many millions Of dollars annually. 1t
strikes blow at every industry in the
land. 1t takes away from American labor
the bulwark that has protected il
against the pauper labor of the Old
World, and throws oren to the competi-
ton of that labor the most magnificent
markets of the world.
1t threatens every man, woman
or child now wage-earner with re-
duction in wages or IN idleness caused
by the stoppage of production.
Is it any wonder that protests from
the manufacturing cities and towns Of
New England and the East have gone
forth to Washington signed by hundreds
of thousands of workers, asking, beg
ging, that the bill be not passed?
Is it any wonder that from the farm
ers of the West and Southwest, whose
great industries are being struck at with
deadly blow. a protest has gone to
Washington asking in Gods name that
such infamous legislation be strangled
at its inception?
Is 1t any wonder that the planters OF
the South cry out against bill that will
ruin their fourishing industries
Is it any wonder that the miners of
Pennsylvania, Virginia and Illinois urge
upon congress their claims for recogni-
tion against the great injustice that will
be done them if this bin passes?
Name il you can business that is not
already suffering from the dread of this
bill. Hundreds Of thousands of railroad
men and those dependent upon the rail
roads for their subsistence realize today
that the bill cuts where il was least ex-
pected. In the diminished traffic, in
the curiaiment of the freight and the
lack Of business they SEQ that they are
dependent for their livelihood upon the
prosperity of the manufacturing and
agricultural and mining interests. In
jure them, diminish production, dis
courage the farmers and destroy the
mining markets so that the output
either ceases entirely or is seriously
and there remains not a
business, nor a trade, nor profession
that does not suffer in sympathy.
Such mighty protests have never
before been presented to any govern
ment in opposition to proposed legisla-
ton. The standing armies of all Europe
would be dwarfed by comparison with
the mighty army of protesting labor that
has voiced its opposition to this bill.
And yet no heed is paid these protests
by the administration. 1t has theory
and that theory must be put into opera
tion il nation is ruined aud thousands
scramble for the crusts of poverty when
formerly plenty abounded.