The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-01

defense of the bill on the other side
whether by gentlemen who were respon-
sible only to their own constitu-
encies, or by the gentleman from
West Virginia, who ought to have been
steadied by his sense of responsibility to
the whole country, have one and all, with
but rare exceptions, placed their authors
uncompromisingly except for temporary
purposes, on the side of unrestricted free
trade.
Wilson Bill Only Stepping stone.
Ii is evident that there is no ground for
that hope entertained by so many moder-
ate men, that this bill, bad as it is, could
be resting place where our manufactur
ing and productive industries. such as NAV
survive, can re-establish themselves and
have sure foundation for the future. free
from party pickering and party strife.
Hence, also there can be no foundation for
that cry, so insiduously iaised, that this
bill should be passed at once, because un-
certainty is worse than any bill can DOS
sibly be. Were this bill TO pass both
branches today, uncertainty would reign
Just the same.
This result was inevitable. Although
this bin profossed to open to the manu-
facturers new era OF prosperity and pro-
fessed TO be made in the interest of some
OF them, the moment it came to be de-
Tended on this floor, the great bulk
OF ~ couid not be defended on any other
ground than the principles of free trade.
Hence, In this discussion. the
precise terms of this pronosed
act count for nothing and we
are. LETT TO the discussion of the princi-
pies which underlie the whole question.
That question may not be decided here
and now upon these principles, but the
ultimate decision by the people can have
no other foundation whet her the universal
sentiment in favor of protection as an
piled to every country is sound or not.
do not stop to discuss. Whether II is
best for the United States of America
alone concerns me now, and the first
thing l have to say is that after 70
years OF protection, undisturbed
by any serious menace of free
trade, up TO the very year now last past
this country was the greatest and most
hourishing nation on the face OF the earth.
Moreover, with the shadow of this unius-
tifiable bill resting cold upon it, the mills
closed, with hundreds of thousands of
men unemployed, industry at q standstill.
and prospects before it more Eloomy than
ever marked its history-except once
this country is still the greatest and the
richest that the sun shines on or ever did
shine on.
Nor have we in any way exhausted the
future. This country is ten times more
capable today OF further development than
IL was in 1850.
SO utterly undisputed and so distinctly
visible to every human being in this audi
ence has been our growth and progress
that whatever the future industrial sys-
tenn OF this country may be, the past sys-
tenn Is splendid monument TO that series
OF successful statesmen who found the
country bankrupt and distracted and left
IL first on the list OF nations.
Mr.. Reed here quoted Mt length from
English authorities showing the strength
OF the confidence in the prosperity of the
country.
These quotations, also, are only remind
ers for you Mr.. Speaker, and all who
hear me know that the American who has
been long enough here TO know his on
portunities has found the best place for
wages in the world.
We may safely assume, then. Mr..
Speaker, that country which has become
in the last 30 years, the Richest country
in the world" TO quote Mr.. Jeans again, a
country which during all that period was
Paradise for laboring men" does not
need to try any dubious experiments.
Why should Change lie Made?
What arc the reasons why any change
OF principles should be had?
OF course, we are not 20 change the his
tory of the last 30 years and the principles
OF hundred years because some gentle
men specially gifted with sonorous
voices have distributed epithets. We