The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-28
Prof. VIM. L. Wilson Feasted by
Manufacturers in London.
He OPENED AMERICA TO THEM.
The West yirginian Talks Free Trade
Like True Britisher.
Secretary Morton Also Joins With For
eign Competitors OF American Indus
try In Rejoicing Over Partial Over
throw OF fProtcefion-Hfn May Accept

LONDON. Sept. 27.-The dinner given By
. the Chamber OF Commerce of London TO
Congressman W. L Wilson took place at
the Hotel Metropo.e this evening. About
seventy guests were present, including J.
Sterling Morton. secretary OF agriculture,
and his two sons. Paul and joyce
Morton. Congressman Strauss, of New
York; Sir Courtney f. Boyle. permanent
secretary of the Board Of Trade, and a
number of leading men in trade and CON-
merce- United States Ambassador Bayard
and James +. Roosevelt. secretary OF the
United States embassy. sent regrets.
After acknowledging the honor confer
red upon him and reciting the events of
the long struggle TO overthrow protection,
Mr.. Wilson said:
.All 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
sharing in the power of taxation 10
increase their privileges. debauch cleo
tions and corrupt legislation. am
quite sure that our protective pol
ley has already served 10 promote
the trade Of other nations; IL continued il
would still further promote such trade,
and pre-emincntIy your o.n. / stand be-
fore you q representative of those who are
striving for freer commercial policy for
the United States. fear | cannot ask
you to rejoice in its adoption. except as
you may prefer right principles TO selfish
advantages.
Protection has seen our voluntary
withdrawal from the seas and from the
natural markets. Our protectionists have
been building defenses TO keep you aud
other nations from competing IN our home
markets. The tariff reformers are break
ing down these defenses. Let us compete in
all the markets of the world. Not only is
our production of common and feed
products growing more rapidly than our
/ consumption, but We have today a manu-
| featuring plant, WHICH urged 10 its full
capacity, would in SIX months fully meet
| our demand for year.
1.-The nations of the world are growing
more and more neighborly. and the manu-
| featuring supremacy of the world must
eventually pass To that nation which.
having the largest supply, shall apply
! TO II the highest intelligence and enter
| prise. We are constantly confirmed in
the belief that our supply of mate
riais is more exhausiless and more
eheaply handled than that OF any other
| people. and If We continue to be underliDgs
| IL is our own fault. We are being rapidly
sobered, though unappalied. by the truth
| forced upon Us that OF all human
| governments free government is
the most complex and difficult. and.
| Judging from the worlds experience.
the most uncertain and short-giyed
| Our institutions are strong, because they
/ are deeply rooted IN the past Ii was for
/ you and for US TO show that while other
nations have been great in war, commerce,
science, etc, We can be great in all and
great in the greatness OF permanent Free
DOM"
Secretary Morton was the next speaker.
He said Mr.. Wilson had stated what was
absolutely correct. and that the people of
America had finally said aiieu TO the
protective system. Free trade mad been
used as bogy with Americans,
but st last the farmers had recognized that
free trade did not compel trade any here.
bat simply permitted an American citizen
To buy wherever it was most advantage
GUS. Mr.. Morton said: "We. as Ameri-
cans, feel at home here" and the remark
was loudly cheered.
Sir Courtney Boyle, toasting Sir Albert
Rollitt, said they owed a debt of
gratitude TO Mr.. Wilson and his
colleagues in congress. and they
hoped their action was no. final.
tie declared that their claim
was just: that they had changed the pol
Icy OF America from a harmful one to one
beaefiting not only themselves, but the
commerce OF the world