River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-03-22
DEPEW ON FREE TRADE.
A Dead Issue In the United states-Bour-
hnns Afraid of Their Hnhhv

bons Afraid of Their Hobby.
Advance sheets of Chauncey NJ De-
pews article in the Nineteenth Gen.
fury on "The Prospects of Free Trade
in the United States" have reached this
country. Mr.. Depew wrote the article
while tossing about on the Atlantic on
his return from Europe.
Mr.. Depew says the result Of the
election of 1899 was a surprise. The
country was paralyzed by the plunge it
had deliberately taken. Every indus
trial and business interest in the land
was extraordinarily interw oven with
and interdependent upon the protec-
tive system. yet party had come into
possession of the government pledged
to the uprooting of that system IL
had declared in its platform that the
principle of protection was con-
demned by the constitution and that
its practice was a robbery and a
fraud.
What will you do with your VIC
tory?" was the question eagerly asked
from every mill and mine. from every
factory and furnace, from every count
ing-roon and bankers office, from
every corpora ton and from working
men. The answer was fat and frank.
I'VE will do what we promised to do IL
elected, and what you have specially
commissioned and instructed us to
carry out"
There never was more direct man
date from constituency 70 an admin
istration nor an administration which
knew so well was expected of 1t and
what 1t intended to accomplish.
Mr.. Depew then describes the read
justment of business and manufactur-
ing In anticipation of the proposed
change. He says that at least eighty
per cent of the mills, factories and
furnaces locked their doors and two
million persons were thrown out of
employment. He tells OF the calling Of
the extra session of congress in re-
sponsc to the demand for the repeal of
the silver law, and continues:
"One-half of the presidents followers
refused to follow his lead, and it re-
quired every recourse known to power
and authority to hold those who pro-
fessed obedience to their elected chief.
The wild horses of Mr.. Gladstone
obeyed every suggestion of the bit
with the reins in the hands of that vet
eran, able and accomplished whip, but
the wild horses of Mr.. Cleveland
plunged and bottled at the start, nearly
upsetting the national coach"
Mr.. Depew says of the election OF
1898: The educational campaign for
free trade, which after thirty years of
earnest and ceaseless labor had finally
triumphed, was In less than twelve
months turned into a disastrous rout I"
AS an effect of the elections. Mr.. Depew
says the president FASTENED to send a
message to congress reassuring the
country that any legislation would
have due regard for existing business
interests and the wages of labor. Free
trade principles were at once aban-
doned by the reformers and In their
place the details of protection are dis
cussed.
In conclusion Mr.. Depew says: Free
trade is myth and a tariff for revenue
only a shadow. Most of our industries
are stagnant, and the majority of our
mills, factories and furnaces are in to-
tai or partial paralysis. while the vic
tors are experimenting with the
weapons of their protectionist enemies.
II, under these circumstances, the
mcch-heralded measure which was TO
repeal the alleged atrocities of the Nc
Kinley bill and curb the reputed rapac-
ity of the tariff robber baron ever
reaches President Cleveland for his
signature he will not recognize it. In
the meantime the people, harassed
with doubts and fears, losing money or
out of employment, with the impa-
thence of despair or hunger are clamor-
ing for action. Every days delay is re
garded as further evidence Of inca
pacity for government Under these
circumstances miracle can scarcely
pass a measure which would materially
alter the present law, and only mir
acle can prevent the return of protec-
tionists to power. - San Francisco
Chroninia