The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-02-02

I rivalled burst OF oratory. Crisp, Reed
4 and Wilson. tho giants OF tho house
I came forward in,tho closing hours to
prosecute and defend the great issue
tho Inauguration Of a now economic
system in the ereateat Republic in tho
world. Tho lcadera on both aidcs wero
accorded ovations as they entered tho
hall. u
Tho speeches on both sides were olo-
quent and nrgumcnlative. MIR. Reeds
was full OF haracteristicsas and wit.
Following are the main points OF his
address, tho full speech occupying an
hour:
Dir. REEDS MAIN POINTS.
In this debate, which has extended
over many weeks, ono remarkable re-
suit has already been reached, result
!. OF the deepest Importance. to tho coun.
\ try. That result that the bill before US
1 ia odious to both sides OF the house. It
4 meets with favor no whore ind coul-
Z mands tho respect OF neither party. On
this sidc we believe that while 1t pre-
! tends to be for protection it does not
@niIord it, and on the other side they be-
slieve that while il looks toward free
Sltrade it does not accomplish it.
Those who will vote against this bill
4 will do 30 because 1t will open our mar
: kets to the destructive competition Of
4 foreigners, and those who vote for 1t
do it with reservation that they will
Instantly devote themselves to o new
crusade against whatever barriers are
left.
Whatever speeches have been made
in defense Of the bill on tho other side.
whether by gentlemen who were re-
sponsibe only to their own con-
Y stitdencies, or by the gentleman from
West Virginia, who ought to have been
steadicd by his sense OF responsibility
to the whole country, have one and all,
with but rare exceptions, placed their
Sauthors unconlpromisingly, except for
temporary purposes, on tho side Of un-
restricted FREQ trade.
NO GROUND PoR HOPE.
It Is evident that there is no ground
for that hope entertained by SO many
4 moderate men, that this bill, bad as it
is, could be resting place where our
manufacturing and productive indus
3 tries, such as may survive, can re-estab-
( fish themselves and have a sure iounda-
ton fol, the future, FREQ from party bick-
ering and party strife. Hence, also,
.here Gun be no foundation for that cry,
10 insjdiously raised, that this bill
should be passed at once, because un-
certainty is, worse than any bill can
possibly be. We're this bill to pass
both branches to-day uncertainty would
reign Just the came.
So utterly undisputed and so dis.
i tinctly visible 10 every human being in
+ this audience has been our growth and
progress that whatever tho future in
I dustrial system OF this country may be,
s the past system is a splendid monument
10 that series Of successful statesmen
who found the country bankrupt and
Y distracted and left it first or the list OF
2 nations.
Mr., Reed here quoted at length from
4 English authorities showing the
4 strength OF their confidence in tho
prosperity OF this country.
S These quotations also are only no.
:. lninders for you, Mr.. Speaker, and all
.5who hear me know that tho American
who has been long enough here to
( know his opportunities has found the
I. best place for wages in tho world. Sd
Is there any example in tho history
OF the world Of any nation situated like
ours who has taken the step to which
We are invited?
Some gentlemen, perhaps, arc has
tenina to say, that England affords us
the needed example; that we have but
to turn to her; history and find all that
3 VIC need by the way OF examples, just as
in the statements OF her political econo-
mis,s which shall find ali tina. Is neces-
sarv for advice, for guidance aud IN
/ struction. Is,
$ Mr.. Speaker, / have looked there and
4 I am amazed to find how little tho ex-
ample OF England can,teach.
THEw WAGE QUESTION.
" ;tAfter quoting statistics to show the
great riso in wages since 1860, Mr.. Reed
continued: So a
Tho truth is that this very question
H OF rising wages is what makes good
many men free traders. People with
( fixed incomes think that anything
which raises wages is inimical 10 them
5aand manufacturers who have foreign
markets are naturally, anxious to have
wages on tho foreign standard.
I confess to you that this question OF
4 wages is to mo the vital question. To
n insure our growth in civilization and
wealth We must not only have wages lis
high us they are now, but constantly
al and steadily increasing. This desire OF
mino for constantly increasing wages
s does not have its origin in love for, tho
4, individual, but in the love for the ma
q ton. q 4
SsSas Mr.. Reed eulogizcd the American
market as being the bestin tho world
5S owing to the high wages paid here, en-
NJ abling workingmen to purchase largely
y of the comforts OF life. Instead Of in
s4 creasins this market, he said, BY leaving
Z tito the stoadyincrease Of wages which
tho figures OF tho Aldrichs report SO
n conclusively show, aud which have not
n only, received the sanction Of tho menu
3 bers from New York, the secretary OF
n The treasury and tho Democratic bureau
IN Of statistics, by this action our com.
I mittee propose TO lower wages and SO
lesson the market and then divide that
market with somebody else, and all on
X tho chance, Of getting the markets Of
" the world. u !. a
10 add to tho interes.ing impossible.
cities OF this contention the orators on
n. the other side say they arc going to
n imaintain wages. How can that DO pos.
s5siblo 7? All things sell Mt the cos. I Of
8Sproduction, III the difference DO.