The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1894-02-08
The Wilson Bill Passes the
House by a Vote of
2O3 to 40
Ringing Protest by Tom Reed Against
this Outrage on Ameri-
can Interests.

"In this debate, which has extended
over many weeks, one remarkable re-
suit has already been reached, result
of the deepest importance to this coun'
try. That result is that the bill before
us is odious to both sides Of the House.
1t meets with favor nowhere, and COM
mands the respect of neither party. On
this side we believe that, while, it pre-
tends to be for protection, it does not
afford it, and on the other side they be
lieve that, while it looks toward free
trade, it does not accomplish it
"Those who will vote against this bill
will do so because it opens our markets
to the destructive competition OF foreign
ers. and those who vote for it do it with
a reservation that they will instantly
devote themselves to a new crusade
against whatever barriers are left. What
ever speeches have been made in de
fanse of the bill on the other side,
whether by gentlemen who were only
responsible to their own constituencies
or bv the gentleman from West Vlr
oinia. who ought to have been stead1ed
by bis sense of responsibility TO the
whole country, have one and all, with
but rare exceptions, placed their authors
uicompromisingly except for tempo
rary purposes, on the side OF unrestricted
free trade.
"It is evident that there is no ground
for that hope entertained by so many
moderate men, that this bill, bad as 1t
is. could be a resting place where our
manufacturing and productive indust
ries. such as may survive, can re estab
lisb themselves and have a sure founda-
tion for the future. Hence, also, there can
he no foundation for that cry, so lnsld'
iouslv raised, that this bill should be
passed at once, because uncertainty Is
worse than any bill can possibly be
Were this bill to pass both branches to-
oav. uncertainty would reign just the
same.
HISTORY OF PROTECTION
"The history of protection has been
most remarkable. Fifty years ago the
question seemed to be closed.> Great
Britain had adopted free trade, the Uni
ted States had started in the same al
rection, and the whole world seemed
ahout TO follow. Today the entire stu,
alton seems to be reversed. The whole
civilized world except great Britain has
become protectionist, and the very last
wear passed has witnessed the desertlon
of English principle by the last English
colony which held out. This has been
done in defiance of the opinions OF
every political economist IN England
who wrote prior to 1850, and most OF
those who have written since"
england. when she became Tree
trade. was a workshop wherein was
manufactured the raw material Tor the
rest of the world OF raw material she
herself had none. Her coal and lroh'
and the invention of the steam engine,
had developed her manufactures so ou'
of proportion to the wages OF workmen
that she must have larger market
AT that time the only idea of larger
market was one that had more consum'
ers. The notion that the market couio
be enlarged by those who were already
consumers had not yet entered into the
popular thought, yet her workmen were
clamoring for more pay. Tariff had al
ready ceased to be a protecrlon, except
on com, and not on that in any true
protective sense.
"The truth is that this very question
of raising wages is what makes good
nanv men free traders. People with
fixed incomes think that anything which
raises wages is inimical to them. Manu-
facturers who have foreign markets are
naturally anxious to have wages on
foreign standard, and when manufac
turer in Boston and great agricultural
tool.maker in Philadelphia proclaim
themselves on the side OF free trade, WI
find in both cases large foreign trade
and along with it desire tor foreigi
wages for their workmen.
QUESTION OF WAGES.
'The question OF wages is all'lmporl
ant, as bearing upon the question @
consumption. Who are the consumers
In the old days when the product Q
manufacturers were luxuries, the lor
and his retainers, the lady and he
maids, were the consumers, aclaas apai
by the mselves, but today the Iconsun
ers are the producers. Long ago tn
laborer consumed only what would kee
him alive. Today he and his wife an
children are 30 immeasurably the MOI
valuable customers that If the shop ha
to give up the wealthy or those whol
it is the custom to call poor, there woul
not be moments hesitation or M
ment's doubt.
"why did the working people OF Gal
fornia object to the Chinese? Becau'
they knew that il they swarmed in Il
law of wages would make our own wag
IL xyas ivsat hQcanQa III