The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-04

| Republican house or senate might OBJ
| struct their action, was best. 1t ought
not to be difficult to guess what would
| be done.
| Let the reader refresh his mind with
a moments retrospect The Republic
| cans had boldly proclaimed that the
| tariff should be levied upon protective
principles. that Determinations should
| be made in favor Of home manufacture
and home production The Democratic
orators, with facile tongues and an
abundant OF lung power denounced the
protective policy as robbery, as taxing
the many for the benefit of the few.
DESPITE the growth OF the nation in ma
terial respects these Democratic ora
cles said, "You are burdening trade
with unjust restrictions. Free trade
from the strictions and American ships
will be found upon every sea: COM
merce viii spring MP by magic; ex-
portation viii increase, because by
furnishing a market for foreign goods
we will put the foreigner in position
that enables him the better 10 buy our
export products" The voice OF con-
domination. of warning and of promise
went all over the land. From the
hoarse, laundering tones OF the boy
Orator of the Platte" to the small. re-
fined notes of the father Of the will
son bill was sung the same strain.
"Give US free trade and you viii give
Us renewed prosperity; give the man.
ufacturer free raw material and the
wheels of industry will hum: give the
farmer a chance to sell and buy abroad
and you will increase the price of his
products and lower the price of his con
sumption and he will rise up and call
you blessed"
fifteen staple agricultural articles in
the last year of the Mckinley law the
United States imported 51a millions
and the first year OF the Wilson law
1914 millions. an increase Of importa-
ton into this country of "a millions.
Very well. but free trade was to in
crease both importation and expor-
tation. OF nine staple articles, includ-
ing corn. wheat and flour. the last year
of the Mckinley law we exported 81
million and the first year of the Wilson
law 3O1 millions. loss Of 30 millions
in round numbers. In the last year of
the Mckinney law we imported of sta
pie manufactures 173 millions against
264 millions the first year OF the Wilson
law. As a result the balance of trade
was against US to the tune Of about 40
millions.
These figures are their own COM
mentator. Importation increased. ex-
portation fell off. the balance of trade
was against Us. In other words, we
bought more than we sold and found
ourselves in debt This balance had
to be paid in gold Money was Dor
rowed eStenSibly to replenish the gold
reserve, but actually to supply defie-
iency in the current expenses-the VIII
son Dil ItSiEe Il ueuCItIIcy Ol dDUut
AZ millions a month.
Whatever be the trouble we now
know that it avs not free trade we
wanted. Free trade has intensified the
difficulty and left affairs more CON-
plicated than ever. The balance Of
trade is against Us, commerce has fall
len off, current revenues fail to meet
current expenses. The remedy offer
ed by Democracy with so much assur-
ance four years ago was dead wrong.
The see 1t now, but there being no hope
TO succeed upon their record they turn
a back action summersault before this
people and ask to be allowed TO take a
swipe at the currency question prepare
tory to further application Of their
free trade panacea- OF course II Bry-
an should be elected there would be
some traitors like Bryce and German |
who would prevent free silver legisla-
ton Poor old. helpless. incompetent |
what a spectacle 1t pre- |
seuts before the world!