The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-03
AS VIEWED BY ENGLAND
HOW THE AVERAGE BRETON LOOKS
ON TIE NEW TARIFF BILL.
Interesting Talk by Ex-Judge Nc
Bride on His Trip Abroad
The Queens Jubilee.

Ex-Judge r. w. Mcbride, who has spent
the last two months in Europe, returned
home yesterday. Mr.. Mcbride was ac-
companied On his trip by DR.. ]. L. Dryer.
Of Santa Ana, Cal. Both men heard a
great deal of discussion in Europe of the
affairs of this country, and especially of
the new tariff law, which, however. did
not become a law until the day they sailed
for home. 1t was just about the time that
President Mckinley signed the bill that
they sailed from Liverpool.
In speaking of tho tariff and the opinions
of the people of England and other parts
of the British kingdom, Judge Mcbride
said: II found the people of England and
Ireland generally strongly opposed to the
American tariff and to the Dingley law in
particular. They would argue against it
just as though their views and opinions
should have weight with the American
people in deciding what is best for Amer
lea L found the Scotch people opposed to
the law in unmeasured terms, and they
would tell me that while it was plain that
the law would help the manufacturers of
this country it would ruin the farmers and
thereby do more damage than good. They
would keep up this kind of an argument
until finally I would ask them if their
views were fathered purely by their philah-
thropic feeling for the poor down-trodden
farmer of this country. or if their views
were the result of the knowledge that the
prosperity of the American manufacturer
under the Dingley law would be at the
cost of their own pocketbooks. When the
matter was brought to them in this light
they would generally admit that the peo-
pie OF this country were justified in FegiS-
lating for themselves and that others had
no right to criticise them for It.
"Of course there was a great deal of
talk as TO what effect the law would have
upon different industries in England, but
when l was there the bill had not been
passed and its provisions were not very
well known. 1t was then conceded, how
ever, that the law would prevent the i'm
lieved that it would rave a very serious
effect on the trade of the cotton and wool
en- manufacturers of England with this
country. As a general thing the English
people seemed to think the people of this
country had no right to enact such a meas
ure. Their talk would indicate that it was
their belief that England had the right to
make the laws for the world. Many of
them, however, would admit when pinned
down to 1t that It was likely that if
country 1t would adopt similar laws.
In Germany | found a very different
sentiment prevailing. While the people of
the passage of a new tariff bill, they were
not SO bigoted as to think that it is not
NllHLl the ElSRtS OF TINS country 10 90 so.
| cannot understand much of the German
language and therefore did not have the
same opportunity to learn the opinions of
the German people. l found many Ger
mans who could speak English and then |
could talk such matters. Germany, you
know, stands with this country on the
question of protection, having many pro-
tective laws of its own, and it's people
cannot consistently d%ehounco other coun~
tries for adopting the am system. On
that account, also, the benefits of protec-
ton are fully understood and cherished
Most or the German le1pie with whom |
talked were sorry that a new tariff bill
ter as a question for the decision of 1he
American people and a matter that, while
il concerned them, WAS not 2 matter in
which they had = right 10 interfere. TAX
ing them all in all. | found the German
people inclined TO grant rs the right to DO
it might be contrary 10 their interests"
Mr.. McBride was in Edinburgh during
jubilee week, out Or. dryer was in Lon
don, the center of the festivities. In speak
ing Of the matter yesterday, he said; 1T
seemed to me that there were just two
features TO the whole matter. While the
people of England made a great to-do
in it but an exhibition of royalty and the
power OF royalty. Even the House Of
Commons was snubbed and left entirely
out OF the programme. Royalty was every
where and the common people had no part.
They were not represented at all, their
royalty. To an American that seemed very
strange. The English people seemed to
think it was all right. but foreigners. and
especially those from this country. saw IN
il an incongruity not in full kesping with
the purpose Of the celshratAan"