The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-10
How Free Trade Democracy Degener-
ated Into Free Silver.
4 REVIEW OF The EVENTS.
Which Led Bryan to Adopta New,
Vote Catcher, Which 10 Called
imperialism" -Disasters Brought
About by Free Trade.-Free Silver
Discredited.- Bryan's Paramount
Issue Exists Nowhere Except In
His Own Brain.

correapondence 81 ,he 1ptplllrencnr,

SSotAVhpoiucuSe VI TUG lntelllEcnCor.
WASHINGTON, Oct. s.-In 1892 when
the Republican party appealed to the
voters, We had reached and were enjoy
tns the greatest prosperity the country
had ever known. This pinnacle of pro-
sress was brought about under the gold
standard and protective tariff. Re-
{ ferring to this matter President Harri-
son truly said in his last annual mes.
cage to Congress, in December, 1892: !.
"A comparison Of the existing condl-
tons with those OF the most favored
periods In the history OF the country
will, I believe, show that so high de-
gree Of prosperity and so general a DIFF
fusion OF the comforts OF life were never
before enjoyed by our people. There
! never has been time In our
history when work wns SO. abundant or
when wages were SO high, whether
measured by tho currency in which they
are paid or by their power to supply the
necessaries and comforts OF life"
The issues between the two parties in
that year were protection to our home
industries, and free trade-the latter
called by the Democrats tarifr-for-
revenue-only. The people had abund-
ant evidence on every hand OF the great
benefits resulting from protective
tariff, gold standard, and a Rcpubll-
can administration Of affairs.
Nevertheless, the Democratic candl-
date and his spc!lbindcrs succeeded In
hoodoolng that restless class OF I'M
thinking voters, who are seldom content
to let well enough alone, with glowing
promises OF something better. This
caused the defeat OF President Harrison
and gave Cleveland u second term.
Free Trade Democracy.
During the latter's administration
(1Ss3-1S90 the Democratic free trade
thinkers turned out the farce known as
the Wilson bill. Bryan himself, a mem
Der OF Congress At that time. made the
leading speech In Its favor. In view OF
the far-rraching results of that bill,
and of Bryan's colossal success US a
prophet(D. we shall quote an opening
paragraph OF that speech. as follows:
THE country has nothing to fear from
the Democratic policy upon the tariff
question. 1t means more equal t.ls,ri-
button of the great advantages of this
country. 1t means that the men who
produce the wealth shall retain u larger
share Of it. 1t means that enterprise
shall be employed in natural and profit
able industries. not in unnatural and
unsuitable industries. 1t means more
constant employment for labor and bet
ter pay. 1t means the maximum OF pro-
duct for the minimum OF toll. 1t means
commerce with other countries and
ships to carry that commerce. It means
prosperity everywhere and not by
piecemeal. What denounce is
q protective tariff. 1t Is false economy,
and the most vicious political principal
that has ever cursed this country"
The Wilson bill was In operation three
years, during which time It proved to
be one of the most disastrous pieces Of
legislation ever enacted into 4 law. I'm
der Its blightinS effects Zone feature Of
which was q deficit of S105lSg, FOL in thu
receipts over the expenditures OF the
country, and the general lack Of conf
dcncc In 4 Democratic, administration.
hundreds OF Industries were paraly2cd.
and thousands of men throughout the
country were vainly seeking employ
ment. Few will fail to recall the hard
times OF the last Democratic admins
tration.
A Luminous Bait.
On the approach OF the campaign Of
1886. the Democratic leaders realized
that y new Issue was absolutely nrces-
sary before they could again appeal to
cthe voters. Tnci: tariff tinkerns had
proved an ignominious failure: the Re-
publican policy of protection had vindi-
Gated Itself. Therefore the need OF
some new and untricd Issue.
The free coinage OF silver at ID to l
was the luminous bait tcmptinsly dan
gled before the people by Bryan. the