The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-14 00:00:00

thus two shillings are diverted from profitable and

beneficial industry.

We simply place before our

legislators this one appalling fact—that 60,000

persons perish yearly through the drink traffic, and
ask them what " rights " such a traffic,. can have.

ANOTHER civil war has broken out in the United
States. The formation of a powerful Free Trade
Society, having the great commercial town of Boston
for its centre, and the opening of a vigorous Free
Trade agitation, mark the beginning of a
struggle with the pernicious system of American
Protection which will not cease until the
victory be won. The Freetraders of the United
States have a task of exceptional severity
before them. The obstacles to be overcome are
unusually difficult. But all experience justifies the
confidence that when once the true theory of commerce
has got a hold, it is not to be beaten back. Various
circumstances have combined to render the protec-
tive system of the United States the most rigid and
uncompromising the world has yet seen. In
the first place, Protection is emphatically the
doctrine of young States. The colonies
founded in different parts of the world by the Anglo-
Saxon race have adopted the most advanced
political institutions of Europe without previous
trial; but in everything relating to commerce they
appear unable to learn except by experience. They
have deliberately set up a protective system, in de-
fiance and contempt of the knowledge gained in
England by the costly trade experiments of the
present century. The United States is, therefore,
only following the general rule. Then, as the Times
remarks, the war with England in 1812 compelled the
establishment of many manufactures which were pre-
Viously not needed, and which would have had no
chance of competing with theproductions of England.
But when the war ended in 1813 this compe-
tition had to be faced, and the result was that the
manufactures, which prospered well enough whilst
commerce with England was suspended, were
altogether overpowered by the importation of
English goods which followed the treaty of peace.
They had to be propped up, and a protective
system of a mild character and limited extent
was the consequence. Previously to the civil
war, the interests of the South were in favour of the
free import of articles manufactured in the North,
and thus the tariff was kept down. After the war
the South was utterly disregarded. It was found
necessary to raise an immense revenue to
pay the interest on an immense debt,
and heavy duties were imposed for the
double purpoie of protecting manufacturers and
filling the public coffers. There is yet a third and
agreat,kveryand
cei p
acogent:
cnhtal
iiyros g:nticinmoopmfea nrrdtael,litltietiwleoeslrdi i cltovi
hda. se had weight in
undoubtedly
nit Englanded is
Statestbhee,
followed by great exports of British produce. In-
deed, it might fairly be expected that the rush of
English goods would cause a fall in prices, which
for a time would prove embarrassing. It is this
thought of benefiting their political and commercial
rival which is before all things distasteful to
the Americans. The hope of fostering amanufacturing
system which should rival that of Britain was one of
the most powerful influences which determined the
adoption of the high tariff, and in the future it will
probably be the one most powerful argument brought
forward to retain it.

It is on these considerations that the Americans I
have sowed the seed of which they are now
reaping the abundant fruit. But the fruit has