Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-06
THE ENQUIRER.
Thursday Morning, March S, 1916.
THE BLESSINGS OF FREE TRADE.
RICH MOND, VA


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THE BLESSINGS OF FREE TRADE.
We yesterday attempted 10 show some OF The
advantages which would arise from throwing oren
the English ports 10 our abundant eranaries, un-
der the wise and mastery policy of Sir Robert
Peel, who on this occasion has proved himself 10
be thorough statesman. Ii may be OF service,
now 10 exhibit the effects OF such g liberal sys-
TEN upon the domestic interests Of Ensland-ard
as the principle is the same, We may apply il 10
our own land, and deduce arguments in favor of
cutting down the unjust privileges enjoyed By the
Tariff monopolsts.
Sir Robert Peel has examined the details o..
this great subject with thorough scrutiny wor-
,hy of merchants son. He has The moral cou-
rage 10 come forward, TO avow the errors oil his
past opinions, which have been laid bare By tie
light OF experience, and 10 take his stand upon
the platform OF reason and OF right. Not content
with expressing his WY formed impressions, he
porlrays the delusive character OF projection, "
and sells forth The facts upon which he has delibe-
raely formed his present opinions. Fle Uecame
persuaded that protection OF native industry was
no, in ilsci right or vanlageons-especially as
il was not impossible for England 10 compete
with foreign labor, because he former labored
under heavy debt and severe taxation. For the
last three years, under The relaxation OF duties,
prices had been low, and yet wages were never
higher. The three previous years prices had
been high, and the labofns class had suffered ee-
neral distress from The lowness OF wages. Sta
lis,ical returns showed that the removal OF pro-
teciye duties had operated most favorably upon
trade, by increasing greatly The foreign exports
o! England, and the results upon revenue had
been equally beneficial, though The Customs du-
lies had been in four years reduced upwards Of
four millions OF pounds, and the Excise danes
more than one million OF pounds.
The moral aspect Of the question was also
most hatlering, and demonstrated that, in ie42,
when prices and high duties were in existence,
crime had increased alarmingly, and in 1913 i
had much improved, and in 1914 and lS45, had
considerably decreased. The natural inference
was that low prices and comparatively good va
ges and abundant food had fostsred The growth Of
morality The agricultural interest (Which in
England has been The grea subject OF prntection)
had not suffered from The reduction Of duties up.
on foreign fax. foreign wool, CATTLE pigs, lard
&c-all of which articles have commanded sood
prices in The British markets; and il was naiu-
raj lha, the same efec, would follow the reduc-
ton OF duties upon other agricultural products
The agricultural intereet in England had been
well Unidentified, By having furnished 10 them
increased facilities for meeting foreign compe i
ton, in the liberal admission OF many articles for
feeding ofcaule, such as Indian Corn, &c.
Sir Robert Peel conteaded, that while there
would be some loss 10 The revenue, the importa-
ton Of some articles, competing with The Brit
ish manufacturers, would stimulate their skill
and, with the capital and enterprise OF the coun
Try would be able 10 excel the foreign manu-
faclurers. In consideration Of the unlimited pow
er given 10 The manufacturers 10 import The raw
material free, they should be willing TO submit 10
a considerable reduction Of the duties upon TO-
reign articles; and in spirit oil justice and
true charity, The coarser fabrics OF linen, cotton
and wooen, used BY The great body Of The peo-
pie, should be admitted duty-free. On Inc
whole, after full review Of The whole SUBJ
jcci, Sir Robert Peel deduced the grand re-
snlt, that for the three years Of the relax
alton OF duties in England there had been
an increased producIveness Of revenue, an in
creased demand for labor, an increased COM
merce, and an increased comfort, conlenlmen,
peace and morality in the country. He pro-
posed, therefore, that England should hersel
sci the example of a liberal and expanded poll
cy-leaving il TO The interest Of The great body OF
consumers of other nations 10 influence The action
OF their Governments, and thus BY increasing
the commercial intercourse OF the world, produce
mutual advantages between all nations.
Shall the United States the only Republican
Government, in the world. suffer monarchical En-
gland 10 modify the odious restrictive system, with
out feeling aroused 10 reform their own unjust
and unequal commerciallaws2 Wesee the bcne-
fetal effects OF free trade upon Great Britain
We feel The mischieis Of The Tariff monopoly
upon our own people, cripplins commerce, and
weighing down the vast inleres; Q. Agriculture
We see see the wages Of labor not increased, as
the TarifTiles contend but only an increase in the
amount oflabor exacted from The operatives. Still
the Tarifiles, with their Cuckoo song of domestic
industry" would have the Government TO con-
tnue their largesses 10 the joint stock manufacture
ing capitalists oil Lowell and other Eastern towns
Al time when our manufacturers can with many
OF their articles 60 10 foreign countries, pay an
import duty of 10 per cent, and undersell Tie Bri-
,;sh in their own markets is il likely that they
will be not able to sustain themselves At home
agains, foreign competition with natural pro-
lection Of 20 or 25 per cent. afforded BY The pro-
posed revenue Tariff, which will be really in.
creased 10 80 OF IS per cent. by the expenses OF
assurances and impora,ions? lsit no: uureason-
able, that they should, with all these advantages,
persis, in demanding continuance OF tie present
high protective duties
Already we see il stated, that the ship Liberty
has cleared from New York for Cork and mar