The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-17
New Publication.

Propositions concerning Protection and Free Trade
BY WILLARD PHILLIPS. Boston, Little Brown
The author of this little work informs us in his
preface that, some years ago. "being then imbued
with that economical creed which is taught in
public seminaries, had occasion to attempt its
Vindication against the aggressions then supposed
10 be made ON commerce by the useful arts through
protective egislation; and had the good fortune
or misfortune, on investigating the subject anew,
TO convert myself TO the opinions had undertaken
TO combat came out with the thorough convic-
tion that the science, which seemed luminous to
those at the feet OF the Gamalies, consisted very
much OF groundless postulates and sophisry." He
became thorough protectionist; and the object Of
this little work is mainly to expose those quiet as
| SYMPTOMS of false premises upon which those who
preach the super eminent advantages of foreign
trade build up their delusve system-the system for
which, by pathological petty larceny, they have
Incorporated the name of free trade Perhaps
we err in saying that this the main object Of
the author; were betrayed into the expression
by our judgment that it is the object which he has
done most to accomplish. His powers of observa-
ton and OF reasoning have sutiiced to pull down
false theory, without as it strikes u.s. being quite
adequate to the complete and harmonious construc-
ton of new in its place, which is entirely
proof against fact and logic.
Inc DOCK ~ made up OF brief essays in support Of
some seventy propositions. 1t may be regarded as
successful In demonstrating the impocy of with
holding protection from domestic industry, with
out having penetrated to the ultimate laws upon
which the philosophy Of protection is built
Ii is no small service however, to put before the
reader, in the shape Of distinct propositions ranged
in order and number, even a few of the sophisms of
the foreign-tradc doctors. single one of them
which is always tacitly involved in their reason
ings, Is, that they " assume that every man, wo-
man, and child in the community, able and willing
to work, has full employment at fair wages" One
Of the forms under which this postulate conceals
itself is, that if you employ persons in indue
try you take just so many from an old one already
in practice" Another is, that the money price of
an article represents under all circumstances, the
quantity of labor necessary to its possession
and that as consequence, if by any system of pro-
lection twenty per cent is added to the money price
of given article, the laborer must diminish hia
consumption of it in the same ratio; that too,
although the result of the protective policy be that
his employment is increased in duration and price
more than twenty per cent. The latter is a circum
stance which they never take into the account
Mr. Phillips has subjected these and similar
in the premises and reasoning Of the opponents of
protection to examination, in manner that can
hardly fail to convince honest inquirers that the
truth is not to be discovered by following such in
structors.
For sale by Taylor & Maury.