The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-21
Tactics Of British Free Traders.

March, 1857.
Tactics of British Free Traders.
Differing most widely among themselves in
regard to every thing else, there is single
point in reference to which there is remarka-
BILE coincidence of action in all the advocates
among ourselves of British supremacy; and
that is to close their eyes to every great fact
they cannot answer, while keeping them
widely open for the examination of every
small one that can, by any means, whether
foul or fair, be impressed into the service of the
great monopolists of the world, the n,ilionaircs
of London and Liverpool Birmingham and
Manchester; and this they do in the names of
Democracy and freedom of trade Talk to
them of the vast growth, under the tariff of
1912, of the consumption Of iron and of cotton
and woollen cloth, and Of the evidence thereby
afforded Of an increase in the amount Of trade
and in the power of the people to purchase
those commodities so necessary to the improve
ment of their condition, and they are deaf as
adders. Show them that under the tariff of
1916, Notwithstanding vast increase Of
population, there has been, and is, a steady
dminulion in the actual quantity consumed,
proving not only diminuton in the
amount of trade, but also deterioration
Of the condition of the farmers, the mechanics,
the miners, and the laborers of the country,
and they are blind as moles. Ask them to ex-
plain why it is that in all the British free
trade countres-Ireland, Turkey, India, Por-
tugal, and the colonies-the condition Of the
people deteriorates, and they are mute as
mice. Balaam's ass was a loquacous animal
compared with a free trader when invited to
explain why it is that in all the nations of the
world in which the people are protected against
British free trade, they are becoming from day
to day more prosperous and more free, and the
nations themselves more powerful; while in all
the unprotected ones the people are becoming
from day to day more wretched and more en-
shaved, and the nations daily weaker. The
reason why he remains thus mute is that the
facts cannot be disputed nor can they be explain
ed in any manner that will suit the pockets of
the middlemen Of England-the nation Of shop
keepers-under whose direction the commercial
policy of the Union is now placed. Let him,
however, light upon any small fact that
can be tortured into confirmation Of his views,
and he becomes all life; his eyes and his ears
are widely opened, and he is at once restored
to the use of his tongue. Such conduct
proves that if he does not explain the causes of
the wonderful growth of consumption under the
tariff S42, and the equally wonderful diminu-
tion under that Of lS46; and if he does not
explain why it is that all nations suffer in the
direct ratio of their maintenance Of British
free trade; and that all prosper in the direct
ratio of protection they afford to their agricul
tursts in their efforts to draw to their sides
the men who drive the shuttle and strike the
hammer-it is because he can do 81 in no other
way than by admitting that the true and only
road to perfect freedom of trade lies through
! protection against the system which looks to
compelling all the world outside of Britain To
employ themselves in raising raw produce, and
all the world to become competitors for its sale
in the single market of Britain ; thereby ena-
bling the people of that country to fix the
| prices Of all they desire TO buy and all they de
sire to sell, and to become really, if not nomi-
nally, the masters Of the farmers and planters
Of the world, who would then be, as they now
are in all free-trade countries. mere "hewers
Of wood and drawers Of waterv for them. Such
is, and such ever has been. the object of the
| British system; and therefore it was that ADAM
| SMITH denounced it as being ga manifest VIC
lation of the most sacred rights of mankind
and as tending to produce everywhere those
| effects which have since become so obvious in
Ireland and Portugal, Turkey and Inda-the
free-trade countries, par excellence, of the
world.
On recent occasion we laid before our read
ers view Of the effect of British free trade in
destroying the manufactures and the agricul
ture Of Turkey, and in annihilating its powe,
among the nations Of the world, laying it pros
trate at the foot Of its rival, among whose PEG
| pie the habit of combined action is being 80
rapidly developed by aid of efficient protection
against the monopoly system Of Britain. W.
now invite their attention to the following
comments upon that article by the New Yorl
Epcning Post, a journal that has been at al
times, since the first hour of its existence, dis