New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-31
THEOLOGY DODGING.
We have had to do with free traders

they have elapsed, they have lodged and now in
some new disguise, and behind some new FETCH
they are again going through their peculiar intel
Iectual gymnastics as gravely as though nothing
had happened. A fair argument based on the
facts and all the facts of the case they shun; it
il not in their line, not congenial with their pur
poses
The other day found free trader in the
theological garb, speaking through the columns Of
The independent 1t is true his style Of speech
bad in it more Of the Pewter Mug than the sane
tuary, but we were glad to meet him there. The
Iadependeat has justly borne the character of a
manly and whole-souled paper, ready to stand by
It's opinions. Here then said we, is free trader
who won't try the usual doublings and windings of
the tribe, but will face tie music like
We shall now get at the interior light OF free
trade, its moral and theological grounds. Ac-
cordingly, having got ready to be instructed we
asked few questions which we desired to be
informed But it in van The Independent
could not advocate free trade in that mode. Only
when the way was opened to discuss simply the
moral relations" of the question, it would be
ready. Good, said we again the moral relations
to this our neishbor responds by joke He says
want to go into general discussion of morals
and theology Heaven forbid We only want to
be instructed to the morals and theology of
free trade. But that The Independent evades
L has no taste for abstract controversy" OF
course it hasn't. For fair and manly controversy,
abstract or concrete, have never yet discovered
a thorough free trader Of any gumption who had
taste. They are tribe of dodgers, the theo-
ogical ones, it seems, as well az the others.
The Independent concludes It's remarks in the
following words; the last of which we put in
italics
Meanwhile we correct a Misrepresentation OF The
Trbunes statement Instead of saying, we under.
stood that the repeal OF the duty coal would directly
benefit the iron interest The Tribune meant only to
compromise the matter by reinquisling the duty ON
coal in favor of higher rats ironfor the protcc
ton suppose, Of tie great railroad interest," rih all rs
Dependencies Of labor Of trare and Of trade csd to pro-
mote The ter use o rea for building purposes and for
street pavenents! ~
Commend us to theological free trader for
candor and toldnsss of expression. He can't con-
slider the question either because it is too secular,
or because he has no taste for " abstract contro-
versy." 1t is subject in which he feels no call to
interfere, apart from its /" moral relations simply"
But while thus slipping like an eel from the honest
defense of its own opinions, and declining all dis
cussion of them, The independent can cooIly as
sumo the whole question at issue and insin-
uate in the most offensive manner, that the adyo-
Gates of protection opposed to the welfare of
labor, of travel and of trade, to the comfort and
convenience Of the community Let the public
Judge whether this is a candid and credtable, or
r 4l,o
British Free Trade.
We subjon a copy Of letter we have received
in relation to the general position of Tie Ls,ie-
pendent upon this matter:
"DEAR SIR: have read your notice of The Iadepen-
dent Thercisa coldboodedness about genuine disciple
Of the British free trade school that Is worthy of all ad
mirstion 1t Is well known that for the last our years the
losses smongth poor people who have been engaged in
bringing coal to market have been enormous and that
| very many OF them have been utterly ruined while
thousands of miners have been compelled abandon
their homes and their families seek work at distance
leaving their wives and children to provide for them
selves as they might And equally well is it known
to, and felt BY your neighbos of The Independent
and The Journal Of Commerce that at the cost of
these poor people they have been supplied with
fuel at price that, without their exertions aud
their sacrifices, could never have been thought Of
Nevertheless, is it suggested that the in.
creased demand the idea that the coal miner
ought have that will enable him TO i've and the
coal operator sufficient profits to enable him to pay the
debts contracted in the last three years and support his
family than your neighbors, alarmed at the idea of pay.
ing extra half dollar per tun roar out Down with
the tariff And yet they know as well as you do that
it Is 10 the tariff they indebted for the cheapness of
1hevxu tho oil boJu
whom they are 60 indebted to save themselves few
dollars year.
1t may appear unchartable to say this and yet tho
facts of the warrant me In doing So You have
time after time invited the attention of your pious neigh.
bors Of The Journal exa nnaon of the fact that
the condition of people in course of gradual
deterioration, manifested by steady decline in the
power TO consume clothing and other necessares Of life
Time after time you have invited them to look at the
fact that there was steady decline IN the demand for
the labor Of both men and women and that the weaker
portion Of the community being driven to the wall
BY the stronger the poor being made poorer while the
rich were becoming richer, and your invita- ions have
not been accepted. The only furnished 10 re.
petition Of the cry Of Free Trade,'-and after your
neghbors have thus closed their eyes and their ears to
facts which prove the daily increasing tendency to pov
erty and immortality, they go, as lsuppose, to church
and thank Gcd that they of the wretched cas,
whose numbers they laboring 20 Increase. Your
Independent neghbor see no gon no morals In
the question of protection Ask him If he cannot find
both in clean shirt and whole coat and then show
him how great the increase under the tariff of 1912
in the facility of obtaining shirts and coats and how
great has oeen under that Of 1896 the decline in the
facility of doing and then let him decide whether or
no, the tariff Is question of religion and Of morals
To be free trader ofthe modern school Is needed
that man should be Rcardo,Matauaian and to be
that ia to be destitute of all feeling for ones neighbor
1t comfortable to be able, while returning thanks to
God for clean shirts, whole coats good dinners old