New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-14
WHICH Is REAL FREE TRADE.

me Ercn1ng I0Jt i naturally much us
turbcd at the term British applied to the
system it advocates "a free trade, with
the aid of The London Times and TIE
| Manchester Examiner, both of which earn
estly hope for the election to the Presi-
dency of The Posts candidate. because "he
will prove a valuable ally of British COM
mercial interests" The Post says We are
wrong to call that British system; that on
the contrary. it is the original system prac-
tised by all men in state Of nature and,
finally, it is the American system, because
free trade exists between the States of
the Union. A brief word on each of these
points:
l. The system of The Post is British
Free Trade. because it is intended to be-
and in practice proves to be. chiefly if not
exclusively, for the benefit of English man
ufacturers and middlemen. and for the sub
jugaion to them of all other countries and
nations witness Ireland, Portugal, Turkey,
and India, where it has been fully applied;
witnes, the decline of our own industry,
and the consequent prosperity OF England,
since the tariff of 1916.
.. We do not deny that THE Posts may
be the original system of men in a state OF
nature. that is, in a savage and barbarous
state. II evidently consists in suTrendering
the weak into the hands Of the strong, and
in finally making many nations dependent
upon the oyergrown and unnatural power
of one.
8. Ii is a piece of sophistry worthy of
The Post and its Manchester and Liverpool
hackers. to hold up the internal freedom of
trade in the United States as the same sys-
tenn which it seeks to have established with
foreign powers.
The States of the Union compose one
nation, with one political system, and one
political, social, and industrial destiny.
Their interests are all one, and in respect
of natural advantages and of capital and
machinery, they stand on equal terms.
For these reasons, real free trade is pos
sible among them-though the present
tariff is giving an immense preponderance
TO the old manufacturing States, which
alone are able to sustain British cOmpe-
tition TO any extent, and is thus putting the
Western and Southern States into posi-
ton Of serious inequality and inferiority.
Butbetween this courtyard England there
is am entire absence of the conditions requi
site for true freedom of trade. The object
Of England is. so far as possible, to destroy
our manufactures, TO shut up our mills,
mines and furnaces. and 70 compel the
American people to make agriculture their
almost exclusive employment. This is
done that she may continue to be the man
ufacturing and commercial center of the
world. whereto all other nations must resort
to sell their raw products, and to buy man.
ufactred goods. This object is easily at
tanned in respect to any nation. whenever
il opens lis markets without restriction 70
the overwhelming power Of the capital and
skill OF Great Britain. whose merchants are
Away. able. by losses Of trilling account to
them, 70 break down the industry of such a
nation, and thus to assume for themselves
the control of It's markets, and all its tinan-
cial affairs. To open our market, to Eng
land i, not 20 enact commercial freedom,
bat TO yield ourselves an easy prey to AFRO
cant commercial despotism.
- There j.. then, no analogy between
the British and the American systems of
free trade The one is false. the other
genuine; the one i, based on inequality,
the conflict Of Interests. and the greed of a
gigantic monopoly. trembling lestit perish,
the other on equality. national harmony.
and the need, of our own country; the
one j. intended for the benefit of England,
and has for lis supporters THE Eueaing
Post. Franklin Pierce, and THE London
Times-the o,heraims vastly toincrease the
power, prosperity and independence of the
United States. to emancipate the worlds
industry and commerce from English DOM
ination. and i represented b. the Wing
party and WINrIELD ScoTT. Choose be-
tween them!