The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-07-05

served tncag purpose ID maturing tne ulsso-
ufaetures 70 such degree Of strength
that they could staad alone, they were
removed. The article Of iron was protect.
ed by the most prohibi.ory duties, until
there was not only full supply for home
consumption, but for large exports. No
one would have thought Of exporting iron
to England, any more than "uoals Of New
castle" !, is true that many years ago
they removed the duty on charcoal iron
but the reason was, that charcoal iron
having ceased to be manufactured in En-.
gland, III consequence Of the disappear
ance Of that fuel, they desired to obtain
their supply from Sweden, US that sort
was needed by the English steel lnanutac-
turers.
By the tariff of 1858, the duty has
been entirely removed from iron, and, so
far as protection was concerned, it might
have been removed sooner; but as long
as it stood, it was supposed to be in the
way Of the arguments addressed to other
nations in the favor of the removal of
their duties and this was the policy which
governed them in removing the duties
from many other articles on which protec-
tion was useless. This is most obviously
u
stone, in the early part of 1886, when it
was ascertained that a conference was to be
heldat Paris for the negotiation of peace.
:. memorial was addressed to the Foreign
Secretary by the manufacturers of Shelf
field, urging him to exert his influence as
a diplomatist to obtain an abandonment of
protective duties by the European nation.
Mr.. Gladstone was consulted by those in
terested, and replied that he sympathised
with them in their desire for what he calls
commercial freedom, and proceeds as fol-
lows:
"Between 1S41 and 1916, | held office in
the Board of trade and this was the peri
cd during which England was most active
ly engaged in the endeavor to negotiate,
with the principal States Of the civilized
world, treaties for the reci iprocal reduction
OF duties on imports. The task was piled
on our side with sufficient zeal, but in
every case we failed | am sorry to add
my opinion, that we did more than fail
Its tendency was to lead countries TO re-
gard with jealousl y and suspicion as boons
to foreigners, alterations in their laws
England, Jfnding that she could
nidte no progress IN this direction, took her
O'~''
ut the system of protection, and reduced,
as far as the exigencies of the public SER
vice would permit, the very high duties,
which In many cases she maintained sim
ply for the purpose of revenue, upon arti-
cles that had no domestic produce to compete
0tM, while our reasonings had done moth
ing, or less than nothing, our example
effected something, and commercial free
dom has made some progress in other
countries since 1876"
Sir, there was not duty removed on
an article of any consequence of the man
utactures of Great Britain, since the be-
ginning Of her reform, protective in its
character, that was not perfectly useless
for that purpose. The example of this
vaunted reform was in fact nothing but
the reduction of high revenue duties on
articles that did not enter into competi-
ton with her own produce. Was it Il
decisive blow at the protection of her iron
manufactures, to remove duties on that
article, when she can make it, and under
sell all other countries in their own mar
kets?
Sir, | commend the country to that
system of free trade which first protects
and continues to protect by duties, which
are removed only when they are no longer
needed either for revenue or protection.
1t is the weak, and not the strong, that
need protection. The infant, in the order
OF nature, needs the constant guardianship
Of the nurse; but by degrees, as years in
crease, 1T is relaxed, and he is left in the
battle of life still more and more to RELY
on his own strength, until, when manhood
comes, with its rough-textured nerve, stout
heart, and high hope, he becomes sper-
fectly free" and self-reliant We do not
desire tithe of the encouragement which
England has rendered her iron works; we
can reach independence in much shorter
time than she stood guardian for hers.
believe that ten years Of honest prote ,tion
would enable US to supply our own wants
But, sir, there is one other example OF
that advancing commercial freedom on
which so much praise has been expended
that L must beg the indulgence of the
Committee by reference to it. When
we first met, at the present session, and
when 1t was known that the friends OF
protection would be likely to command a
working majority of this House, our oppo.
nents throughout the country heralded
the advent of new convert to the doc.
trine of free trade. France, it was said
was about to signalize the glories of unre
strleted trade, by a commercial treaty with
England; and for us at such time to tax,
up the cid east-of garments of protection
would be but to coLiess ourselves laggard:
IN the race CT civilization. The treat,
\ I