Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-02-22
Free Trade Defined and the Neccs-
aitv 0f Reconciliation Enforced.

Free T,rnde Defined and the Neccs-
sity Of Reconciliation Enforced.
A correspondent of The Ne,c York Ecen-
ina Po& has entered protest against its ad-
vscacy Of Free Trade, as unwise In finan-
clal point of view and that 1t would be de-
rogatory to our honor to "offer bribe to
the arrogant and cruel originators of this
terrible war;" To this The Euening Post re-
plies In most conclusive article, in which 1t
defines what Is understood as 'Free Trade"
and enforces the necessity of conciliation.
This is its explanation of "Free Trade;"
"Free Trade is the correlative of protec-
tion: it does not stand in antagonism to
taxation for revenue, but to taxation for
quite other purposes; and 1t no more I'M
plies the .opening OF our ports without du-
ties of any kind than the income-taX im-
plies the adoption of imperialism or mon
archy. Our internal industry is tree; every
man may engage In what Dranch OF IL lie
pleases, and prosecute 1t as he pleases; new
ertheless it Is taxed, and taxed heavily, too;
but it is taxed for purposes of revenue, and
not to encourage one kind at the expense Of
another, or to interfere with one kind and
foster another. In the same way, circum-
stances may require us to tax our external
trade, but the object and rate of the tax
/. e., whether it was laid in order to help the
treasury, or whether it was laid in order to
help particular pursuits-wOuld determine
its character In the light of economical sci
ence." lit has been proved by
the absolute and unequivocal experience OF
all the civilized nations, that the degree OF
their advancement in all the elements of
civilization-in population, wealth, general
prosperity and comfort, intelligence, order
and goodness-is marked by the degree in
which they have introduced principles OF
freedom into their political and commercial
life. From that demonstration there i no
escape. 1t has never been controyerted, 1t
never can be controverted; because it rests
upon the cumulative evidences of history,
which it is impossible to gainsay."
"Why is the nineteenth century superior
to the eleventh, more enlightened, more
prosperous, more full of the means. OF com.
fort, more really benevolent and pious!
The answer is plain, because the faculties
of mankind are more unfettered, their ac-
tions freer, their ability to develop the re-
sources of the material world and OF their
own natures in every manner more unre-
strained"
lHc utCcSSlJy VI OouOhiopiVh 40 PN"NA
fully enforced in the following, which we
commend to the consideration of the dis
passionate:
"As to the question of the writer, wheth-
er we would offer bribe to the arrogant
and cruel originators of this terrible war,
it has often enough been answered in this
paper. We would deal with traitors as
traitors, and pursue them with arms so
long as they shall lift their fratricidal hands
against the Government and the peace OF
society. But all wars must come to an end,
and the fearful wounds they intlict must be
healed. That deep fountain of hatred and
rancor, which is opened by the sword, must
be closed. Some ground Of common ssJtinlent,
some principleof general acceptance, some pol
icy on ,chich all may concur toih more or less Of
unanimity, must be found to reconcile The sepd-
rated and discordGnt elements. 1t must be a
principle that does not involve the bitter
recollections of the past, that does not re-
quire either side to sacrifice the point of
honor, that in its practical operations will
be beneficial to both, that is true, just, noble
in itself; and that ground we discover alone
in the generous and beneficent doctrine of
Free Trade"