, 1866-01-20
LETTER FROM BLOOMINGTON.

eQualJohn bulIs assurance IN preaching Tito
this country7 UndenlabIy perfect is free
trade in theory and would be equally 50 In
practice under equable or favorable relations
The sole question IS, how best to arrive at
free trade in practice Free trade between
beggars-yes, what would that amount to.
e1nct1y what British free trade NonId in
nugurate between pauper American agTicuJ-
turists in the hands OF mercress spectators
and forwarders On the one hand and pauper
British millions In the hands of lords Of the
realm and loom on the other. How Is 1t,
then, tha United States are beset to pract1s,
free trade by this most modern and innocent
apostle thereof? After ha7ing by dlnt Of
natural and artificial insulation aud 'protec-
ton during long centuries, become the
worlds manufacturer and purseholder, Just
now when other people begin to learn md
prnctise bis magic arts in their own defence,
John throws up hands and eyes In tragic,
holy horror, and would disarm them at once
by sweet moral suasion In behalf Of Tree
trade ~ Does he for once propose or dream
OF honest, genuine free trade based on reeip-
rocal needs and the general improvement Of
The race. Docs he say, "Como all ys, let us
meet aud reason togcthcr''-and to America,
!
do by yours, and I will furnish You IS much
raw material to work Up for my citizena as
you will for mine ~ Of course John Bull Is
abundant1y able to lead OFT In every phllan-
thropic movement, and most certainly can
atEord to play an even gnme With any people.
me at home full sway for my system-for my
mighty boards OF nobility, capital md skill
let me griud labor at home as list, BY ta1
and law and caste, making the rich richer,
and the poor poorer Abroad, let all the
earth bow down to my great molten image Of
free trade sending hither tribute Of Their
course, cheap, raw material, st whatever
ceiving therefor my manufactures at whatever
price /, as sole maker, choose to aHrl"
Now Is 1t not little too bald and oue-sideds
Yet here Is the whole argument in favor OF
modern British free trade reduced to plain
English. Now let us test Its soundness. We
start with two common sense propositions :
/. The very soul aud essence Of honest fee
trade Ia destruction to monopoly, to every
needless import or burden. 2. The glory Of
civilized land Is in 1t farmers and nianufac-
turcrs, including Of course all needed artisans
and attendants. These two great classes hre
true natural allies fnseperable yoke-felloNs,
brother producers and consumers reciprocal.
The great EoeIal and political problem then
Is how best to place these two classes
.teet. feet iinseulgsnt work{ns % contact md
harmopy-each family and each community,
each uation for itsei-with fewest middle.
men 10 be supported, When farmer aud
manufacturer flourish, all prosper. But how
do We do ih!s-by locating farmers IL Amerl-
destroys free trade at the very outset, bur
dens and 'ncnfpolises breed, and swarm at
every ml1epost the whole weary way. Atne-
rica and The west are largely, Of necessity,
agricultural. Why Is New York city, Chica-
60, New or Old England any better market
ior agricultural products than the State Of
lows or KanEas1 Simply because of dense,
ing population IL then the grtat oyer
shadowfng need Of the West and to be court
cd, hastcned by all fair means. In the light
Of this subject the perfect marvel Is rather
that certain States do not by Law favor Ger
tain most needed home manufactures, say BY
exemptipR them from taxation. Among the
first wants OF a new settlement Is an outlet,
IN artery connecting with older settlements
so doubtless our most immediate need Il fol
increased facilities Of transportation, con.
! trolicd, too, for the common veal, not foz
soulless extnrtion. Fnrmera and home mann
permanent interest in common, why this In.
tensate old Democratic effort to excite far
mers against Manulacturers-almost the only
| staple argument u our British Free Trade
| friends. How shallow Capnot any one eet
| that the cry dare not be against all manufac
| turing. That were too absurd-but Il 1
agatn.t your neigaoor "'a44taeturs1, !" taeo,
country manufacturing neighbor, II i,
| perhaps in favor Of bis distan,
City rirat-ls It against New England o.
| American manufacturers, be sure-lt Is Id the
interest Of the Old English manufacturer and
British Free Trade! Nothing should be able
| between farmers and Manufacturern-It is I'm,
possible that one should flourish permanently
without the other. Does either pay or pfom
lse great profits, how suddenly capital and
competition regulate all that. Heuca all ;this
cry or taxing the many for the benefit Of The
who arc "tho many" in this; country, aud
who d2rcs taK them but their own servants
In their masters bcha3fs" Not 60 with:thli
wretched dependence upon Liverpool NAnd
| London bulls and bears-tru1y and ftly repre
scented by these agurative titles. What cart
they for starving Irish, for factory or farm
operatives, Christian or heather. In any q
countless millions of Gods noble image ani
likeness. even TO the very corners Of the earth
| must Vince and how aud cringe md sweat
yea, 1t may he great drops of blood over thcil
every insane wbfm and prank. HugtoHs tFrts'
Trade j. Eaisi Wonld to heaven there wert
] Mleu1geuCe GuQ uOWOEEuE0usueN among
American farmers and manufacturers to com
hIne a. one man for common sc1Erespect aut
defence, national honor and independence, a,
! the tsue foundation for free trade. Ere.
trade, like true charity, begins at home ~
first adjusts and strengthens all hones
cln*ses and interests there knowing that II
poverty and dependence it Is utterly Impossible
10 take care Of ourselves or anybody else
What better, more absolutely perfect illustEa
| tion of the cruel 1nockery involved In thf
modern free trade doctrine than is furnished
right herr among us by these railroad monop
olies? No douot they are to-day CONTROLLED
largely By foreign or nonresident bondholder
and directors, theoretically aud practically Il
favor Of Street trade-but alas on what 1
merciless, devourfpg scale Of freight rates !,
U.etr handsi Insensate management, mock
ing the peoples misery and majesty to ita owl
righteous overthrow Tet there could not b.
better specimen Of the practical working
oi this British free trade, which simply mean
that eoulless corporations and middlemcn
lords and artstocrnts shall handle md con
troll, swarm and fatten on, both cast ant
west, Ameficn and England, farmer ant
manufacturer alike Their grnndest study Il
to see how much more poor humanity eau en-
lure in their most skilft1 " FREQ trade" leech
ing process. Nay, good fffen1s-every ounce
Nc Yield or give them Is but another mill
stone around the neck Of honest Labor every
| where. That's sol F. E. PHOENIX.