Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-19

erIul argument III favor OF protection:
Editors Chicago Tri5uns-Your Vino
ma correspondent meets the issue like a
man, and comes. out boldly for unrestrict-
ed free trade with all the world. He is
opposed to all duties OF imports. Let
trade, be says, be, as unrestricted with
other nations as is our Interstate COM
mcrcial intercourse. Let revenue be
raised by direct taxation for the support
of Government. l respect a man like
this, who stands up squarely for an idea.
The Winona Free Trader SAYS:
F an example of a free trade policy
successfully established, the interstate
trade Of this nation is an illustration, of
which every free trader, and every American
may be proud"
After drawing a picture of European
Custom Houses, which hamper trade in
that country, he proceeds;
Now, IN the name of common sense, let
Protectionists answer; if free trade is good
for us in our home commerce, why is it not
good in our foreign commerce? Let not the
people think that, had these Protectionists
the power to set up barriers to trade on State
lines, they would not do It. If it is wise to
legislate so that we cannot buy or sell in
England or France, it must be wise to pre-
vent or buying or selling in New England.
If free trade between our East and West,
North and South, produces good results, why
limit the lines, and refuse US free trade with
out restriction. Upon the beauty and value
Of this interstate free trade, l wish every
man would dwell"
The Winona gentleman is entitled to a
candid, square-toed reply to his questions
and arguments, and he shall not be denied
it from me. All he says in behalf of the
advantages and value of Interstate free
trade in the United States, 1 most cheer
fully subscribe TO and fully indorse. No
man would resist more vigorously than
myself the establishment of restrictions to
Interstate commercial intercourse. l
hope to live to see the United States an
ocean-bound republic, embracing every
zqusre mile of the North American con-
Tnent, with inter-S ate free trade and equal
political rights prevailing all over it.
But if free trade is good for US in our
home commerce, why is it not good for
our foreign commerce. asks my honest
Ninona abstractionist. l answer, first,
Because not one of them admits our pro-
auctions free of duty into their ports; not
one of them practises free trade with other
nations they all levy imposts on every
article Of United States production that
will bear a duty without injury to their
home industry. Even England, with
all her boosted free trade, levies
duties and raises one hund-
red millions of dollars a year
IN foreign imports. She admits our
breadstuffs and meats at a nominal duty,
IN order to enable her mechanics and
iaborers to work at the lowest possible
wages. This is "protection'' to her manu-
ficturers. She admits some classes of our
raw agricultural products, needed in her
manufactures, at nominal duties, because
she can't help herself. 1t is absolutely
essential to British manufacturing supre-
macy that the raw materials of the fabrics
and the food of her working people shall
be obtained at the lowest possible prices.
Dear food would make dear labor. Dear
raw materials and dear labor would make
dear goods and dear goods could not be
sold in the United States and other coun-
tries in successful competition with their
own manufactures. And here is the
secret of boosted British free trade. Great
Britain manufactures for export and sale
IN other countries, nearly two hundred
millions of pounds sterling of goods per
annum, or one thousand millions of dol
lars worth. To support her government,
pay the interest on her debt, main
tain her aristocracy and royalty, and
feed one-third Of her population which
her soil cannot sustain, it is alb
solutely necessary to eel foreign mar
kets for this enormous quantity of surplus
fabrics. On the profits from tie sale Of
those goods her government, aristocracy
and royalty are maintained and one-third
If her people kept from starving to death.
Shut off her market for those manufac-
lures, and eight millions of Britons would
literally die for want offood, and sink in
to their graves, as did two millions of
Irish not many years ago. Absolute star
walton or wholesale emigration to other
countries would be the alternatives placed
before one-third of thetwenty-four millions
o inhabitants ofthatlittle Island of Albion
Any of our manufactures that are likely
to compete with hers are taxed all they
will bear, and some in effect prohibited.
Thus, Hoe & Co. are not permitted to ex-
port their Incompatible power presses
into England, France or Germany, except
on paying onerous duties. In order to
supply France and England, the Hoes
were obliged to establish shops III both of
those countries, or rather to sell 'shop
rights to their manufacturers, and send
over workmen to teach English and
French artisans how to build printing ma
chimes that will strike off 20, 600 impress
siOns in an hour, as their own mechanics
had never been able to construct a press
that would print more than 1000 or 5000
per hour.
SECOND. As British free trade is seen to
be a sham and a delusion-how is it with
other nations? Russia, France, Spain,
Portugal, Italy, Germany, Holland, Den
mark, Sweden, Austria-each and all levy
heavy and discriminating imposts on u
products, whether of the soil or workshop.
There is no exceptions to this rule, save
where the exception will help to foster and
their own manufacturers, by fur
them with some essential raw ma
,erial not to be had at home, and cheaper
han it can be bought elsewhere.
My Winona friend will thus perceive
hat his unrestricted free trade scheme
would be like the handle of a jug-all on
one side.
To throw open our ports to the manu-
lecturers of all Europe, while they heap
and determinations on our pro-
and fabrics, would be folly and
madness. We might as well set fire to all
Jur manufactures and burn them up, and
hen have Congress pass a law prohibiting
hem from ever being rebuilt. If we are
to have free trade it must be reeiPrO-
al. Other nations must admit all kinds
If American goods and products, free Of
duty, or discrimination. Unless this
% done we cannot afford ever 10 talk
lbout opening our ports to their wares
md merchandise.
THIRD. But suppose the nations of
should conclude to make the
United States an offer to abolish all duties
N our products if we will do the same;
would it be for our interest, under the
state of circumstances, TO accept
Tuch a proposition 1 most decidedly
hink moi. We should be the losers, in
ny opinion, thousands of millions of dol
ars. I believe we should speedily be re-
luced to the condition of a colony of Eu-
ope, and that our rising greatness would
perish forever. Ny reasons for so be-
leving are these: All over this country
5 a system of dear tabor. Taken as a
Whole, on the gold basis, the workingmen
# the United States receive between two
nd three times the wages paid to the
of Europe. The wages of labor
n this country, everywhere between the
treat Plains and the Atlantic Ocean, ap-
roximats closely to the same standard.
f n town or State pays a little higher