Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-26
prom an Occasional cOrrespOndsat.l
OHIoAeo, January %, iso

wonderful city Its OF cosby
blocks, its massive public buildings and
magnificent churches eyince remarkable
energy and prosperity. Its growth and
development have been almost without
parallel. G7rH d 1
1t is the metropolis of the Northwest,
where it is looked upon as the center of
commercial enterprise and political ideas.
1t has lately gained some additional eel.
sbrity as the hub of the gigantic free trade
movement which was to result in bring
ing unrestricted commerce" to the door
Of every farmer in the West. Our British
friends, at home and abroad, have loudly
boosted of the advance their pet system
was making among our wheat7growing
men, and have opened small shop for
the vending of their economic wares in
Chicago. For a month there has been a
vigorous bark from our seoesh and British
editors over the incubation offs Free Trade
League in this city. True, this great event
was almost unknown TO oar citizens; but
I doubt not your protective friends in.
Ohio and the east really suppose their.
snbtle enemies are doing great mischief
with their ~insinuating sophistries out here
among the pastoral grain7groWing citi-
gems of the Northwest.
2 But, insaH candor, the Chicago Tree
Trade League-which has been 10 vshe-
mently pulled by the Advertiser and Post
lis the most melancholy fzzls of the
age. 1 attended its lastmeeting at Morse's
Exchange, and could but wonder if all
the putting and blowing of free traders
and the money of British capitalists and
New York importers could accomplish no
more. There were t~hirty-one men at the
Meeting, several protsCtienists. aOh, it
was pitiful," to see the lugubrious Cop
perheads file In half-resnrrected, with the
smell of birthstone still upon their gar
ments, and sadder still to hear their fune-
ra1jOkss about monopoly and abloated
aristocracy." A man named Diller-a
gray-haired, profane-looking Democrat
acted as fugleman. He is Chairman of
the Secesh State Committee, and the Free
Trade Board of Managers, and Is general
ringmaster Of the Copperhead and British
cliquesJ of the city, He runs both ma
chimes without let or hindrance, and well
be may run the Free Traders, for the
League is wholly iunterrifed" Dr.. Ray
Exhibitor, and Horace White, one of
the present editors Of the Tribu1A are the
only Union men of the slightest imports
anoe among the Isagusrs. Both are able
men, but sadly shattered by Wayland's
Adam Smith. 1872 zee s'A .m
The leading business men of Chicago
with one accord regard the League as a
is said by such men as j. Young Scammon,
James H Bowen, Charles Randolph, and
all the soundest bankers, merchants and
traders in the city. The editors here, ex-
ceptiDg the man of the Timer and Mr..
White, are all strong preteotionists.
Charles L. Wilson. of the .JoHrsaL is ex-
tremely so. So is Mr.. Dana, of the Rspp5-
ieGn and so are all the leading writers,
thinkers and business men of the entire
region about Chicago. They ali say the
needs o fthe country will settle the whole
question ofrevenue without a word of argu-
.ment. The imperative demands of the
Treasury declare ~irrevocably IN favor Of
high duties on Imports and consequent
protection to home industry. Mr.. Scam
mon says it is SO palpable he cannot waste
moments breath on it. Mr.. Bowen is
still more explicit, doubling the sanity or
loyalty of free-trade philosophers. And
so it is throughout the entire Northwest.
The fond hopes Of our British neighbors
are sadly spoiled, their miserable attempt
poison the minds of our farmers and
divert them from their true American in
tsrests is a wretched abortion.
By the way, let me add that all the fine
spun theories Of the free trade Leaguera
have been completely riddled by a writer
in the Tribune, signing himself aPre
Though his name is not publicly
given, be is known tobe one of the sound
est thinkers and c~learest logical writers in
country. He has published eleven ar
each a sweeping broadside against
Adam Smiths economy. He deserves the
thanks of all patriots for his manly and
powerful arguments for American indus
try and commercial Independence. w.