The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-16
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL oPIEIoNs OF THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPIos-OoMPnED EVERY
DAY PoR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH,
Protection Against Free Trade.

In an address recently issued, the Ame
rican Industrial League calls the notice of the
people of the United States to the combined
attack which the agents OF foreign free trade
have Of late been making against the national
industry. The caution is timely one
''Free trade' is very cheap outcry in con-
tempt and at the expense of real and honest
free trade. It is trade which is free to the
British merchant rather than to the American
producer, which would give us, in place of the
restraints of protective system, the costs in
Thousand ways of foreign domination over
native labor. The policy which it advocates
Is one without shape or measure, dssoute as
doctrine, and practically as pernicious as any
British manufacturer having cheap goods to
sell at double expense to the American work
ingman could possibly desire. The American
League cannot be wrong, therefore, in abscrib-
ing long train Of evils to the dissipatons of
finance and commerce to which policy of
unchecked free trade must inevitably lead if
1t prevails at all. The worst of these would
be reputation in some form or other.
The question at issue between protection
and non-protectiOn is one of moral dominion
over commerce. In a contest between the
nations mechanics and producers and the
British manufacturers we are constantly asked,
shall we emanoipate our labor from the chains
of cheap competition or shall we freely allow
his Royal Cheapness the spinner or foundry
man OF birmingham, to sway us at his will
Thus far, we conclude that it is better for the
revenue, morals, and toll of this land that the
foreign worker should pay his own board
Dill among us than that we should pay it
for him. We are not bound to maintain a
rival at our doors. We can do better with
commerce as an agent of our own industries
rather than the slave of foreign labor which
4 m QH q fha oil aOfn j. i
manufacture. commerce in danger Of
being debauched by unlimited and indis-
Oriminate trading needs as much intelligent
protection as a community which demands
an efficient liquor law to keep its body polite
sober. Between extravagant unlicensed buy
ing and selling, and Incorporate drinking, we
can easily find the logical parallel, especially
If the market bullies the workshop, to the con-
fusion and defeat of those legitimate industries
which are the true test of the national worth
Liquor selling without any hindrance is at the
cost OF public sobriety; free trade, without
stint, is a charge on the national toll Where
fore, we think the people are not likely to be
deceived by any specious argument under
plausible name. They know that free trade is
very much like free whisky, such as a topper
permits himself to take at all hours of the day
and under all circumstances. The In
dustrial League proposes to itself the h gh-
est objects of economy. These are not the
an unlimited free trade neither are they par
tial or local. The League intends to vindicate
all productions as one; to endeavor TO lessen
all the burdens imposed on labor by whole
some study and criticism of administrations
and measures, and to warn the country
against any exhibition of loasepess or ex-
tI[aVagance IN n our reven1e|system. To reduce
ti tIe cost Oh an artlcees of prime necessity to
the masses OF t2sy people, by placing the great
apti al Of Inv INV
~. ~ soSbdring adequate protection to our
- Workshops and fields will be- OF course,
an earnest aim of the League. There is an
urgent work besides, in seeing that the reve-
nue. laws are strictly and universally enforced.
Let the League assume this task with the
energy and intelligence which it owns, and we
shall see, beyond doubt or cavil, how much is
lost to the nations revenue by maladminis-
tration, and how much, in spite of this, is
gained by the system approved by Congress.
What the League proposes to do is, we take
it, in the interest of legitimate free trade, and
not of the sham which sets up the Cry of wolf
against protection in order that it may devour
our sheep.
We counsel the people to give hearty aid
to the cause which now appeals in their be-
half. There can be no real danger of the sue
cess OF the British doctrine of free trade if the
public are once aroused to meet the new an
tagonlsm which has, of late, sprung up among
importers and others trading here on foreign
capital. Foreign capital may well be en-
ployed to support this over-zealous upstart;
and the friends of free labor may properly de-
pend on such native resources as our mines,
workshops, toundries, and fields. These in
terests need no second word to come, if need
be, to the rescue of American labor, and help
TO make our commerce the agent of home in-
dustry, instead of the appendix of an alien
labor thousands of miles away. Free trade is
another word for liberty without law. 1t is
dangerous license of trade and finance. In
word, it is commercial libertinism. Against
such a heresy every pick hammer, spindle,
and hoe in the land is raised.
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