New-York tribune., 1867-09-14
PROTECTION AGAINST FREE TRADE.

In an address which we print to-day the
American 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 III contempt
and at the expense of real and honest free
trade Ii 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 a protective revenue the costs III
a thousand ways of foreign domination
over native labor. The policy which
it advocates is one without shape or measure,
dissoute as a doctrine, and practically rs per
ncious as any British manufacturer having cheap
goods to sell at double expense 10 the Amen-
can workingman could possibly desire. The
American League cannot be wrong, therefore,
in ascribing a long train OF evils To the dlssil@-
tons of finance and commerce to which pOlicy
of unchecked free trade must inevitably lead II
il prevails at ALL The worst OF these would
be reputation in some form OF olher
The question at issue between protection aud
non -protection is one of moral dominion over
commerce. In a contest between the nations
mechanics and producers and the British man
factuIers, we are constantly asked, Shall we
emancipatc our labor from the Chains of cheap
competition, or shall we freely allow his Royal
Cheapness, the spinner or fOunderyman Of Br-
mingham. to sway lis at his viii Thus far
we conclude that it is better ior the revenue,
morals, and toll of this land that the foreign
worker should pay his own board-bill among
us than that we should pay it for him. We
4 1 .. -. L
We can do better with commerce as an agent
of Our own industries rather than the slave of
foreign labor, which is made the dictator alike
Of our trade and manufacture. "A commerce in
danger of being dcbauched by unlimited and
indscriminate trading needs as much intelli-
gent protection as q community which demands
al 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 hndrance is at the
cost of public sObrety; free trade, without stint
is charge on the national toll. Wherefore. we
think the people are not likely to be deceived
name. They know that free trade is very
much like free whisky such as a topper per
mits himself to take at all hours of
the day and under all circumstances.
The Industrial League proposes to itself the
highest objects of economy. These are not the
pursuit OF an unlimited tariff any more than
an unlimited free trade; neither are they par
tial OF local. The League intends to vindicate
all productions as one; to endeavOr TO lesson
all the burdens imposed on labor, by a whole
some study and criticism of administrations
and measures, and to warn the country
against any exhibition of looseness
or extravaganza in our revenue system. TO re-
duce the cost of all articles of prime necessity
to the masses Of the people by placing the
great burden OF taxation upon articles Of lux
uIy, and securing adequate protection TO our
home workshops and fields, will be- of course
an earnest aim OF the League. There is an
urgent work beside, in seeing that the revenue
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 maladministration, and
how much, in spite of this, is gained by the sys-
tenn 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 mp the cry of wolf against protection in
order that ii may deyour our sheep.
We counsel the people to give hearty aid to
the cause which now appeals in their behalf.
There can be no real danger of the success OF
the British doctrine of free trade if the public
are once aroused to meet the new antagOnism
which has of late, sprung uD among importers
and Others trading here on foreign capital.
Foreign capital may well he employed to support
this 0vcr-zeaOus upstaIt and the friends
of FREQ lahnr mav ,,nn.,1,. ,Io,o,d