New-York tribune., 1867-09-24
rprE TRADE As A P1NACEA.


THE N. y. Times is accustomed to sneer at
Protection as obsolete, and to warn the Re-
pnblicans against its ideas and pretensions
We were agreeaby surprised, therefore, to find
its London correspondent, Ill letter Oh the
9TH inst, talking as follows:
The correspondents of English papers give melancholy
accounts of dull business in commerce and manufactures
in America but the remedy for this is easy as pointed
ont in Times leader that it is only necessary to call an
extra session of Congress and adopt it, You have only 10
remove all restrictions upon Free Trade Repea All uues
upon imports, and every shipyard would be awe
with workers every factory in full operation ana tc
whole country prosperous and happy. But the troupe
is that nobody in America knows anything about
political economy Under the actual tariff is said that
American manufacturers undersoid by those or En-
gland and Germany-a Free Trade would bring all
right again. It happens however, that England WIN
Free Trade, is scarcely building any ships, and that
she is IN serious danger from Continental eompe
tition. How is this muddle to be disposed off
With Free Trade. half the laborng population in En-
gland lives upon wages Just above the point OF starya-
tion with no resource In sickness old age but the
workhouse and Ireland Is in state OF chronic pow
ery and discomfort With Free Trade, there IL perpetual
war between capital and labor and the enormous burden
of pauperIsm increasing Americans may be Ignorant
Of political economy but cannot see that the English
are oyerburdencd with wisdom, that the practical re-
suits OF their system Of very entcing character
The workingmen OF England believe in Protection, and
the English colonies practice It, to the great annoyance OF
the theorists at home.
After ALL Free Trade Is proved impossbility Par
Lament is constantly interfering with what according to
our philosophers should regulate itself The Poor Law
system itself Protective SO all the laws
limiting the hours and ages, and regulating the
conditions OF labor We have acts Of Parliament
forbidding tho employment OF women in coal
pits, where, few years ago, they worked naked
like brute beasts; acts forbidding the employment IN
factories of children OF twelve years; and during the
last session. laws have been passed for the protection OF
children In the trades and in the agricultural
gangs which would disgrace DahOmey There Is need OF
abundance OF such interference. In the black
country north OF birmingham there is a large popula-
ton engaged In making nails by hand laborespecialy
horseshoe nails On average three females are en-
ployed III this work TO male. l wonder IL. in all
America, there is ZONE female blacksmith. Even the
OF the advocates OF woman rights have
not claimed for the trade Of blacksmith But
here little gIrs from TO years old set to work,
and kept work long they stand, hammering
ut the anvil roasting by the forge, backed with SCOT.
seeing schoolhouse plays ground, but employed
their whole lives making horseshoe nails for bare sub
sstence Absolute Free Trade sets women and children
TO work at forge and reduces to the low
est possible Standard and that is the system against
which humanity protests. and with which Parliament.
In spite theories finds It necessary TO interfere Free
Trade as umated in England is the most debased g-
norance the abhOrrent cruelty the most disgusting
vice. and the most heartbreaking misery. that can be
seen in any country calling itself civilized and Chris
tan."
We trust The Times will allow some mill
lions of us, who agree substantially with its
correspondent, to act upon our convictions,
without accusing us of thereby cOnspiring to
dsintegrate and demolish the Republican
party.