The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-12
WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1869.
uyp VIEW FREE TRADE CHAMPION.

audience of New York free-traders on Monday
evening by the veteran leader of the League,
Mr.. Bryant in a speech setting forth that the
new convert has taken his present position mot
merely because he considers 1t duty which he
owes to philanthropy" but also because he
thinks "the abolition of these imposts would be
n great benefit to the trade and manufacturers
of the country"
We fear that this introduction, though it was
doubtless well intended, brands Mr.. Atkinson as
a black sheep in the flock of disinterested and
benevolent beings who have heretofore been
advocating free trade as purely philanthropic
measure, and who have been careful to keep
in the background the social, professional, and
business connections which induced their pre-
ference of British interests to the industrial
welfare of the manufacturers and workmen OF
the United States. 1t is gratifying to know,
however, that the mask of hypocrisy has been
thrown off the face of at least one of their
associates, and if the Free-trade League or Mr..
Atkinson could be induced to make one more
candid confession, and apprize the world that
there is strong disposition to combine the inte-
rests of the manufacturers of old England with
those of certain portion of the manufacturers
of New England in common warfare upon
the struggling industries of the Middle, Western,
and Southern States, they would explain the
whole mystery of what appears to be, at first
blush, an unnatural alliance
For several years past there have been many
indications that, under the fostering care of
years of protection, some of the New Eng
land industries were 80 well established
that they were more fearful of the develop
ment of rival establishments in Penn
syivania, the West, and the South, than of TO-
reign competition. The revenue tariff which
Mr.. Atkinson advocates might be so adjusted as
to suit their interests exactly. 1t would prevent
the manufacturers of Great Britain from under
selling the large New England manufac turers in
American markets, and yet it would not afford
sufficient protection to nourish new establish
meuts or factories not fully equipped with supe-
rior facilities. Mr. Bryant was perfectly right
in stating that this scheme is not entirely philan
thrOpic. Humanity was never disgraced by
more rascally exhibition of selfshness. The old
free-traders were bad enough, bNt the new con-
verts of the Atkinson school, who after clamor-
ing for protection all their lives, now seek to
deny it to others, deserve unmitigated contempt.
They are like rescued men, who, safely landed
on shore from sinking ship by life-boat, pre-
vent the boat from venturing to save other pas
sengers because they fear that the stock of pro-
visions, or of household accommodations on
comfortably all the companions with whom they
originally embarked.
Mr.. Atkinson, in his New York speech, refer
ring to the fact that Calhoun had advocated pro-
lection when Webster opposed it, predicted that
Massachusetts, would again shift her ground,
and, after veering from free trade to protection,
would be blown about by the wind of doctrine
to free trade, while he announced that ''the Cal
houns (meaning the protectionists) have moved
from South Carolina, and now live in Pennsyl-
yania" He doubtless knew that although this
State had occasionally been betrayed by faithless
representatives, or unduly influenced by parti-
san prejudces still she had never suffered either
Webster or Calhoun to diminish her attachment
to the genuine American policy which has
always commanded the support of the great
BODY of her citizens. He also gave expression
to his hostility to the coal and iron interests of
this State and having thus thoroughly convinced
the free traders that he was trustworthy ally,
he was despatched as missionary to Phladel-
mia. to instruct the community which he is so
anxious to iniure in regard to the enormties of
protection and the beauties of free trade.
No pains were spared by the League 10 secure
an audience for their wonderful apostle. He was
not only well advertised and placarded, but
brass band was engaged to perambuate the
streets Yesterday and, snugly ensconcsd in an
omnibus. whose sides were decorated with a
nressing invitation to wOrkingmen to go to Con-
cert Hall to listen to his address, the musicians
discoursed mellifuous melodies, and made the
air resound with the sweet strains of the Little
Brown jug" and Captain Jinks of the Horse
Marines" but as they also uttered note of
warning, when they played the favorite tune of
tsNot for Joseph, if he knows 1t" the wOrkmen
did not respond, and Mr.. Atkinson made his
debut at Concert Hall before few people and a
great many empty benches.
He candidly avowed even on our own soil
his hostility to the coal and iron interests of th
State. and with grand air of affected superi
ority, this superlatively contemplate champion
of the meanest of all creeds announced that h
was eiad to know that there are men here
aven in Pennsylvania, who have ceased to b
infants." while he declared that as State w
were nstill in swaddling clothes" and that while
industr;ally. we were ''babies, fat, fabby, an
soft we tshad better have few tumbles, an
even a few of us break our necks, than to b
Gent in the Government nursery for anothe
century with the Treasury to draw milk from.
We have waded carefully through the report
nc Mr. Atkinson's speeches to learn what ne
discoveries in political economy nave induce
him to abandon his former position as Prote'
ZIONIST; but, beyond mass OF confused ana u u
intelligible rhetoric, we can ma hothlng ouI "
most stupendous selhshness. He is a repreSei
tatiye OF the class which we trust lor VI
honor of the human race, is cohpagaViVe
small in New England rs well as IN all oth'
portions of the country, who, after esta6lishlr
their own prosperity by the aid oil protectl'
9TH