New-York tribune., 1869-06-08
" BRITISH GOLD.p

The 81. Louis Democrat has a second article
on this subject, in the course of which it says:
"If the analysis since given Is correct and the list
tons came from England or from houses having English
connections comments upon IIiE Tribune were,
to that extent and unjust We DO not conceive
mar any apoogv is needed Tor lack OF acquaintance
with the private relations Of NewhOrk meIchautsi Du
the list with such knowledge "a We had OF the sShe
really produced upon our minds very different impres
sion from that which THE TRIBUNE seeks TO support ey
H. analysis nor have yet seen any detailed reply 20
I'M TRIBUNE in papers Of opposing opinion,
$50 much for the sake oi Justice
Comment by The Tjibune.-We regard the Free
Trade League, organized and operating in this
CITY, as Foreign in the incitement to its organ
izaton, Foreign in the interests it is intended
and calculated to promote, and Foreign in
much the larger portion of the contribu-
tions whereby it is supported and rendered
efficient. We believe most of the larger
subscriptions TO its funds, entered on its
books in the names of mercantile resi-
dents of this City, were really contributed
by their foreign relatives and correspondents
largely interested in the breaking down of
their American manufacturing competitors. We
know that some of these foreign houses have
hitherto contributed money to be spent in
Washington to influence legislation in their
behalf and we presume they are working to
the same end now. Why not' The overthrow
of our Protective Tariff would be worth Mil
lions to the foreign manufacturers who send
goods to our City for sale; why should they
not be likely to spend thousands to secure
those MilliOnsY
Tie ST. Louis Democrat proceeds
"But since THE TRIBUNE again calls attention to the
subject 10 ls fair % ask whether that paper really main
ta.ns that like Me-srs. Bryant Bccchcr, Garrison
Atkinson, Wells, and Others, are influenced directly or
indirectly by British gold II not does not s habit OF
treating them SAVIOR OF irjusticefO
Anslrer by The TriJuRe.-Mr. William C..
Bryant has been over forty years an editor
in this City, and always q pronounced and
unequivocal Free Trader Nay it is consider
ably more than forty years since, in his
Meditation on Rhode Island Coal" he tilted
at Secretary Richard RushS first PrOtectionist
Report as Secretary of the Treasury, thus:
"Moore,s Lalla Rooth, the Treasury Report
And other brilliant matters OF the sort"
In these forty-Odd years, we have seen
nothing to incite doubt that Mr. Bryant's un-
derstandng and heart were on the same side
with his pen; and the fact that his ser
vices to tho Free Trade cause have been
generously requited casts no shadow on
his integrity. We say it to the honor
of our importers that they have, by their
advertising patronage, wisely, generously, sa-
gaciously made The EUening Post the most
profitable newspaper of like circulation in
America, as they ought to have done. Had
those interested in the prosperity and progress
of American Manufactures evinced equal good
sense, instead of barely one journal openly,
actively, deiantly Protectionist in New York,
there would have been at least half a dozen.
And now, if they shall be juggled out of the
present Tariff, as they were out of that of 1923,
and again ont of that of lS42, we shall for the
countrys sake deeply regret the calamity, but
for theirs not bit They will have richly de-
served their backset
But, while we insist that Mr. Bryants long
career has evinced that consistency which is
almost always rooted in conviction, we must
in fairness add that he often sustains his
position by statements which we cannot recon-
cile with candor and recttude. We instance
his recent repeated assertions, in speech and
print, that Henry Clay abandoned the cause
of Protection in 1888, and was thenceforth
virtual Free Trader. These assertions are
made in defiance of the recorded, notorious
fact that My. Bryant vehemently opposed in
1914 Mr.. Clay's election as President expressly
on the assumption that he was not Free
Trader but still q Protectionst, pure and
simple. He then Uuly 1sD sad commenting
on Mr. Clay's recent Raleigh speech:
This Ia the concession he proposes make 20 the Pro-
teetlonist. and comedies to him all he asks First
Iaria t then such rate Of duties in that tarfr Will
ODnge the American consumer 20 buy OF the Lowell
mansiaotureII The most Jealous Protectonist never
hsfed more .kan this I Is tho very extrome which Mr.
Gay pretends 70 deprecate The principles laid down by
him. with hypocritical profession OF fairness and OF
desire 10 reconcile the differing OF the party OF
commercial freedom aud OF commercial restriction one
Wh permits Tue seyeIesL Aud 9st oppressive rcstrc