The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1869-05-28
FREE TRADE.

L he new Tree LTdu6 movement Bhlu~
ering strength and importance at the
ganized, and many of the ablest
Radical journals, such as the New York
Post, Chicago Tribune, and others, are
giving it their countenance and support.
There is only one free trade league that
is logical, thorough and consistent
that is the Democratic party.-Gdzette.
The assurance of the above touches
on sublimiIy. IL is about equivalent to
wolf offering asylum to a lion, and
when the Democratic party holds out
that consideration to the American peo-
sad extremity. The tariff question is
not rightly susceptible of being made a
party issue, and is, from the very nature
of things, national principle or a Sec
tional dissension. Its advocates and
opposers have changed front so often,
as it happened to affect favorably or
detrimentally for the time particulars
localities, that no party can show a con-
sistent record or a united front for or
against it. We challenge the Gazette
to cite a period that we cannot show it's
party divided on the tariff question.
Then take localities The New England
Abolition States were all "F.ee Traders"
until 1923, when the protective system,
fully established by the Government,
compelled them 80 adapt their industries
to it, and New England veered around
for Profession, with Webster champions
ing il in Congress. Until 1916 the
strongest advocates of Free Trade were
the Southern States, with Calhoun as
leader. The Middle and Western States
which had been until then Free Trade,
needed protection for Kentucky, Illinois.
Pennsylvania and Missouri, and the is~
sue became a sectional one with the
South, resulting in Csrolina's IN Nullifica-
tion" and the squelching thereof by
jackson. In 1925, Henry Clay. Wing
Secretary of State, and Thomas Fl. Benz
ton, Democratic Senator from Missouri,
were Tariff advocates, and the division
of sentiment inside the parties is not
less noticeable to>day. Name us a pa
per in Pennsylvania that is not Protec>
ZIONIST, or one in louisiana that is not
Free Trade. The New York Tribune
has always been Protectionist-theC Chi
cago Tribune. ever Free Trade, and they
are the two Representative Eastern and
Western Republican journals. At the
same time there 10 the Free Trade organ
in New York, and the Republican Pro-
tectionist in Chicago.
A tariff is instituted for two good and
sufficient reasons. The FIRST incentive
to il was to raise revenues tor the coun-
try; the second to foster, encourage and
protect industries. If ever these con-
siderations were potent they are now.
We have a debt of two and half bill
lions-and the total ordinary expeDdi-
lures of the government in 1867, were
S202, ,947 ,537 exclusive of interest and
reduction of the public debt, which
swelled the amount to $1,093, ,079, Cos.
To meet this there was received from di-
rect taxes but $4,200,234. But the i'm
ternal revenue receipts were $266, ,027 ,537
and the tariff on imports produced $176,-
AZ, ,S11. aud at the same time encour-
aged our home industries. The money
has TO be raised. Why Is it not then
better by u carefully adjusted tariff that
will accomplish two good purposes Our
manufactures languished after the wGr,
have scarcely recuperated yet. Would
you make our workshops the Same pau
per pens as those of England. with Bu-
chanan's favorite hobby of ''isn cents a
day" 90 induce mechanics into your par,
ty7 There are over $4,000 600 900 en-
ployed in manufactures. and 2,G00,00C