New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-08
FREE TRADE IN THE WEST.

OF CIOTnEs-puINGs or TuE LEAGUE
SOME YOUNG MEN or NEw-YoRK-Ho"
FREE TRADE WOULD WORK.
TO tAe Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Last evening Prof Perry. Gen. Brihkel II
aud Mahlon Sands, the great Apostles OF free
Trade" and the emissares of British manufacturers
made their debut in this city to onghten the peopo
upon their theory.
The call for the meeting was signed ny rrce
Traders and friends of our American system IRE
snectvely nv the latter because they are not alru
of publio discussion on the subject II both SIDES can
be heard The meeting was composed OF ABOUT EVO
citizens of more than average Intelligence Ohe Vi
the Free Trade party constituted himself chairman
Of the meeting and called it to order by reading the
call. and introducing Prof Perry of Massachusetts
As "the great Free Trade orator"
The Professor stated his side Of the picture, but
was careful not to any Of the objections TO IT,
He represented all American manufacturers as
makers of shoddy" and gravely asked the question
if we had not had about 'shOddy enough, ana II IL
was not time to return TO the good old times when
could good genuine and cheap articles upon
our backs and feet place Of shOddy, which we were
now compelled TO wear ON account Of high tariff He
saw that his argument smackcd Of reputation OF our
national obligations II the resources OF tho Government
we're crippled by Free Trade no declared in favor or
taxation IN place Of tariffs.
Sir Robert Peel the great man for our example Do
cause he inauguraed reetrade in England In 1872 and
only retained some 90 articles In the tariff list Out even
them after England had been nation thousand years.
In 1888 our tar was down to 90 per cent and
now II was 49, In had tariff that disguised the
people, and they elected Polk reduce It, He forgot to
tell that the Democracy Of Pennsylvania and some other
localities voted for Polk because he better and
higher tariff man than Henry CayD From 1857 to 1861 the
riff averaged only 10 per cent but when the Sontlern
who we're freeradcrs weutout Of Congress TO engage
he Rebellion the rascay Republicans and enemies
tho Rebels and Coppcrheads, sprung trap on the
COUNTRY by another high tariff to help sustain the Govern
ment in carrying the war % save the country He
forgot TO mention thar the country needed large Of
money counterfeit the efforts OF his freetrade friends
in England VINO showed their friendship, neutrality. and
interest in our affairs by giving what aid and comfort
they could to the Rebels in the way Of buying their
bonds. selling them goods, ard furnishing blockaderun-
aers 20 keep them I'm fighting triml He pitched into
Congress corrupt; said nc knew two members Of the
Ways and Means Committee who had told him awful
Kings but he liberty to give their Names or
ell what they SAID We wanted modified tariff but the
congress Of the United States not made up gov
crned by motives that fitted il for the work. He did not
say so. presume the British manufacturers and capt.
talsts could induced give advice the sub
jet for the especial benefit Of American laborers
EEINRFEHOFF
Brukeyhoff Of Ohio the next champion OF the
our American laborers level with the pauper labor
of Europe He for direct taxation for the support
OF governments but It could be done under the Con-
stitution therefore although he free trade,
resort to tariff Int he wanted that suited him
and his foreign manufacturing friends in the place Of the
have, which. he said, ranged from TO s73 per
cent averaging about Here tho General said Horace
Greeley mad the subject OF protecting American
industry and took occasion To Indicate hat he ought be
Professor IN Williams College instead OF Pro-; Perry for
he slung large amount Of classical lore over the audience
lie eclpsed Prof Perry IN this rcspect-in showing that
Greece upon time creased her machinery with
per cent tariff for very short time but soon got sick
OF It, and that Rome d here In the grandloquent
AGAIN. once had a y per cent tariff. and even Rome
which had given us such models Of great men for
emulaou would stand the u per cent and adopted
free trade aud therefore the United States ought to do 1t
at to conform such highly llustrous examples.
ABOUT OUR SHIPPING INTERESTS.
The General IrOancd shipping interests that
had dwudled 10 become fourth grade nation in the
commerce OF the OF the three hundred millions
paid by merchants ast year for freChts millions
of II paid to foreign shipping And right here the
Generals memory failed badly the Professors,
referring He forgot to tell that it the
special efforts Of hrs Free Trade friends in England In
building equpplng, and manning. ard sending the
Alabamas that had a wonderful tendency to sweep our
commerce from the high seas Had not his friends seized
upon ttec lEauo through lHo means OF llelr
neutrality" and high pirates, might possibly
have moro vessels and commerce than we have now.
FREE TRADE PALACES.
The General has peculiar argument 20 show how a
tariff defrauds the people and the Government For
instance the pig iron products OF the country that has
90 per tun tariff, SoO0OOO, which ought to bring
Of S6OOOO but the Government only collected
about 100000 And Of bar IRON which ought to pro-
duce $oOOOOCO only produced 100000; Of
lumber and other articles wAee the Government got but
small portion Of the tariff rate the whole product Of
the article. and he charged that tho balance stuck to
somebody's fingers" leaving the inference that Govern.
meht officials stole the amonnt, that 1t was for the in.
dividua benefit Of a chosen few He did not state
the fact. that it not for the tariff, these
hundreds Of millions OF the product OF American in.
dustry would be produced in England and our
American aborers "a that extent be thrown out
OF employment. He did not state that the American
market thrown open 10 free trade" 1t would bring
American laborers in direct competition with the
pauper labor of Europe. when they would have work
for the wages If they produced the protected
mOdtes at the Same rates the English manufacturers
would sell them to u.s. but for the tariff stated
during the discussion that coal could DO bought in Glas
gov and Manchester at 80 per tan, while tho poor
Of this country had pay ~ per tun but the speaker did
not show at what prices per tun day the American
aborers would have TO work for TO produce coal in New
York the Manchester figure. This would be dangerous
ground for a Free Trader" 70 touch upon, especially
If applied to iron. woolens and several other commodi
ties largely connected with tho products Of American
labor and enterprise.
TWO GOOD SUITS OF CLOTHES
Gen. Brnkerhof illustrated the subject by practical
test He suit of clothes that cost SIS. OF
II was made OF foreign goods" manufactured by his
free trade" friends Tn reaching this city, the
in Canada he by tho side Of Canadian coming also
20 this city and the Canadian gentleman had better
suit than he did himself he asked him how much II
cost and he replied SIC" See the difference, shout
ed Brnkerhof what you would have to pay under
free trade and what you nave TO pay nowp But tho
General forgot TO explain why the Canadians emil
grating In swarns 70 slde Of the line and lowing