The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-29
REF ORM REVENUE.
The Free Traders In Strong Force and Social
Converse at Dt!monisO's
The High Tariff Denounced and Abolition
Damanded-speeches OF r. B. Mn
turn. w. c. Bryant Mahlou
Sands, and David A. Wells

a banquet, under the auspices OF the Free Trade
League was given last evening at Delmonico's 1t
was altogether splendid affair." being marx ed
throughout by elegance, enthusiasm and a anc rc
presentation Of the commercial community ut large
over TWO hundred persons sat down. Mr., Robert L.
Mihturn presided, and seated in his vicinity were:-
David A. Wells, John I. Agnew, W. c. BRYANT, IT,
v. Poor. Horace White, General Brinkerhon r. g.
Jafiray, David Dudley Field, Stewart Brown. II. n
Roosevelt, $. $. Cox, +. A. p. Barnard j. W. Gerard
Il. L. Winthrop, 3. Ward, W. M. Grosvenor, Augustus
Schcll. The members Of the League prcscnt were
Alfred Pcll, @. II. Marshall, II. b. Mtnturn, Mahlon
Sands, Howard Potter q. O. Ward, A. q. Stokes, O.
Moran. A. L. Earle, Thomas Holland. simon Sterne.
After dinner the chairman referred at some length
to the cause OF free trade. ana then proceeded to
point out tho great falacy Of the high tariff which
tho government was enforcing. He dilated upon
the ruinous effects which mad already marked It's
aud commented severely upon the tyran-
meal oppression which Its existence brought
upon the poor generally. But notwithstaud-
ing the evils OF tho past there were
bright hopes for the future. The time had
now arrived when the so-caled protectorate system
should come TO an end. The approaching Congress
ne trusted. would legisate In such manner as TO
AFFORD relief from the crushing influences of protec-
iion Party considerations must be set aside when
tho cosamercial Interests OF the county were at
stake, The hour OF triumph was at nand The
sf%,.ker concluded by eu ogistic reference 10 Mr.
". T. .iJ ant, who.n he called upon to respond 10
the toast, The Cause OF Free TTadc.r
MIR. BRYANT
said that the toast referred 10 needed apology OF
his. IL was The cause of the great OF mankind
those VINO buy aud those who SELL OF inose
who produce and those who consume. IL
u he only knew IT., as much as OF those who par
chase ms wares. Ana there are some among the
manufacturers who did know that-wise. enight
encd, impartlal.minded men, who did not separate
even In Thought their own Individual well being from
THE LARGEST LIBERTY or TRADE
There never was u time since the Revolution In
which the republic hal its birth so favorable to the
general acceptance OF the principles or FREQ trade
as me present lApplause.l No man Was now
Ing canddly to the arguments tor commercial free
DOM Bs he republican or Nc ne democrat lie would
est ground for revenue reform, and VINO set hun =
worthy example.
After abiding at great length TO the
ERRONEOUS POLICY OF RESTRICTION
the speaker coniinued:-The drug has been given
the patient In what the doctors call hercuean doses,
and the patient is lrghtluy nausealed. Under the
present tarif our shipping, once the glory OF the
nation. has disappeared from The high seas. Under
the malignant effect OF the Same policy various
branches OF industry, once n0uIishng, have been
annihila.ed The same cause has made the neces-
neyman mechanic, once living comfortably ana the
farmer, once prosperous, find themselves at their
wits END TO provide for their families, and
Hitherto It Is only the parllsans OF protcc-
ton that have combined for The support
OF their opinions. They have gwen themselves the
fun benefit OF the maxim, s.ln union there IS
strength" II IS now our policy TO associate for the
defence OF the masses against the monopolists.
Free Trade League OF the city OF New York, and
other leagues with the same object haze been
founded In other cities. We have circulated tracts;
We have senth forth missionaries able ana eloquent
men, to expound the principles OF wise economy
as applied TO the laws regulating our intercourse
Mr.. Bryant concluded by proposing tn, toast
''The Free Trade League OF the city OF New YORK
and Its sister leagues In other cities"
MIR. MAHLoN SANDS
responded lie confidently alluded to TIE is ran,s
try. The history OF the Free Trade League to whic
he brleny alluded. demonstrated that It's object
! finally be attained. He hoped for much from III
| coming Congress. Free trade was the popu
lar cry throughout the country. Amoaa
abolition Of tax upon coal, slate, raw lumber ana
pig iron. The passage OF SUCH Il Dill wouId be wna
The battle OF Gravelotte was 10 the surrender oil
Sedan. Mr.. Sands concluded an exhaustive ad-
dress by characterzlng The protective system rs a
sham ana " ranny.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed the toast.
THE WAR AGAINST MONOPOLY
and called upon Reconnaissance Wells TO re-
Mr.. DAVID a. WELLS, In replying to the toast, OBJ
served that while he thanked the nssemblagc very
much he would hardly be enabled to respond nc
length-not that he was not IN sympathy with the
many kindly faces he saw around him. not through
hopes OF future political prclermeni, hut simply
~
greater than any he had ever attempted-tne revl-
sion of the tax system OF the state Of New York.
The thing was complicated; It was Intellectual
In its execution and no was almost inclined TO re-
turn his commission 10 the Governor OF tic state.
But as he did not intend 10 take that course lie
would now endeavOr 10 do what some people did AZ
camp meetings, and that was to give the audience
some OF his past experience. Mr.. Wells then went
To narratc at some length the various incidents
connected with the revenue system OF The country
for many years past. He alluded especially to
THE TAX ON wHIsKEY
q I.ip1tt hat
tax had passed. After giving history OF tho yari
Gus revenue commissions he adycrted TO the cxpe-
Europe. In spite OF all his teaching, In spite OF his
experience he was not prepared to ayow him
self an unmiligated and Unrestricted free trader.
Yet he would not lend men6y to a stranger without
security. He believed with the poet, that II all men
were OF one mind, and That good, there would he
no need OF jas; yet he was not prepared to shut mp
jaiia. He was fully ready 10 admit and &C.
knowledge
THE BENEFIT OF Az UNRESTRICTED COMMERCIAL
interest. and looked forward to the day when
such state Of things would be brought
about. Yet there were many things which
Of a tarllr was imperative and desirable. He was
satsed IN regard to the subject OF taxation that the
people preferred an indirect tax to any other. and
wond Father pay few dollars indirectly than other
wise. But after the question OF slavery he knew Of
no other that could be imposed so ubiquitous. 90
the country as the tariT AZ it stood
today. Whatever might be MS opinion
or the opinions Of others 1t seemed to HIM those
not the questions at issue at the present time.
The questions immediately at issue were the
ABUSES UNDER THE NAME OF PROTECTION
which had been embodied into law and forced upon
the American people. He then reiuted the charges
made against free trade by the procctionists, and
concluded his address by assuring the assembagc
that the much needed reform was not FAR distant
Ex-CommissiOner Wells was loudly applaudcd dur
ing the course OF his speech.
The otner toasts included "victorious Free
Traders OF MISSOURI" Colonel Y. N. Grosyenor;
"rhe Free Trade Press" Horace White; "Con.
gressonal Delegates or the State OF New York. =.
:. Cox; "Our Manufacturing Industries" T.. Akin.
son; "The Founders oil the Free Trade League J.
ID. Van Bnren; 'Our Commercial Manufactures
q. II. MARSHALL; Issues or the Future,n Genera
BrnEerhon, and others, and after very pleasant
and unanimous meeting The company dispersed.
n