The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-06-01

leaders of opinion In these two great
t cities, and because the people them
selves turned ont en- masse. The
speakers did not in these cases deliver
lectures to men willing to receive in
structlon, they gave expression to the
demands of their hearers for relief
from an oppression. They spoke to
hundreds OF men rs earnest as them
selves. The Free-Trade agitation has
now been so far developed in the
larger Western towns that speeches
need no longer be merely p~receptive.
An orator a now be certain of tue
intelligent sympathies of his hearers:
he has no longer to convince them.
An eloquentexpre sion Of their COMIC
tiOHs is all that is expected.
The Chicago T.i6uae's account of
the meeting in that city is as follows /:
con Saturday evening, April ID,
there assembled at Farwell Hall a
very large meeting of citizens, in answer
to a call signed by several hundred
merchants and others, to consider the
subject OF revenue reform and Il rcduc-
ton of taxation. The meeting was not
only large in point of numbers, but
imposing 10y the character Of those
present. The speeches and resolutions
were received with ~appreciative appro-
val, and every expression pointing to
a reduction Of taxation, and reform in
the objects from which it is collected,
was warmly a%pplauded."
The meeting was called to order by
Col. J. w. Foster, the agent of the
League for the North West. The
speeches were made by Hon. w. +.
Coolbargh, Hon. Thomas Hoyne,
Col. W. Foster, and Hon. E.. A.
| Storrs.
The Detroit meeting took place on
the 18th April. The speakers were
General Brinkerhof,, Stewart, Esq,
aud the Hon. G. 1. Walker A list of
those who have joined the Detroit
Free League was read it numbers
two hundred and forty two of the first
men of the city. The Detroit Free
Press gives the following account of
the meeting:
est. Andrews Hail was we'll filled
last evening with an audience com
prising many of the lending business
men of the city, as well as mechanics
and trades-people, assembled TO hear
what might be said there by the gen.
tlemen announced to speak upon the
matters and principles of Free-Trade
League. The meeting vas by far the
best anAthe largest thus far held by
this or any other organization upon
either side of the question involved,
since the first, which occurred early
in the winter, and was advertised and
attended rs a mass meeting. The
meeting last evening showed distinctly
that the interest in the question is tax
ing a wider range, and receiving the
consideration of its important merits
from men of all classes and condition.
In Providence, r. 1. q strong meet
ing was held on the 4th April. Pro
lessor Perry spoke, and says, "The
thinking men of the city were there,
and listened to me with critical atten-
ton for one hour and a quarter.
Several leading gentlemen then indoors
ed a movement. Mr.. Edward Harris,
the well-known wooden manufacturer,
sid, 1T was a great day for Pr
videncc, and declared it was no use
being a halfand htJ for T~r3e-Trade
when the thing itself was VhoHy right
There were no halfway-houses on that
road The citizens plid for the hall,
and Mr.. Harris generously insisted on
paying the hotel-biil of The speakers"
Let it not be forgotten that Mr.. Harris
is one OF the largest wooden manufac-
turers in Rhode Island-one Of tie pro
teeted.
IIe meeting at New-Bedford was,
if possible, even better than in Prov
idence. The audience was certainly
it could not well have been
more intelligent. Mr.. FeSsenden,
United States Assesso: for the district,
presided. t'Colonel Allen, Collector,
and many other leading men, were
present" says Professor Perry, "and
expressed their sympathy with the
cause. They urgently invited me to
soon, and offered to furnish the
and the means. The peo-
pie here, even the manufacturers
themselves, are beginning to ask
the justice of this protective
and then when other argu-
ments fail they can always be won
vita Cobden's famous words, do
what you know to be just, and trust
to Providence for the consequences"
In Lynn, both Mr.. Lloyd and Pro
fessor Perry spoke to a fair audience
Of shoe manufacturers. These shoe
makers know that the shoe pinches,
but do not exactly see where.
Hence" says the professor, d" it was
hard work breaking the ice in
Salem and Lynn; but the meetings
nevertheless quite satisfactory.
At Lynn, Mr. Keen, President o; the
of Trade, presided, and I was
most strongly urged to return during
the summer"
AT Salem, NJ. Lloyd made an effec-
tive speech to a moderate audience.
He says, "All our meetings this trip
have been meetings of manufacturers
md of men employed in factories.
They are becoming convinced that the
tariff works to their injury, and offers
no compensation to any one except the
smugglers and cheats. The work is
on bravely in New England;
here is the ground to sow the Free
Trade seed. The field is ready for
The plow."
Professor Ellicott Evans lectured at
I3inghamton on the subject of Free
by invitation from some of the
eading citizens The address is de-
as having been effective. Mr..
A. L. Earle, of the New York League,
likewise made some happy remarks,