The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-31
FREE TRADE.

The Fifth Report of the FREQ Trade League
10 ITS Supporters and the Public.
The last report OF the League was issued IN Octo-
Der, 1870, seven months ago. Since then the agta-
ton for reform OF the tariff has made marked
progress. as the following facts win show In
the lower branch q the Foytyarst Congress
which expired on the 4th OF last March, tbs
protectionists had q working majority, while
the present House of Representatives has
passed bills to salt and coal py votes of las to
46 and $50 to &C. Mr.. Kelley admits that he is in
minority, and Messrs Dawes and Bingham, authors
of The wool and woolens tariff of 1867. one OF the
most extreme protective measures ever enacted,
have voted with the reformers
In the Senate OF the Forty-frst Congress the pro-
tectionists were shown to be in minority by test
vote OF 10 ayes to 33 noes, on motion to table the
Coal BILL while In the present Senate the relormers
are still stronger, and the House bills to free
salt and coal would unquestionaby have passed
could a vote have been obtained upon them Tho
action OF the republican caucus combining the bust.
ness OF rhe Senate to Ku Klux legislation prevent.
ed vote, while the two democratic Senator's from
Maryland assisted by means OF dilatory tactics In
staving II on. The fact that such means had to be
resorted to shows that the advocates OF these mo-
nopolies feared the results OF direct vote.
While such evidences OF the growth or the agita-
tion as the above are most encouraging it must be
admitted that there still formidable obstacles In
the way Of reform. The greatest is the sacrifice Of
principle and devotion to local interests OF q num-
Der OF democratic Senators and Congressman; not
that their votes cannot be spared but because their
action discredits their party. 1t matters not
whether reform comes through the democratic or re-
publican parties. but It IS OF the first i'm
sentative OF the principles we contend for. When
great party is sagacious enough to force an issue
people get the opportunity to vote upon it. unembar-
raised by questions growing out OF the late war,
victory will certainly result to that party, what
ever may be Its NAME IL Is no longer necessary
to convince people OF the tnutility and injustice
OF protective tar1n, but an opportunity to
act upon convictions already formed Is most neces-
sary. And this can only be attained through organ-
cation. Political leaders will compromise differ
Of opinion In tho ranks Of their parties until
one side or the other refuses ali compromise and is
strong enough In Numbers TO put Its opponents In
small minority; and II should now be the aim Of
revenue reformers TO see tnay they are repre-
sented in the national conventions Of both the great
parties. which will assemble year hence. II
! reformers are In a majority men who are at once
earnest and representative are sent to these con-
from the platforms, and advocates OF monopsly
upon the noors Of Congress Will at least keep silent
Revenue reformers all over the country should I'M
perfect local organizations and BY means OF sys-
tematic EFFORTS should influence the action Of their
Another obstacle in the way Of reform is the
ignorance Of legislators upon the details OF the tariff
The vote in the House OF Representatives to free
coffee and tea shows that majority OF the House
does not know that these duties yield SIS 600 000
every cent OF which goes to the Treasury,
and which protecc nobody, and that TO cut
or these large revenues from unobJect1Onable
sources will block the way to further reforms or
class OF duties like those upon woOens and other
fabrics, and upon the raw materials OF industry,
dollar that the government gets, and which have
destroyed our export trade and limited home con-
sumption. Or II those VINO voted for the
abolition OF these taxes did SO with an en-
tire understanding or the consequences which
must follow such q policy, they have then pro-
claimed themselves IN favor OF the overthrow Of the
whole tariff system without having offered any
other method OF raising revenue The obstacle
resulting from the nexperience or legislators will
House into committees, charged with the consider
aton OF the details OF proposed measures but better
still by the pressure OF Intelligent opinion from the
districts OF members, which can only be adequately
exerted by organized bodies Of their constituents.
The attacks upon protection in the house of its
friends by New England woOllen manufac lurer5 ana
shoemakers and the resolutions OF the Boston Board
OF Trade, favorlng free trade In ships, very en-.
couragng.
The practical work Of the League during the past
seven months has been as foll0ws:-TWo hundred
and fortYdve thousand tracts nave been distributed
aud TWO editions OF "Bastat' have been
printed and sold. new publication en-
titlei 'The Peoples Pictorial Taxpayer
has been published and $4,000 copies disposed OF;
second EDITION OF a like number Is now In press.
The work OF Col. VIM. II. Grosvenor, ''Does Protec-
ton Project ~ has met with q success beyond the
expectation OF the League The number OF public
been 104 The Games Of the cities and towns are as
fO,lows.-