The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-11-15
From Pontiac.
Pontiac, Ills, Nov. % Is,


EditorY Free Trader-lt is about twenty
years ago since you and | had good talk
over the question of Free Trade At that
time had strong belief that Protection
was wrong, and at that time you furnished
me with number of free trade pamphlets
which aided me in determining the right of
that great subject. You and differed ma
terially on the matter of negro slavery ana
for twenty years this question ragged in the
United States, but at last has been settled; and
however differently we may have viewed the
question of slavery am glad to find that we
do not differ one whit on the Free Trade Ques-
ton.
| am now as strong Free Trader as was
90 years ago an abolitionist, and | am just as
sure that Protection is inherently wrong as
was that Slavery was wrong; in tact ma
that the same arguments which l USED
against slavery are quite suitable to use
against the curse Of Protection.
Now that the negro is free, I intend doing
little to help my fellow white man.
In Livingston county we have triumphed
in the late election; it has been Free Trade
and Autobiography triumph and | am sorry
that old La Sale is not quite up to the mark.
| OF course do not know what the particular
points we've on which your defeat occurred
in La Sale county. 1t could not have been
the slavery question, and how any man could
vote against the Anti Monopoly movement is
to me incomprehcnsiblc
Neither do / know how my old abolition
friends voted suppose Cullen voted
the Monopoly ticket q do hope not) My
humble opinion is that no man can vote a
monopoly ticket unless through ignorance OF
prGudice.
On recent visit to Europe | saw enough
to convince one in regard to the evil which
Protection was doing to America. All the
property have is in the United States anC
| know and am convinced that the sooner
we adopt Free Trade the better it will be FOL
us.
speak because know that this is true
| saw in Glasgow machines being shipped tt
Cuba which ought to have been made by ou
mechanics.
Think of a planter in Cuba sending TO
some sugar machines away up to the littl'
island of Great Britain near the North Pole
instead of stepping over to us, thcirneXt doc
neighbors, Just in consequence of our stupit
and foolish system OF protection.
What right have the farmers of the North
H. ,orr,,lntnl in ,pc cola nf tlnir
ducts by the laws of Free Trade, and tn
manufacturing interests of the East to be reg
uatcd by the laws of protection?
Why initiate by a tariff the price of east
crn manufactured goods and compel thu
farmer to sell HIS products at natural valu
alton.
Why should have to purchase suit o
clothes and be made TO pay $24 for then
| when could buy the same clothes some
f where else for $40.
Is that just? Is it fair? Is it common
sense? say most emphatically it is unjust
e it is extortion, it is nonsense.
The Free Traders are bound to succeed, AM
| have only TO hope that all the old abolition
lists of La Sale county as well as all other
who hate monopoly ana injustice VIII give
helping hand to free our nation of one of tn
most grinding expressions which any natiO
ever groaned under and am perfectly sur
that sooner or later this great nation will ii
sst on equal justice for all and special priv
ilcges for none.
Yours, for Free Trade,
VIM b. FYFE.