The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1875-08-19
FREE ETRADE--Trs COMING UNIvER-
SALTY.


Not many days ago NJ. Chevalier, dis
tinguished French sdcan and political econ
omist made a speech at Greenwich, Eng
land, in which he said substantially that
before the end of 1877 all the Governments
of Continental Europe would be obliged to
decide respecting the renewal Of their com
mercial treaties, and that this fact brought
up the question of free trade. He added
that this question Is not confined to Europe :;
the Universal Exhibition that is organizing
at Philadelphia is sign that the day draws
near for the practical introduction of this
policy into the Republic of the New World.
Experience and facts are the best evidence
and the best arguments to persuade the
people and their Legislators Of a necessity
of change from prohibition and protec-
tiol, tn free trade, from heavy customs du-
ties to a very liberal tariff. The most con-
vincing proof to he employed is the exam
pie of England, whose progress since she
threw off the restraints of prohibitiye pro-
lection is among the miracles of National
advancement. NJ Chevalier said that the
protectionists understood that if they were
beaten now, they were beaten forever.
They would consider it equivalent to vic
tory if they could only arrest the course of
the liberal current which has been running
in Europe since 1850, mainly under the
guidance OF the late government of France,
and of Napoleon personally. To the new
trade policy NJ. Chevalier said France owed
her ability to bear the heavy burdens I'M
posed by the war of 1870. She is able to
supply an annual budget of $500, 000, 600,
besides some 5000, 900, 900 OF local cx-
penses. Her bank notes likewise, to the
average amount f $500, 600, 900, circulate
in all parts of the nation without any dis
count, financial phenomenon without a
parallel.
1t was also stated by the same speaker
that the narrow escape Continental Europe
had last April from bloody contest has
aroused feeling very favorable to free
trade, for the reason that it is endowed
with a great power to force the war spirit to
recede. Not that free trade may always de-
feat warlike enterprise, but that mankind
more and more clearly comprehends the
waste of war and opposes it with contin-
ually increasing effect. This does but con-
firm the philosophic theory that the more
intimate the trade relations of differt mt ma
tions are, the less disposed are they to enter
upon the work of mutual destruction.
Free trade is the intimate friend and ally
of peace" The Right Hon. William E.
Forster made an excellent speech, following
that of NJ. Chevalier, ana on the part of
the American gentlemen present, Mr.. Ma
than Appleton, of New York, made an ad-
dress which was cordially received by the
company. Mr.. Appleton declared that he
came from community where protection
was the practice; but he gave his reasons
| for believing that the manufacturers them
selves had got as much out of it as a system
as it would yield. His view was that high
duties invited smuggling and fraud, and
that the demoralizing effect upon the people
and the ational character is more than
can be compensated for by all that enters
the treasury in duties. He likewise quoted
with extreme pertinency the saying of the
son-in-law of Mahomet: 'Tl the course of
my long life 1 have often observed that
men are more like the times they live in
than they are like their father" saying
which Professor Draper pronounces to be
profoundly true. Mr.. Appleton thought
that the surroundings of the American
people are compelling them to accept the
truths of the free trade theory, and that it
would form tone of the stoutest planks of
the winning platform in the Presidential
wear of 1876"