The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-19
THE FREE TRADE LEAGUE.

taken from the New York Journal Of
Commerce, urging the formation OF a
free trade league throughout the coun-
try. There ie no doubt that this is the
most propitious time for such move
ment. and we trust that the initiative
action taken by the recent convention OF
free traders at Saratoga will notabe al
lowed 60 lose It's impetus, but that the
national committee OF the association
that called that meeting will strike
while the iron is hot, and do what they
can to give Vitality to this great move
ment they have inaugurated.
There can be no doubt that the COM
mercial experiences of the past few
years have worked wonderful revolt
ton in the minds OF men upon this
question, and that the conviction is rap
idly coming to them that protection and
its artificial stimulants cannot supply
the healthful and substantial prosperity
which the natural and untrameled ope-
rations Of trade, making and ruled by
its own laws, can afford. Weare now
learning, az England learned before us,
by bitter experience, the truths OF prin-
ciples that have been established for
more than century by arguments and
statistics as solid as those on which the
truths Of mathematics are based.
This question is coming up In the
next Congress and In the most formida-
BILE shape. Indeed, 1t seems that Amer
len IL protection mad, In spite Of her free
and republican institutions, and to 1t
she runs az the panacea for every CON-
mercial or industrial disaster. For ex-
ample, the recent labor riots and the
depression which produced them have
evolved but two ideas, both Of which
are but protection, and In a more bane-
full shape than 1t has ever before as
sumed in this country. On one side we
have the railroad magnates, the monop-
olists and corporations. clamoring for
an army to protect their privileges and
monopolies against the assaults Of
labor, that has been demoralized and
oppressed by arrangement of trade
and industry. resulting solely from gov
eminent interference with commerce
and manufactures. On the other hand,
we find the laboring classes demanding
that the government shall take In hand
the greatest industries Of the country,
and exercise over them supervision
which is clearly and fagrantly outside
Of all governmental functions. Inter
ference by government upon either side
can in the end do nothing but harm,
and to prevent this is the immediate
task to which the free-traders may ap-
ply themselves, by presenting the only
source of our troubles, protection, and
the sole remedy for them, free trade.
The disenthralment OF our trade and
industry is great and splendid aspira-
ton second only to that Of political and
personal freedom, but it is one which
can be worked out only by the people
themselves. Like the latter, its conces-
sion must be forced from our rulers,
otherwise il will never be achieved. In
deed, of all the social theories that have
ever been preached there is none so I'M
tenable. 80 utterly absurd as that the
evils of society, of whatever character,
have ever been palliated by legislative
remedies afforded at the suggestion and
by the sagacity Of government "No
great reform, no great political i'm
proyement, has ever been originated In
any country by its rulers. The suggest
ers of such steps have invariably been
bold and original thinkers, who discern
the abuse, denounce 1t, and point out
how it is to be remedied. At length, ii
circumstances are favorable, the press
ure from without becomes SO strong that
government is obliged to give way"
These are the golden words of one OF
the greatest and most resolute of mod
ern thinkers, and they plainly indicate
the source from which the reforms de-
manded mus come. In this instance
we are called upon merely to recognize
truths and principles that have long
prevailed in the most enlightened coun-
tries and which are established by a
chain Of testimony that is irrefutable.
Sad experience has finally impressed
them apon us, and now the ''outside
pressure" must be brought to bear to
compel their recognition from the gov
eminent, and to do this is the work Of
the free traders and their league.
In illustration Of what We have said
we refer TO the abolition of the c)rn
laws, one Of the most remarkable re-
forms In the history Of England. Those
who are but little versed in history will
ascribe their repeal to the wisdom oil
Parliament. But those who look deeper
will see that their repeal was forced
from Parliament By the activity OF the