New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-25
BRITISH FREE TRADE.

EXPECTATIONS FOUND TO Bk DkLOSINh-i"H
BRITISH MERCHANTS HOPELESS OF CHANGE
HERE.
IyRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUNEI
IoNpoN Sept 29.-It seems the Canadian papers
are saving that Professor Goodwin Smith mas
accented from the Golden Club free-trsde mission
of some kind in Canada suppose similar one 10
that which Mr. David A. Wells is 10 undertake tor the
conversion Of the Proteconlst heather OF the United
States to the gospel of free trade. Whatever may
he true Of Mr. David A. Wells Mr.. Goodwin Smith
has done nothing of the sort. He is, indeed, mem
Der of the Golden Club one of the original members
and At meeting the other day, at which he was not
preseut they determined las you have already heard
70 form branch associations in different countries
md 70 invite Mr.. Goodwin Smith to preside over one
in Canada. The object not specified In the let
for Of invitation. Mr.. Goodwin Smith replied that
fit was the collection Of information, he should be
happy 10 serve them but that he could not undertake
anything further.
That is all there is in the story. Nobody who
knows Mr. Goodwin Smiths practical good sense
ought TO have believed him capable of taking part
in an enterprise so foolish that set forth by these
oyer.zealous members of the Golden Club. lie no
doubt regards the leading principles OF free franz
rs economically sound but would DC sure also 10 re-
gard Propagaudsm carried on by an EngiiSh cluo
on the American Continent for any economical OF
If may be conceded that the founders and leaders
Of the Golden Club are hgh-minded men and genu-
inc philanthropists who have really cosmopolitan
object in view But the common English free trader
whose interests Mr.. David A. Wells is 50 eager to
promote-ls simply a man who, having got up a
great power of machinery, wants. naturally enough,
10 keep 10 himself the markets of the world HIS
policy as policy, policy of pure selhshness, ms
gospel" ridiculous parody Of the precepts of good
Ill
will To men, and charity and brotherhood and all
the rest of ii, which he so freely mvokeS. Ills
charity begins at home and stays there. Inc
interests lie has in view are British inter
ests. and no other interests Whatever. do
not blame him. If there be anybody to blame, II is
the American dOctrinare. whom the British manu-
facturer halls as an ally. and uses as tool such
ere the men who alleged that the Tariff was the
cause of the Strike Mr.. Bright struck the Keynote
for them over here, but the philosophical Free
Traders Of Great Britain not of the same mind
with the great carpet manufacturer OF Rochdale.
Glow can anybody" says one If the most eminent
among them. d" who has not Tariff on the brain be-
lieve that the TauT was the cause of the Sirlkef
If the farmers had struck there might be some color
for the assertion. But the strike was among Tue
protected classes
He adds-and the Free Trade fanatics of the
United States may take lesson from SObcI-miuded
Free Trader of Engand-"The consequence of a Sc
riouS alteration of the tariff just now would proba-
bly be another strike" But that is point the or
gans of the New-York importers will take good care
not To press their readers. As to the British pro-
ducer. be already to have discovered OF sus-
pected that Mr. David 4. Weiss TOse-colOred hopes
of great Free Trade movement in the United States
were the visions of an amiable enthusiast. He has
been warned that it something else than eager
ness to read Mr.. Weiss article whch-cOn-
trary to what its mercuria author innoceutly
supposed-caused the July number Of The North
American 10 90 through eight editions. lie
has joined IN the ripple OF laughter
which ran through the circle OF Mr.. Weiss Amer
lean friends. But his own hopes of Teganng con
troll OF the American markets dashed, and he is
not inclined to think altogether harmless the vanity
which oozsd ont in the Wells letter to Potter Peo-
pie who were not aware OF Mr.. David 4. Weiss ex-
ciable temperament and habit of oxaggeration,
were really mislcd for time by his glowing proph-
cc.cs. some of them appear to have believed that
an Immediate reorganization of political parties in
the Uuited states IN the Joint interest of the New
York jobbcr and the British producer was 10 be
effected. They believe II no longer Mr.. jeremiah
Blacks claim % the authorship Of those eight edi-
tons has cruelty undcccived them. They re-
member 10 have been promised FOR many years past
that Free Trade should be made political issue ;
they have waited in vain for the fulflment OF the
ance of the October number II The oyh american,
with article No. p by David 4. Wells, has not been
followed by political CONFUSION. They CROPPED
among the transatlantic telegram, for a report of
the proceedings Of the Free Trade Congress- at Sar-
atoga, with Wells himself in the chair, and found it
not. They note with dIsmay that full accounts
of other conventions Republican and Democratic,
arrive weekly, OF oftener. by cable, and that, while
those bodies pronounce their opinions freely on the
Southern policy Of the President, Civil Service
reform. on Silver, and on macy other questions,
both political and economical. the question Of Free
Trade is seldom or never mentioned. Only this week
comes the narrative how Mr. Senator COnkng, at
Rochester has rent the Republican party in
twain. but the minutcst examination does not
disclose the presence Of Free Traders Protection
lists as SUCH in the convention. The Briton mOum-
fully concludes that the march of events the stir of
political hfe the conflict Of political forces in the
United states remain for the present unaffected by
The efforts of Mr.. David A. Wells and his sect. He
cannot understand II. He fully believed Mr. Wells
10 be an American Golden. But he resigns that hope
of a rapid fortune which, with Mr.. Weiss help he
was going to extract from the American pocket.
And fear he no longer cares much about that little
book which Mr. Wells promised him to publish. The
condition of his Own boOks-0f his day-book and
lcdger-haye much greater interest for him.
II have made rather free use Of Mr. Weiss
name in this letter. entreat him TO believe that |
have no animosty against him. hut much respect
for his private character known to me by report,
and full belief in the recttude of his intentions |
am sure he does not TO be the mere instrument
of the rapacty Of the British manufacturer Just as
! am sure that the Golden Club contains men who
aim at the diffusion Of accurate knowledge