The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-09-14
FREE TRADERS.
Their Prescription for the Cure of Hard
Times---A National League
to be Formed.

The conference Of Free Traders held at
Saratoga, n, Y, last week appointed David
Dudley Field, Parke Goodwin, Horace
White and Francis A. Walker, a com
mittee on resolutions. The following was
their report:
RESOLVED, That the present depression
Of the industrial, commercial and financial
interests of this country is largely due to
our inability, under present laws, to dis
pose Of the surplus products of our indus
try-products which other countries want.
aud which but for restrictive and injurious
legislation the United States would, to a
great extent, produce aud sell better and
cheaper than any other nation.
Second-ResolUed, That this general de-
preston has been caused mainly by the
erroneous financial and commercial policy
pursued by the Federal government since
the war in torgetfulaess of the economic
axiom, that 1t is necessary to buy in
order TO sell, and that it is utterly impos-
siole for us to dispose of the surplus pro-
ducts of our industry TO other nations un-
less we are TO accept in return the surplus
products of their industry.
Third-ReSolUed, That, by imposing
taxes for purposes other than revenue and
by preventing us from cheaply building
and advantageously buying ships, our
shipping, which had become the second in
the world and was fast becoming the first,
has been almost swept from the seas.
Fourth-ReSolUed, That, in view of the
fact that large and important interests
have grown up under the erroneous fiscal
policy which the United States have main
tanned during a period of sixteen years
due regard must be paid to the security
and welfare of these interests, but seeing
them PROSTATE and suffering, in common
with Others, we are persuaded that. if pro.
lection has ever done anything for them
it has done all it can, and that they, no less
than others, need for their revival and
healthy growth thorough revision OF ex
isting tariffs.
Fltth--That as one means toward the
revival of commerce and general prosper
ily we ask concurrently with reformed
legislation thorough revision Of our com
mercal treaties with foreign nations, many
of which are unsuited to the present in.
dustrlal and productive condition of this
country; and we ask, also, the negotiation
Of treaties Of commerce with countries
such as France and Spain, with which We
have now no such agreement.
Sixth-That the treaty of reciprocal
trade between the United States and Can
ada. which expired in 1865, was CONNER
Cially beneficial to both countries, aud in
tended to promote that state OF friendly
feeling which is most desirable to be main
tanned among neigbboring peoples, and We
believe the time has come for a renewal OF
reciprocal trade relations with that country
on the most liberal principles, and We
unite with the National Board Of Trad,
in urging the executive to institute nego
tlatlOns 20 that end.
Seventh-That all citizens who agre,
with us in the views we have expressed
are invited to form local organizations TO
their dissemination, and in order to pro
mote the united action of all such associa
tions council of thirteen be appointed b,
this conference, with power to fill vacan
cies and to add to their number, which
shall be authorized to call national con
vention and form national association.
Parke Goodwin, in seconding the resolu
tions, said that years ago, when he was
young man, he aided in raising the banne
for free soil, free men and free trade. H
had attained two of them and now hope
to have a third. Frenchmen have sent u
a statue Of liberty, with torch enlight
enlng the world, and we must make our
selves worthy of it. We must have
FULL rounded, comprehensive liberty
worthy of this magnificent emblem; the
we shall be able to say of it, as Webste
said at Bunker Hill, Let the first ligh
OF the morning gid it and the last rays q
the setting sun linger and play upon it
summit" Let the first object of the fol-
eigner who visits our shore and the las
thought Of the native going abroad b.
liberty enlighteuing the world.
David A. Wells supported the resolr
tions, and said if the laws he could ind
cate we're repealed, he would pledge b
head that in four years the prosperity
the country would be assured. All OIL
misery and trouble originates from iucou
petence.
The resolutions were passed,
On motion of II. X. Bowker. il was r