Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-26
A PrOtectiOnist Argues for Free
Trade.

Trade.
Senator Morrill,, of Vermont, is pro-
nounced protectionist of the protection
lists, yet as truth is mighty, and even he
cannot prevail against it, so in his speech
in the United States Senate a few days
ago, he advanced a potent argument
against his own ideas.
Speaking of the great advantages
which have resulted to the various sover-
eign commonwealth which go to make
up this Federal Union from unrestricted
free trade between them. Mr.. Morrill,
said: 1--WE hardly appreciate the conve-
nience of American free trade over our
immense territory, until we see how some
foreign farmers are hailed at every step
for tribute. The Octroi is also enforced
in Austria, and, let me add, the system
prevails all over India, where Great
Britain, never forgetting the power of
the cOnquerOr, governs as she pleases.
Towns and municipalities there obtain
their principal revenues from this petty
system of tariffs enacted by multitude
nous and petty localities of an ostenta.
tiously free trade empire. All the mar
ke:s around the world do not furnish,
even to Great Britain, one-third part of
that constant and healthful trade we
may ever rely upon at home; and but
for this home market our farmers would
be unable to buy foreign manufactures at
any price"
Now we contend that in using these
words Mr.. Morrill, furnishes a good stout
stick with which to break the back of his
own theory. If protection is right at all,
it is right as principle and not as a mere
creature Of circumstances, and cice
gersG. Therefore if the principle of
protection is right it should be carried
out in the separate States of the Union.
Georgia should charge New England
protective duty upon her cotton, and
New England should make Georgia pay
high duties upon her peculiar prodUc-
tons. The founders of the republic,
however, clearly foresaw what evil would
result from this condition of affairs
should it be permitted. So they
very wisely provided in the Constitu-
ton of the country that "no tax
or duty shall be laid on articles exported
from any State" and that mo prefer
ence shall be given by any regulation of
commerce or revenue to the ports of one
State over those of another; nor shall
vessels bound to or from one State be
obliged to enter, clear or pay duties in
another" In other words, the wise men
who framed our organic law when the
country was yet in its infancy, saw how
necessary it was that there should be I'M
restricted free trade between the States.
and provided therefor accordingly; and
Mr.. Morrill,, while advocating protection.
was forced to confess the happy re-
suits of their prudent foresight.
ence in this country to be a correct prin-
cIple, would doubtless be shown to be
equally correct if extended further and
made to apply to all nations of the globe
as far as it might be done practically.
The various States and sections of the
United States produce many articles
more cheaply than they can be produced
elsewhere, especially if allowed a fair
field for their productions; and foreign
nations can produce many articles of
prime necessity cheaper than they
can be at present obtained in
the United States. If, therefore, we
were permitted to send our productions
abroad, we could undersell all other mar
kets of the world in them, and thereby
maintain control of such markets-tor,
be it remembered, protection in the
United States protects cotton manufac-
lures in Europe. as well as here-while,
at the same time, all our people would
be able to supply themselves with such
articles as are indispensable to their com
fort and welfare at as cheap rates as they
can be purchased elsewhere.
1t is needless to reIterate the plain fact
that this condition of affairs would be
far more beneficial to the tax paying
masses, who are now forced to pay
tribute to the protected monopolists, than
it can ever be to those favored sons of
fortune. The latter can always purchase
not only the comforts but the luxuries
of life, no matter what they cost, while
the former is frequently put to it to sup
ply himself with even the commonest
necessaries, because so much of what he
earns has to go, not directly into the
cost of what he wants, but into the
pockets of the protected favorite, who
thus gets steadily richer at his expense.
1t ispassing strange that the great body
of the American people will not look
into this subject by the light of expert
ence, and from a practical standpoint,
rather than through the spectscles of the
monopolist, who is permitted to think
for and gull the laboring classes for his
own benefit. Reduced to its last analy-
sis, the position of Mr.. Morrill,. and all
other protectionists, can be summed up
in few words: They are in favor of
protection or non-protection either, just
as it may conduce to their personal ad-
vantage or that of their friends, in ut.
ter disregard of the interests or welfare
of the Overburdened tax-paying masses.
In a letter to Postmaster General
James, written December IS, Mr..
George Bliss tells him that the star