The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-12-22
FREE TRADE.


Henry ward Beocher OF the Morals
of 1t"
Rev. Henry Ward Deecher recently lee
turcd at the First Baptist Church. Brook
lyn. before the Revenue Reform Club Of
that CITY, on Free Trade--The Morals Of
It," The lecture was the first of a course,
and will be followed by addresses by David
A. Wells, Professor Perry, Judge Kelley,
Professor Sumner and Professor Thompson.
There was large audience present Mr..
Beecher said that the protective tarifl Is
is organized immortality. In this country
we have liberty of thought OF speech, Of
conscience of everything except cOmmeice.
The American can 20 where he plcases,
cllcuse whatever avocation he pleases, buy
wbai Inc pleascs, sell what he pleases; he
can command the markets of the world, but
he can't bring the goods home except by
paving heavy penalty. But they are not
created at home. Then wait Til lhey are,
is the answer. No traveller returning home
can pass our ports without swearing that
he brings only his skin and rs covering.
We are shOrn OF our liberty in
cnnmrrcc Protect our home industries.
But how about the liberties of our peO-
live tariff gives rise TO IA system OF fraud on
the part of the people and of espionage on
the part of the government. Ii makes us
sectional. Ii is the bOdest scfishnoss yet
we organize the whole machinery of the
government TO violate the fundamental
principles Of liberty and good fellowship.
The tariff has clipped the wings of our mer-
chant marine. What has the shipping in-
lerest done to be bound like a slave to the
heels of the manufacturers? The few ships
that exist are begging at the doors OF Con-
gress for bounties.
Mr.. Beecuer thought that all taxation
should be direct A revenue tariff may
only be tolerated as temporary measure
in time of war. A protective tariff only
patroniZed home industries, taking away
the spring that free competition gives, Pro-
lection gives an artificial advantage to
home manufactures The average tariff is
50 per cent; and this is levied because
the Yankee is so dull and spirit
less that he can't compete with Eng
land! No, we are smart enough to
compete even with free competition. Pro.
lection, though at the first ii may he
a whct to industries, at last destroys
them and leaves them like rich mems sons
without incentive to endeavor Referring
to the cry that English gold Is being sent
here to arouse iree-trade agitation, Mr..
Bcecher said that it would be easy enough to
raise five millions to carry an election in
the interest of protection, and yet men are
believing about English gold. Industries
thrive better from the beginning without
protection lfprotection is good between
this and other countries, why not between
the States? Here is Pennsylvania with
her iron industries fully devel-
oped, yet West Virginia, East Tennessee
and other States are beginning TO compete
with her, though lrec trade exists between
the States. Why, thcn, could not We thrive
with free trade with foreign countries? Mr.
Beecher then showed how protection did
not Oaaeht labor as claimed by the tariff
men. There are l000O,00O producers in
The country; of these only 100000 are in the
least benefited by high tariff and even
these have to pay one-third Of all they get
from protection as their share Of the tax
laid ON importation. But the unprotected
workmen are in the vast maiorly, and
these have to pay more for rent, for
Gle, because OF protection. Mr.. Becchcr
showed how the machinery Of the tariff cor.
rupted msrals, melted fraud, Smuggling,
and destroyed the sanctity OF the oath.
England is getting the trade Of the world,
while we are secluding ourselves. Eng
land can get the trade OF South America,
We can not, because we will not admit the
only goods with which she can pay us.
Wien it is proposed TO revive our COM
mercs, il comes up in the form OF a sub.
sidy Tor John Roach's steamer between
New York and Brazil This il the only
| medicine the protectionists can prescribe.
Mr. Beecher closed with an elegant appeal
| Tor the liberty OF commerce,