Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-07-27

theoretical stand point is the one
from which beginners and students
generally approach the Investigation
the manner in which the books essays
and lectures investigate the question
while the business man approaches
the subject through the practical
workings Of the theory. The theory
establishes therrle. Practical applica-
ton solves the problem. We assume
our readers are free from any bias or
prejudice On the subject; that we are
addressing, thinking and intelligent
persons ready and willing to ac-
cept the truth and then act in accord
ance with the dictates of duty. In
the first place this is only phase of
the old question Of the extent and ex-
pediency of human liberty, which has
disturbed society even since it began to
exist. The law now accords to every
man liberty, in respect to his person,
liberty of conscience and belief, the
right of free speech and the liberty of
the pen and the press, and the right
to participate in the selections of his
rulers and the formation of his laws.
And if he is not in this country accord
Ell the privilege to freely labor and
exchange the products of his labor
then freedom and liberty are certainly
circumscribed in their sphere. In
otLer words is the rule of successful
trading ''to buy in the cheapest, and
sell IN the dearest Market" fully and
freely accorded the producers of this
country. Shall these former privi-
leges be granted as something in
themselves in the highest degree de-
sirable and beneficial, and the latter
denied as unworthy of the attainments
Of a citizen and prejudicial to his in
terests? The same arguments that
have been used by people for the
attainments Of any of these attributes
of liberty are essentially one and the
ss.ssifi11e. The avowal of the right or
expediency to deny one of them in
'olves the right or expediency to deny
all of them. A government has the
same right to say thatits citizens shall
not enjoy personal liberty, as to say
they shall not possess the privilege Of
exchanging the result of their labor
t2r the highest price in the market.
To deny this right is to deny the right
to fully enjoy the results and products
of ones labor. No one can deny this
right without at the same time de-
Tending and reatfirming the principle
and expediency Of human slavery. 1t
is no wonder that the reason of this
latter part of the 10Th century recog-
nizes the antagonism of protective
laws to commercial freedom and is
arranging itself on the side of indus
trial and commercial freedom as it has
formerly done On the side of intellect
al, religious and political freedom.
Nor is it any wonder that on neither
hemisphere no man acknowledged to
be intellectually great who has given
the subject of free trade a careful in
vestigation can be found who is not
in favor of removing as speedily as
possible the restrictions ON CONNER
cial intercourse between nations
and individuals so far as is compati-
BILE with governments for revevenue,
except he be working in the interest
of despotism Or private gain. There
is not first-class college or institu-
ton Of learning in the civilized world
to-day that would think of inviting to
its chair of political economy, man
who taught the theory or expediency
of restrictions Oh exchange as means
of wealth for nation. A man who
among a convention of financiers or
economists who asserted the theory
of protection as advocated by the
high tariff men of the Eastern States
would be as much of curiosity to-
day as naturalist, who among con-
eress of naturalists would assert the
existence of mermaids or any animal
half man. and half beast. A year or
so ago we remember, when congress
had before it the question of the re-
duction of tariff, on wood pulp used
in the manufacture of paper, and how
every paper in the United States with
one accord, clamored for such reduc-
tion and sent their petitions into con-
gress praying for relief on that score.
| That is inst one of the EXAMPLES of