Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-22
Pr0mntI0n of Tariff Reform.

Promotion Of Tariff Reform.
We have received circular from the
American Free Trade League, of New
York, Of which that eminent political
economist and apostle of free trade Mr..
David A. Wells, is President The bust
ness and object of this league is, as its
name implies, to secure organized and
united effort TO promote commercial
freedom between this and other countries,
and to seek to obtain, to the greatest prae-
tica5le erteHt, the same freedom in trade
between nations that exists between the
several States of the American Union.
AS this circular says, the question of
free trade, or rather tariff reform-since
absolute free trade is at present imprac-
ticable-is forcing itself into prominence,
and is rapidly becoming one Of the ques-
tions, if not tie question, before the
country. The recent conventions of
protectionists in Chicago and New York
are significant indications that they are
experimenting danger, while the out
spoken utterances IN favor of the aboli-
ton of protection in Northern and
Western journals show that among the
farmers and other producers OF the
country there is an element responsive
to the demand for revenue reform that
can be readily utilized against the pro-
tective system.
For the purpose of organizing and
making effective such element this league
has been formed. 1t has been in exist
ence since soon after the close of the late
war, and its one object has been to Sc
cure to the American people commercial
freedom. 1t holds that country is not
free whose people are not at liberty to buy
and sell the products of their labor in the
best market they can find, or so long as
they are compelled by laws of tariff tax
alton to contribute a portion of their
earnings for protecting or insuring profit
in the business investments of the few
who are induced by protective laws to
choose pursuits otherwise improbable.
To advance these ideas, and to educate
the people in the doctrine and principles
of commercial freedom, this and like
organizations in the country propose to
form themselves into one general repre-
sentative body, and stimulate the forms-
ton of other similar associations in all the
States where there are none, these latter,
in turn, to undertake the formation Of
revenue reform clubs in every Congress
siOnal district in the Union. The main
planks in the platform suggested for
these several organizations are to the
effect that the only tax on i'm
ports which should ever be tolerated by
free people is a tariff for
revenue only, and that the greatest bur
den now borne by the American people
is the unjust, unequal and ubiquitous
system of taxation called a protective
tariff. The immediate and gradual re-
ductiOn Of existing import duties should
therefore be steadily demanded until
every protective feature is eliminated
therefrOm. Clubs formed on this plat.
form are urged to elect Presidents, Secre-
taries and Treasurers, and at once place
themselves in communication with the
Central League, New York, and each
member is especially called upon to exert
himself to increase the membership and
make his club as strong as possible.
There is no doubt that this question is
rapidly growing in prominence before the
country, and the iniquities of the
present protective system are being
universally felt and acknowl-
edged. The country is ripe for
the doctrine that protection with revenue
as an incident is a monstrous evil,
thoroughly oppressive to the masses,
and that it should be speedily supplanted
by the doctrine of revenue, with protec-
ton as an incident. We know of no
more feasible plan that could be adopted
for the more rapid PRONUNCIATION OF the
latter doctrine and undeceiving the people
to the true ends and intents of the pro-
tectionists than that suggested by this
league. As the circular above men
toned says in conclusion: This is "em-
phatically a work for young men, and
worthy of their highest ambition. No
young man is so obscure that his useful
ness and influence will not be felt in a
good cause, and his vote, at least, will
count. Those who earnestly engage il
it will more Certainly than in any other
way. politically, be identified with a
party whose success is sure because its
cause is just and right"