National Republican., 1883-08-10
SLAVERY And PROTECTION.
The Curious Theory Held by Mr. 3. J.
DOnnell.
His Paper Delivered Before the New
York Free Trade Club,
Remarkable Falsifcation Under the Guise Of an
Historical Review.
Fact, Fiction, and Dcmagogry Keeling
Together Through Several Pages.

OF all social and political movements every
where but especially in this country" Con-
sequently, Mr.. Donnell is no mere sciolist.
He tells us, indeed, that he lever aims at
getting beneath the surface of events" His
is the grand faculty to see and understand
the play of those subtle but all powerful
forces which govern all phenomena, but es-
cape general observation" He is thus q
"pundit," experienced and learned, sociol-
ogist of power, a lawgiver in political science,
veritable Lycurgus of free trade,
Hence it is painful to read tho confession
of such q man that in this extraordinary
Historical review and appeal" stirred by his
indignation at "the informal devices of con-
gress in support of American industry, by
his hatred of the "vile creature Protection" )"
he "defies all the conventional rules of COM
position" Thus he states that both of these
systems AFRICAN or modern slavery or Pro-
tectionl originated in tho demoniac brain of
Charles V."N That, no doubt, is an awful
statement, if true. But in celebrating tho
historical beneficence of free trade, why con-
fine the illustrations to modern times? Our
experienced and learned pundit" had wider
field for careful observation" Slavery was
authorities prior to the rebellion, all our pro-
slavery magnates with free trade proclivities,
pronounced it as coeval with the birth of
man, as rooted in the origin Of things" as
the natural and normal condition of the
workingman, whether white or black"
So, in 1522,t at the date at which Mr.. Don
oell fixes the origin of African or modern
slavery in an edict of Charles V, slavery
existed throughout Europe, as it had foi
many centuries, dating far back into the
ancient world, where, with its congener free
trade, or foreign commerce, it had reigned in
carnage and crime, degrading man, corrupt
ing societies, and running states.
Why, therefore, in his apotheosis of free
trade, OF foreign commerce, IN his historical
review" did not our expert need and
Learned pundit" give us an exposition of its
Beauties historical illustrations of its benef-
cent effects upon man, morals, society,
and states during the periods prior to 1922?
Why not give us a faithful picture of ancient
aud modern societies during those periods
when slavery and free trade ruled like beastly
old Moloch? Why not q picture of the
wretched condition of the great mass of their
people, and particularly of their workingmen
or laborers, ground into veritable brutes
under the cruelest and most debasing in
fluences? Why not q description of the re-
volt against these of humanity, from the
servile instructions of ancient states to the
risings of the Jacquerie, to the risings of
Jacques Bonhomme in the fourteenth and
subsequent centuries-to the revolt in 1922 of
the peasantry in Germany?
The failure of our experienced and learned
pundit" to do that initiates somewhat against
the power or force of his Historical review
and appeal" 1t cruelty skaters our faith in
his ability to "get beneath the surface of
events"-in his understanding of the play of
the subtle but all powerful forces which gov
ern all phenomena
To one of his statements, however, we par
TALLY subscribe. The "vile creature Pro-
tection," the support of home industries by
tariff or protective DEGREES, is unquestionably
of modern origin. No stain of ancient bar
barism disfgures or soils its escutcheon. 1t
was born, not of slavery, nor of the de-
moniac brain of Charles "" hut of modern
freedom. For thousands of years slavery and
its congener, free trade or foreign commerce,
twin demons, had debauched societies and
states, and brutalized humanity. "O," OK
claimed Juvenal in his sixth satire, in which
he laments the appalling influences Of slavery
and foreign commerce:
Oh from what fountains, hateful and accursed,
Have these foul foods of dire corruption burst?.
Since Rome from want and hardship was secure,
All vice abounds aud every crimes mature!
TO the seven hills foul Sybaris drew near.
Miletus, Rhodes all found disciples here!
Hither, with ali her train, corruption flows;
Here petulant Tareutum twines the rosel
Wealth, like leprosy, the land hath curst
And all the sinews of our strength are burstl
With the awakening of freedom in modern
Europe with the industrial renaissance of
which the laborers of Europe stepped out of
bondage, not only Germany under Charles
V, but other of the European states, adopted
the internal devices" of protection or pro-
hibitory laws for the naturalization and ad-
vancement OF manufacturers-for the pres
ervation and support of the domestic inter
ests of their own people engaged in indus
trial pursuits. Thus protection and modern
freedom are coeval in birth and coequal in
beneGcence. Upon these freedom and pro-
lection, were built all the industrial successes
sour "learned pundit" says: "since the aeces.
sion OF Charles V to the throne of Spain." When?
I'm 1917" Charles Of Spain Did Charles V
in l5l7 ascend the throne Of Spain? History tells
us that In that year Charles ascended the throne
of Spain, aud that subsequently in i5i9, he was
elected emperor of Germany under the title of
Charles V. Hut Spain As yet has not accepted the
pundit,' In delying "beneath the surface of
events" has some extraordinary information 10
that effect, AT least II has escaped general OBJ
As a matter of history African slavery also
existed at thatdate. We even read of negro in
surrection at Hlspanlola in 1922. 1t is also
matter of history, well authenticated aud undis-
puted that It was the Portuguese, and not Charles
V nor the Spaniards, which led in the African
Portuguese were engaged in the trade aud
openly prosecuted II In li44 by the establishment
0i comp company a. Lagos for that pIrpose That
deed a learned authority declares that at has
been proved that from the coast of Guinea great
trade in slaves was carried on by [tnose
noted free tradersl the Arabs some hun
dreds Of years before the Portuguese embarked IN
that tratic' In Europe at that time, however
there was no great demand for negro slave labor
But upon the discovery and occupation ofAmerioa
the want there, not OF manufacturers or me-
chanics, but OF aborors and the imbeoility of the
natives, created demand for negro slaves. The
nefarious traffic soon became profitable, aud the
English as well Us the Portuguese and Spaniards
early became rivals in its prosecution
Hence the African slave trade the modern COM
meTce in human ohattcs, had Its origin. not in
efforts TO establish manufactures but in "the
merce." II had 1t, "orlgin," doubtless, in "the
demOniac brain" Of some enlightened free trader
OF some magnificent friend of foreign commerce.
Of some illusIrious patron OF Campbelps "degen-
crate trade" who
"could despise
The heart born anguish of thousand cries
Could ok with impious hands his tetming store,
While famished nations died along the shore"
Sure we are that Il did not originate in the
demoniac brau of Charles "" Nor did prolec-
ton nor the protective system, Our Learned
pundit Is singularly unfortunate in his efforts
7" to get beneath the surface of events" The
"play" Ot his Subtle but all powerful forces has
eigns earlier than Charles V were authors OF ucts
hfyiug for their object the protection of the in
ctry of their subjects. With the advent Of free
1ustry in Europe through the gradual ex-
Ct,ou OF slavery many OF hs industrial
ublics aud the II ,n,eatlc towns, In ex-
u sye commerce with Greece and the East
n establls ment Of manu- oturcs followed.
Mltn the Interests Of these In different oomuluni
Ties clashed when the manufactures of those
as TO p sSess advantages whicn, ip the race Of
competition, Threatened to defeat their naturali-