The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-02
FREE TRADERS.
Second Days Proceedings In the De.
trOit Convention.

DETROIT. June 2-The Free Trade |
Conference reassembled at o'clock but |
the committee on address being still out, |
brief speeches were made on the question |
Of the best methods or action, whether by
organizing third party or working in
side lines of the existing parties. Finally
the Committee on address made its report, |
which. after discussion, was adopted, as
follows:
This conference submits to Americans
that revenue reform has become
paramount vital issue in national poll
tics, and then continues to say:
We desire to obtain the greatest prac-
ticable extent of the same freedom of
trade among nations, which exists among
the states Of the union. We see in the /
abuses Of the tariff the chief obstruction
to the continued development and pros
perity of the country. 10 do away with
these abuses we ask the help alike of
those who believe that free trade is an
essential part of American freedom, and
the only commercial policy consistent
with business stability, and of those who
recognize that the abuses of the present
unjust and unequal protective tariff will
keep us from the enormous export trade
we ought to have, and from a most
serious hindrance to American industrial
| progress
| We summit that Protection does not
| protect; that to protect few at the eX
pense of many is inconsistent with the pri
| ciples of Republican Government: and
the rcvlst tariff of 1882 raising some du
ties and by an Intentionally confused clas
ilication maintaing Others which it pre-
nds to reduce is only device of alarm
ed pTotectionists, to avert honest Revenue
! Reform
American labor even in its protected
industries is discovering that it gets no
higher wages by protection; that it can
buy no more with its money and save less
The poorer the man is the more tariff
hurts him, while there is absolute Free
| Trade in labor, and the manufacturers can
import cheap labor the American laborel
is denied the right to buy goods in the
cheapest market Labor is paid less in
protected European countries than in Free
Trade England. The profits of protection
go TO monopolists. Only the very men,
who in Congress, demanded protection
for American were importing cheap Cana
dian labor to strip the Northwest of its
forests.
The monopolists and corrupt legislat
ors practically deny TO their workmen
liberty, speech and the free exercise ol
votes. American farmers constituting
more than half our votes, pay for protec
ton and get none of it. They sell in an
unprotected market and buy in protect
ed one, Protection taxes the poor man
more heavily than the rich; it restricts
farmers market by shutting out those whf
would exchange with him; it burdens the
manufacture by adding to the cost of his
materials without increasing the amount
his sales, and it reduces the wages o.
working men in every line of business.
The true interests of America are bound
together in Fee Trade, equal taxation
farmers rights manufacturing prosperits
and higher wages. The Government o.
the United States has no constitutional
fright to impose taxes on the people ex
cept with the intent, and result of gettin:
sufficient money to pay the public debt
provide for the common defense, ant
provide for the general welfare; aud al
tariff taxes called protective, laid will
different intent and result ought to bt
abolished: and we favor the motion o
reciprocity, and the repeal of the navi-
CATION laws which have destroyed on
merchant marine.
We do not counsel the immediate for
nation of a new party, althQuG W
recognize that many Republicans anC
many Democrats are losing faith in thei
own parties, and evince a desire to unit
politically for genuine reform III thei
utterances and their candidates, or il
designating their leaders in Congress
who persisiently oppose and evade It
form We advise revenue reformers I
prepare for independent political actor
Meanwhile, we call upon those VII
think with us to make the existing publ
sentiment visible by organization, TO ex
tendit by discussion, to make it practices
at the poll by questioning candidates fc
-. Congress. This address is issued in be
half of freedom, the most precious resu
of the political action and in behalf {
proprlety where the broad and only last
" ing basis is found in the perfect freedo1
of human activity, bounded only b
equal privileges of all men,
The conference then took recess L
evening.
After the afternoon session, the men
bers of the American Free Trade Leagl
held meeting, and after considerable
elected the following officers: Presiden
Hon. David A. Well, of Connecticut; vi
Presidents, Thomas Holland, Of Ne
York; Charles Francis Adams. of Bosto
Anson Phelps Stokes, of New York; Wi
liam P. Wells. of Detroit; W. P, Fishba
of Indianapolis; J. Sterling Morton, {
Nebraska; John s. Phelps, of Nilsson
= B. F. Cue, OF Des Molnes; B. r. Terma
e af New Orleans; Charles P, Smith
G Philadelphia; Prof James Fl. Garfield,
Il Kansas. Secretary, R. R. Brewker,
New York Western Secretary, Henry
Philpott, of Des Moines. TreasuI
George J Peabody, of New York;
Executive Committee was named as I
lows:J. G. Sherman of Brooklyn; W
liam Brownlee, of Detroit; A. l.. Ear
II of New York H. r. B. Stapler, of N
"a York; E. C. Taylor, of Kansas City;
- NJ. Sheppard, of Brooklyn. One vacar
was left to be filed by the commit
This committee will have power to nai
the members of the National Free Ira
Committee from the States in which thu
are no State Free Trade Leagues. I
conference ressembled this evening, v
addressed by r. G. Sheraman ina earei
prepared speech. He was follow
. more briefly by Springer OF Illinois. aft
,rhich- -thp. Ctonfprpnfe finally adlouTneC