New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-10
wvoRK nA1Y TRIBUNE SUNDAY JUNE aTwELvE PAGES

and leader writers, ana consequently ccuid
afford to restrict the operation OF Its own
presses, reserying its energies for extraor-
binary emergencies. THE TRIBUNE reiterates
now what 1t said when DR.. Hsmhn's letter was
laid before its readers, that IL the Golden
Club had been as powerful and unscrupulous
an agency for reversing public opinion .on eco
nomical questions as certain faint-hearted OF Ill
informed advocates Of Protection have I'M
agined, the American system would have been
abandoned long ago.
While PrOtectiOnists have reason to regard
the Golden Club az powerful agency when
has menaced the existence and welfare OF
American Industries, they ought not to exag-
gerate its financial resources and thereby alarm
themselves unnecessarily. Mr.. Sherman hnds
fault with The TRIBUNE for stating that the
Club has spent more money in efforts 10 COIL
vert tho United States to Free Trade by cir
culating pamphlets than American Protection
lists have spent In circulating documents on
their side. There is no error Of which we shall
be so willingly convinced as this. But the
allies of the Golden Club in this country must
not be left out of the account. We shall be
glad to believe that the advocates OF system
under which American prosperity has become
the greatest marvel of the modern world show
more zeal and activity in defending Protection
than the agents of English manufacturers ana
their co-laborers in the United States exhibit
in their persistent attempts to establish Free
Trade It matters little to Protectionists
whether their opponents are using English or
American presses in circulating Free Trade
pamphlets. Their own interests and the well
fare of the.country demand systematic organ
ization and intelligent and Jealous work. Ii
they are already outstripping their Free Trade
adversaries in the field of popular discussion, 1t
is q matter for hearty congratulation and
should encourage them to renewed exertions.
For our own part we are not wholly salts
fed with the work that the Protectionists are
doing. The interest excited by Mr.. POrter's
series of letters has taught us how much can
be done to educate public sentiment, il the
proper effort be made. While it is pleasant to
have Mr.. Shearman's word for it that Protec-
tionists are displaying so much energy and zeal,
we want to have more work done, and are
waiting anxiously for indications of more sys-
tematic organization. AT the same time we
are aware that the work that is done by the
Free Traders in classroom, lecture-hall, and in
the press, is done nosily and specifically. There
is much beating of the air, more sound and
sentiment than logic, and not a little hypocrisy.
We have known journals that have been
openly opposing Protection for years, to buster
and swear like drunken flsh-wife when
courteously mentioned as advocates of Free
Trade, apparently regarding it as wanton in
suit to be barely suspected of understanding
what they are about and believing what they
are saying But while there is insincerty on
the Free Trade side and more of idle rant than
downright hard work. Protectionists cannot
afford to despise their opponents. Let them
rather perfect their own organization and teach
the masses of this country to take an Ameri-
can rather than an English view of their own
interests and prosperity.