Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-10-20
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY. OCTOBER 20, 1883,


At the recent meeting of the Ameri-
can board Of foreign missions, held in
Detroit, DIR. Cyrus Hamlin, president of
Middlebury college, vt, in an address
made the following statement:
io '"The fiscal system Of the fTurkishiem-
pire is such as to destroy every Industry
and inevitably reduce the people to
poverty. All manufactures are admitted
free. IL had been hoped that agricul-
ture would be a refuge but the govern
ment had resOrted to Ia alton end now
the revenues from the taxation on sheep
were greaterthan the revenues from all
the ports and custom houses. The fruit
trees haG been taxed until they were
cut down. The olive trees were taxed
until they had to be destroyed. He lad
heard IL said that everything in Turkey
was taxed to death but cats, rats and
vermin. No industry could thrive there,
ana he saw no hope for the future ex-
cept the final break up of the Turkish
EMPIRE" '2'ta N"l"'']g ~. ".t i'>
A sad picture this, given by one who
was resident missionary for years in
Turkey, keen observer, and clear think
er, no politician. 1t is impossible for
fair.ni0isd person to read the lucid
words of DE-. Hamlin without being
driven to the conclusion that Turkeys
distress, poverty and weakness, come
from the devOuring evil Of free trade.
"AH mdaMfac a 'es are admii.cd free"
This Is tho principle on which the gov
eminent acts the principle of free trade,
and what is the result? "NO indu,try
could thrive there-no hope for the future
ercept The faal break up Of the Turkish
empire" The testimony of free trade
everywhere. is that 1t is a destructive
force that tears down but does not build
up. 1t is not the vital principle of lie
but the consuming principle of death.
Ii never fails to impOyerish the govern
ment, distress the people, and re-
duce everything to poverty. A count y
can only be defended in its struggle for
national existence and growth through
the Just, wholesome law of protection
that provides revenue to support and
carry on the machinery of government,
and foster industries.
Where there Is free trade the inhabi-
tants are, as in Turkey taxed to death,
thus free trade brings loss. decay, and |
as DIR. Hamlin states of turkey, "the
final break up"
Two centuries ago Turkey could help
herself, having good commerce, excel
lent business and wealthy merchants,
and the crushing burdens of heavy tax
alton did not rest upon the empire. Tur-
key sold her freedom and life TO Eng
land in treaty that exempts English
ships from port charges and does OF adj
nit of charge to exceed three per cent
On imports. England never relents
when she has an advantage. Turkey
cannot now evade the inevitable result
If her suicidal act; her prosperous cities,
centers, great thrift,
numerous industries, national develop
nent, triumphant achievements, and
happy, we'll fed. well clothed, we'll shell
cred people-all these have changed, and
he melancholy conditions of free trade
threaten her ruin. Strength, business,
money, independence and prosperity all
acri6ced to the stupendOus folly of free
rade, and in their place heavy taxation,
ntOlerable burdens, wretched poverty,
lational distress, wrecked business, apd
'eople made miserable, with no hope OF
elief because free trade has reduced
Ter so low as to rob her of the capacity
o protect herself and regain what she
las lost. lR ~ .fTasIf i