New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-06
FREE TRADE FACT AND FANCY
PRESIDENT HAMLTNs REPLY TO HIS
CRITICS.


To the Edftor orThs Tribune
SIR; 1t is a singular fact, the philosophy OF
which IL not however, diioult to be understood tnat
Free Trade nourshes spirit Of depreciation aud con-
tempt tow ard American mechanics, The Engiisn COM
mercal firms In America that have contributed so gen.
erously to Free!Trade propagandism in the United
States are acting Free Trade with foreign
nations would undoubtedly confer great benefits upon
certain capitalists In England BY the showing oftwo
OF its greatest advocates Fswce and Brasscy has not
benefited the workingmau. 1t has even made ms con-
dtlen so hopeless that emigration or DESTRUCTION OF tn
Misunderstanding to marry-s his only resource rms
OF English advocacy Of Free Trade with
the United States has good aud sufnciens reason'
but no ethical principle requires Americans 70
English neignbors better than themselves ana
yield to English demand, II 10 will DO Destructive 70
American industries, reduce the American working
men to that condition which compels 30 many tnou
sands of glishmen to abandon their mis-
erabe aud native land for this land OF protected
labor.
In one respect American associates Of the Golden
Club differ from their English associates They depre-
ciate tho American workmen Englsn writer's gener
ally speak with respect or American industries ana
manufactures. Inventivensss and skill have been
freely accorded to them. aud their composition iet
the markets OF the world. English writer's have MOI
been allow to accord admiration American suh and
eficlency.
FREE TRADE CONTEMPT FOR AMERICAN woRKMES.
My present purpose Is snpy 20 point ous this sntas
onism Of American Free Trade to the wcrkinRman ~
exhibited In the declarations Of prominent American
Free Trade advocates quote first from The Sfudeni
and Statesman, FrseTrade Journal of suspended AMI
nation. The article is from the pen OF Pro
lessor Perry. @ho anirms that mo one VIII De
bold enough to deny that all articles OF necessity ano
comfort with the single exception OF food are n the
United States deas price and poorer In quay than
In any otDer civilized country in the world The poor
&ha ia fla
ness OF the price. Now. afilrn without fear Of
contradiction that there 10 not another country In tne
civilized world 10 watch. for example, cotton umbrella
suit clotdes OF any ale for either sex. common
crockery kit OF TOOLS kettle. steel rails, nails
aud hammers, silk nat. hosiery and knit goods and
writing paper and pens dear in price and 40 poor
quality price for price, as in these United States Of
ours" Student and Salesman No. B., AND notwith-
standing tnis vretcDed condition IN winch We are FOUND
the wretcned OF all lands fleeing and tmpoyer-
ished England Is sending Us ner paupers, whom she
counts by milionsi But logic OF facts Is never
diets their theory.
The Hon. David A. Wells, IL. D.. has ~
equally contemptuous estimate OF American mechaD-
les. In his article In The Princeton Rerse~
for May page $685. order to dscrsdit the assumption
that the manufacturer "n net deficient In the
invention aud use OF machinery" he adds IN ootsi In
view OF reports VI American Consuis tns Large quant
ties OF old Ien machinery, which Engisa manufao'
turers nave discarded, cOntn uousy bought Tor the
price OF old metal and expJrted to the United states Ter
manufacturing perhaps the assumption Is noe ruy
warranted" ouf woollens being manufactured WITHHOLD
cast-on English machinery PROBABLY emeoldened Mr.
Thomas G. snearman TO say In lecture In Detroit:
the worst cloth In the world Is made In tho United
States No good woollens made In America
Now II what these advocates OF Free Trade affirm In
true the sIppO ed mechanical genius OF our counrymen
Is nothing utter stupidity There is no civil
ICED does make boIn better ana cheaper
goods Tie common implements OF our CON-
mon industncs-the axe, hammer. saw, plane,
plough ouluyator. reaper aod mower. sewing
maoaine etc, ETC., little better than shams,
compared those OF other nations Our railroads. our
haDtaions the machinery by wnicn they are 60 largely
built rivers. our bridges. must all
bar OF this stupidity OF the American
meonanci TINS Ia the spirit OF FREQ Trade toward our
indusiesi 1t Is defamation Of our National character
products Of industries surpass vaue the pro-
duets OF any nation Of Europe. English and French
travellers have oorne very different testimony from
the Free Trade American de,rctors and have acKnowi
edged that Europe much 70 approhend from Am"r-
can potIion In the Said the British comnis
sioner MoHay IN hs report to Parliament on the Gen.
Philadelphia eft Is foolish not to recognize
the fact Philadelphia Great Britain was In face Of
powerful rival Ia manufacturer" And The Lon
i0a Times: "Uuless lnanuiacl urers besur snens-
selves they nhe Americans) will completely command
collected almost to any eHent but the workingmcn Of
America need no vindcauon OF nine against the Sian
ders OF Free Trade.
THE coBDEN CLUB DISPUTE.
recently called stfeaton 10 the earnest and perse-
yerng efforts OF the Golden CluD for the of
America Free Trade 1 sssaiIed no mans character.
affirmed nothing which not matter of common
por aud OF every body's Wedges but advocates
" The Cooden Club Mr.. David A. Wells and MI Thomas
c. sbearnsu, have been passionaIey stirred as though
the truth must suppressed at all costs add the puoic
attention be diverted TO issues. To do this they
have used trick OF tricks;ers but, submit.
becoming gentiem,n. TIey aavs brought false &C
ouse,ions. have Manufactured would appear
criminal aud then assuaiug tone OF lofty virtue have
graclousy pleased administer TO ostly ad'
vice for the good OF my soul az a missionary" a
mlnister"a teacher OF youta."a "coleSe president"
etc. etc. Mr. shoarman makes the indecent proposal of
dragging college faculty. Judge, into personal POI
rical sQusbble WHOM he fruicssly endeavors get
Up shall be expected take any notice this
his the character OF teacher and critic with
gard TO Turkey Is too funny to be passed over.
oLD-rIME TURKISH POLICY.
fremarked that til 1888 the policy OF Turkey far
had any financial policy, protective, and there
many Industries moderately prosperous. Had Mr.
shearman known anything about Turkish AFFAIRS. he
would have that the above phraseoogy chosen
avoid tho necessity Of explaining condition fittings
extremely unlike anything acquainted with And
make himself slightly ridiculous In say
ing positively that the turkish tariff had remained
obanged with regard to Brush gooos for than
last 400 years.
The readers or THE TRIBuSB may be interested to
know something OF the character Of Tursh commerce.
not "more than 400 ye' rs old" hut during the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries The Greek En-
pire fell In 1853 amt the remainder OF the fifteenth
and during ns sixteenth century there very little
Of English with Turkey. Toe COMPILATIONS"
10 often referred u turkish history were at |
1rst privileges granted 10 foreigners, and also |
10 any mmgrating Consap The design OF
"MehmeG the Conquoror" Ia granting tnese privileges
was 10 build up his newly acquired. magnhornt but
desolated capital In time foreigners began oiam
these privileges they were enlarged added to- subtract