The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-10-23
An Influential Convert.
,0nsin State ,JOurna1.

Wisconsin State journal
Colonel W. NJ Grosvener, who was for many
years conspicuous free trade advocate, has,
by the ,tnanswerable logic of our country phe-
nominal progress for the past twenty years,
been finally converted to the doctrine Of Ar1eri-
can protection to home industries. He was the
writer, SOME years. since, Of a Work entitled,
Docs Protection Protect2 in which he substan-
tally upheld the theories now maintained by the
free trade doctrinalres of the east. AS a jour-
nalistic, he was engaged some years in writing
free trade articles for The st. Louis De1t1u-
graf The absurd cainpalgn Of 1872, in Which
the frec-trade DEMOCRACY were supporting
for the presidency one of the most notable and
aggressive protectionists then living, and dis
cussions which that campaign ongendered seem
to have put Col. Grosvencr upon new train of
thought, which, aided by the beneficient work
ings of our protective system since, has in
duced him to openly proclaim his change of
opinions. In an address before The Union
League club, of Philadelphia, lie declarad that
the political assaults of his old free trade as
sociatcs upon the protective system fare not
intelligent; they are ignorant laundering and
incapable In the hands Of s'ich men, with what:
ever theories, the nation would be wrecked"
"Unlike the bourbons," says he II hope I am
able to learn something in fifteen years. Many
things which I have doubted or disbe-
lieved have been demonstrated before my
eyes. !, 1t is not the part Of manhood to
one of those who believe that by much think
ing they can spin out of themselves an infalli-
bic theory That sort of political economy
has ever had my profound contempt. have
tried to be an honest student of facts, and
when the facts call for new conclusions am
not afraid to form them. I pity the man that
can learn no new thing from this miracle work
ing nineteenth century: pity the man who can
learn nothing from 57,CO0.O00 live Americans
as they work new wonders every day. My
own opinions have in many respects been
changed by the results realized during the
past ten years, and especially by the in
creasing rewards of industry here. :" It may
be that after the asperities of the present
election and campaign are over, the geniuses
which preside over the editorial columns of
The New York Times, The Evening Post, not
to mention The Louisville Courier-J Journal, will
revise their economic creeds, will study anew
the tariff question in the light of later develop
ments, and like their willom fellow disciple,
Colonel Grosvener, be regenerated into
newer and better faith. Many others of the
free traders are hating between two opinions,
and after mature elaboration at the demo-
cratic national convention, committee
composed of some Of the most radical
of tho alleged revenue reformers did
form "t distinc,ly e contine the party to free
trade but by oircun1location and unmeaning if
not contradictory sentences, constructed a for
mula which as a specimen Of ambiguity is not
surpassed in the English OF any other language
Two adverse ideas in it are SO ingeniously
balanced that it is still d matter Of dispute
even among it's authors as to which has the
preponderance, and the color Of the chameleon
could not be more indeterminate. 1t is hardly
among the possibilities that the good sense Of
the American people will lead them to side
with a party whose position upon so important
an issue is so cquivocal and uncertain.