New-York tribune., 1884-02-26

moreover supports his views anu demands rco
Trade @in the name Of the young men OF the
country, who regard this question as the most
important one in politics" This Is decisive
He ought perhaps to have mentioned ages so
that the country would have known precisely
how Young he and his constituents really are
Then il would have been in order for some one
to appcar before the committee in behalf OF
American infants. They need Protection surely :;
and it may be that Mr. Bowker does Also
Now Mr.. Sherman is an astute lawyer, and
on economic questions a formidable conuover-
sialist He may have the attorneys propensity
for seeing only one side of the case and sum-
ming up the evidence with strong bias IN
favor of his own client; but he has, at least,
made a thorough study of the principles oil
economic science, and ordinarily writes ana
speaks clearly and forcibly on this subject. On
this occasion. however, his brief seems unex-
pectedly weak. Apparently it has been pre-
pared with special reference to the strong
points. not of his own case, but OF the other
side. For example, he quotes Mr. Chamberlain
as expressing apprehension lest the repeal OF
the American tariff shall injurc the British eX-
port trade. Mr.. Chamberlain, the diplOmatlst,
may have said that at Golden Club jubilee,
but Mr.. Chamberlain, the manufacturer, never
thought anything of the sort. Every manu-
facturcr with whom Mr.. Porter talked during
his English Journeys blurted ont the truth that
the only hope for better times and improved
trade was grounded upon the conversion OF TINS
country to Free Trade. Z" That" said one OF Hud-
dcrsfeld's largest woollen manufacturers, " VIII
give us back at least part OF the htty millions
of customers of whom we have been robbed by
your high war tariff" This is the common logic
of the masters of English industry.
When asked TO explain why British manu-
facturers oppose colonial tariffs, MIR. Shearman
replies that these are barriers to the export
trade. What, then, is the United States tariff
if not n barrier to the British export trade,
which English manufacturers are anxious 10
have removed How fatuOus, moreover Is his
prediction that an advance of % per cent IN
wages. coupled with an extraordinary degree OF
material prosperity, will attend the establish
meut of Free Trade. Are not wages to-day
higher. in the United States with Protection
than in England, and are not American achlcVe-
ments in debt-paying and industrial develop
mcnt already he marvel OF the modern world
How idle, too, is the assumption that MI. i OrleI
only visited one or two towns III germany,
where wages were temporarily advanced for his
benefit. and that in reality worllingmen are paid
less today than they were few years ago
under Free Trade Mr.. Porter made an eX-
baustive study of the economic conditions OF
Germany. and demonstrated that wages had
risen and that the country was becoming pros
pcrous under Protection. In the face OF the
emigration statistics, how weak is the plea that
English worlingmen are as well paid as their
American brethren and vastly better on
Finally. how preposterous is the assertion that
Ireland. of MI countries in the world, has pros
ucred under Free Trade. wages having risen
from 100 TO 100 per cent
SO weak presentation OF the Free Trade Hioe
of thi, National controversy tends to excite
surprise Can it be true that Mr. Shcarman has
been retained by those sly old monopoiists III
PENNSYLVANIA" to argue the ease in the interest
Of ~pig-iron and Protection "? Cynical observ-
crs might be tempted TO think so, were 1t not
for two facts. Mr.. Shearman appears on tins
occasion as the representative of the Brooklyn
Revenue Reform Club, and his fantastic ally
Mr.. Bowkcr, is the special champion OF the cal
low youth of America. Neither the Club nor
the youth can be trihcd with.