New-York tribune., 1884-01-10
of the question wisely, it certainly need not be
for want of ample knowledge.
"PJGHT and BEST FOR ALL.p

RIGHT AND BEST run 1LL.'
Representative Chace, of Rhode Island, adj
dressed the Senior Class of Haverford College
last night on the tariff question from the point
of view that protection is right and best for all
Ii is evident from perIlsa of this able address,
a report of which we publish, that NJ. Chase
has made thorough study of the subject, and
mere theorist will hesitate to contradict him
without acareful examination of the facts pre-
sented
In the opening Mr.. Chace showed that theO-
retically political economists were quarrelling
over the abstract economic theories, each in
turn denOuncing the may and prcpostcrous as
sumption of the other, until they confuse rather
than elucidate the industrial questions they are
trying to solve; and that, after all, political
economy was loosely defined science.
Referring TO Great Britain, he brought ont
the fact that the English only pretended to be
Free Traders and III order to make the pretence
as much like reality as possible were doing
their own producers and wagc-eaners a great
injustice by admitting unlimited importation OF
foreign manufactures. He also pointed out that
the E20, 100000 customs duties is raised in the
worst way it possibly could be raised, on what
have become the common neccssaries Of life to
the workingman-tca, coffee, cocoa, ETC.
while high-priced luxurics, like silks, satlns,
laees and gloves, are imported free. THE
TRIBUNE readers have already been made fam
iliar with the condition of the industrial
classes in free-trade England, but Mr.. Chace
produced some vivid pictures of their suffering
whole families living in single rooms, where
they sleep, eat, multiply and die. In short, want
of work and consequent low wages have
brought, according to distinguished English
statstcian, 100000 ont of a population of
81, 100000 or one in every five, to the verge
of paupeTism.
A new feature in tariff discussion, and one
that will effectively expose the fallacy Of
free trade, is Mr.. Chacc's admirable
table of English VS.. American prices for staple
articles of hardware. One of the strongest
protection arguments is the ultimate benefit TO
the consumer. 1t would seem impossible for a
Free Trader to confront such a table as that pre-
scnted by Mr.. Chace. In the course of hls adj
dress Mr. Chace convicts Professor Arthur j..
Perry of deliberate attempt to mislead by the
use of figures, in order to show that the re-
moval Of duties on certain articles increased
trade. 1t appears that Professor Perry was
guilty OF taking tIe value Oh tuo 'o'oi
exports from Venezuela between 1862 and 1876,
and having established decided increase in
the total, of attributing it to the removal OF the
duty on hides. Mr.. Chace shows that during
the period in question the value of the total
exports Of hides had actually decreased nearly
a million and a half dollars. Professor
Perry attempted to convey the idea that the in
creased importation of hides due to free trade
was 800 per centum, whereas Mr.. Chace shows
that it fell off during that period nearly 10
per cent
There have oflate been few more valuable doc
uments on the advantages protection than this
address, which not only deals with the weak
ness of free trade, but establishes the strength
of protection, and shows conclusivcly that it is
fright and best for all"