The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-18
Free Trade Banquet.
speaker Carlisle Explains His Views in
Carefully Prepared After Dinner
speech in New York

The New York Free Trade Club ate its sixth an
nnai dinner at Delmonicos Saturday night. The
tables were full, among the guests being Speaker
OSrns-e Letters of regret were read from Senators
bayard Of Delaware Pendleton of Ohio and Beck
OF Kentucky, and Charles Francis Adams and Hem
ry Ward Beecher. The president, Everett p
Wheeler, welcomed the guests especially Speaker
Carlisle As the speakers name was mentioned
those present arose and cheered and when. in re-
sponse TO the first toast the speaker arose in his
place, every man in the room stood up and
cheered again and again.
Mr. Carlisle delivered speech that had evidently
been carefully prepared. He spoke clearly and
with earnestness AID his remarks were listened to
with interest. Mr. Carlslss speech was made in
resp nse to the toast, "Our Federal Union."
He called attention to one of the most copsnicu-
Gus changes offered by the American people In the
Union es ablished in 1873. The formation Of un-
lou peacefully and vountar under the conditions
which made such radical changes in the relation be-
| tween tile several ates themselves and between
| them and the general government, was undoub,ed-
/ ly one OF the creates. political Movements OF
modern times. In other part of the world
| could such change have been peacefully made at
that tme and perhaps it is equally safe to say that
/ II could not have been made here 20 or 80 wears
| later, The old federation possessed no means Of
sustaining itself In fact it had power to impose
taxes, to regulate commerce. or TO administer ius-
tce. 1t had but one of the essential departments
OF real governmelt, the legislature and eveL that
| was detective and almost impotent. Each State
had right to lay and impose dutrs. There was no
Limitation whatever III the power of any state 10
| American state brought within its limits for con-
sumption For the purpose Of protecting
its owd manu- aetures, the State of New York had
luiI wer 70 impose any rate Of duty upon Phila-
de phia goods, and New Jersey possessed the same
power IN respect to the products OF New York But
tne trainers OF the constitution believed that fl ee
Trade, absolutely free trade between the several
states, was imperatively demanded by the int erpsts
OF the people. This free trade was est .bli he'd NV
1 ra. h.fr ~.
, ates then exis ing. but between ali the states
@ Sat might there 'fttr exit AS mem of the ed
eral tin; and most all viii ad lit that the won
deful transportation of tn country is Attributable
largely t. that provision more largely than 10 snv
tween the States, our internal commerce h.s eai.
y and rapidly grown until it has reached 10 SS :
| oOO,uOO,UOO. More than 900 miles of raii-
| road have been constructed over which almost in
Vulnerable rains instantly passing caIryiuo
manufactured and other arucles from State 10
| oiats, viii our great waterways are crowded
with steamers laten with products from every part
| OF the Union. The markets of New York are az
free as the markets OF Phiade phia and as free "a
| the markets of Savannah, Mobile and Charleston.
| What uiherel picture the speaker said this
country presents from what it would have present.
ed if the policy of restriction and protection .d
| prevailed among the States, as il has d E.
vailed for so many Years between the
tue liberal policy established by the coustitniion
our of internal com ulieation are inc easine
Free commercial intercourse between the ties has
promoted the development of nAtional resources
| fOstered agriculture and manufacture and added
millions TO the wealth of the people, while The pro-
tee i've system has, to large ent at least shut
| us out from the markets Of other eounIrirs, and
| brought US substantially to the demands OF ho q
| consumption, and in many cases has actually ar
rested The ire deveopmenl of grsaJ industrial In.
terests The constitution ouly ,ohibited tn states
from laying imposts, f. ON duties ON imports or ex-
ports but II expressly delegated to Congress power
70 collect duties to pay for general welfare This
Ia SIMPLY the power to raise for public pur
poses IL is monstr us abuse TO it, not for the
purpose of RAISING revenue but for the purpose Of
| prohibiting commerce. 10 Is, Il possible, stih
greater abuse OF that power to employ t Tor private
| instead OF Tor public purposes. Let no man, pray
| you, misunderstood me upon this point. Inc e1-
| Perenee alone has shown that It is almost impossi
Die TO devise any scheme that will not instantly IN
greater less degrees eiheripjure or beneh private
Industrial Interests mean 10 say, th { whsn tne
primary object OF that taxation Is the roster
ing of private interests it is not in the ultimate,
used for the power OF taxation but Is simply spoiia
tion. Taxation only for The pu' pose OF Easing
| revenue for public use should be tue established
| law (Cheer-9 will aid any body of men in
| bringing about this grand result