New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-13
OPPOSING PROTECTION.
nrso,1 ,r1oxs OF THE FREE TRADERS.
,>,.,,,xp1NG FREE SHIPS AND THE ABOLITION o'
OBSTRUCTIVE NAVIGATION LAWS.


..Tbe Pauper Labor of Europe" by Thomas IT, HH''i
,oon ~ Brooklyn; Does High Tariff on Wool benen'
the Wool Growers r. by Rowland Hazard. OF hnoI'
Island " Agriculture, Machinery and Tarln' pS w. ID
Starter of Ohio The Tariff aDd Shlp-oni'uI"s' "
wu,,a,n q Gibbons OF Delaware; "The Tariff Manu-
facturers and the People" by j. B. Sargent Oh Oopeo
cut and The Tariff in its Relation to the boo' anu
Industry" by James Means, OF Massachusetts JoSep
Quincy OF Massachusetts,read transiationo i al '0
rso.ntIv pnblished In La Union, Gillian paper pub
Ished in Valparaiso, in which free uaue oet"eeh 'Ne
Tinted states and South America was discussed
At the afternoon session the following officers were
elected President David A. Wells; vice presidents,
Thomas Holland, New-York Justus Clark, Iowa; NJ NJ.
Trumbur Illinois W. p. Fishback, Indiana W. T.
Wells Michigan T. s. HARDWOOD Nebraska; e1'doV-
ernor J. g. Phelps Missouri b. A. Forman Louisiana :;
+ W. Dawson, South Carolina W. NJ. Sncerly, Penn
sylyanla; ex. GovernorJ. s. Robinson, Kansas: j. q.
Smith, ONO II. l.. Pierce, Massachusetts,; D.
b. Sargent, Connecticut Henry Waltersoh' hen
tucky ]. 7. Stevens, New-Jersey; W. u Jen
kins, Texas j. r. Whitman Oregon !;
william Gibson, Delaware; Rowland Hayward huoue
Island; B. b. Hubert Minnesota.
The report OF the Committee Resolutions was AFTER
much discussion adopted as follows: We submit TO the
people of United States that the continuance OF
the war tariff with duties averaging ~ per cent
on over $50 articles Of domestic consumption, AMI
a much higher specific duty on many crude materials
has prolonged the evils of war in times OF profound
peace has been the principal cause Of the CONNER
cia and Industrial depression Of recent years By fore
ing labor ana capital from naturally profitable into I'M
profitable lines of business and By adding to the cost OF
production 1t has decreased the common productive ca
nacity of labor and capital and thereby reduced both
the wages OF and the profits OF capital has pro-
voked aDtagonisn between labor and capital against
which great natural resources and our free insttu
tons should protected has impaired our power
to compete with other manufacturing nations In the
markets OF the world and DISTRACTED national pro
sress and development II has destroyed many
branches of business and has kept our
people from engaging In other branches
OF business which would have given Increased
employment to labor. By preventing our buying from
nations who willing to buy from us, and by provok
ing retaliation in like spirit, instead OF promoting
friendly reciprocity 1t has INSTRUCTED the consumption
agricultural and manufactured products by other
countries and has driven commerce from the sea-
BY impairing domestic power TO buy. 1t has pre-
vented the full development of our Interstate commerce
and reduced the legitimate profits OF traffic, and has
driven into bankruptcy large number Of our transport
alton companies and made domestic traffic more costly
Through the influence Hobbies it has enhrOned
iobbng and corruption in legislative halls and has
impeded the reform OF the Civil Service
short, taking by force the earnings Of one class OF
men to enrich another class. 1t is opposed
10 the spirit OF American liberty and of
the Constitution; It has imposed new
industrial slavery II has prevented the national pro-
ress wealth among the farming classes, decreased
enforced dleness of working restricted our manu-
features their natural markets. and demoralized
the general business of the country.
While holding accordingly that taxes in aid Of
private interest for other than the re-
qurement of government are un American unjust and
unwise and that every protective feature must at the
earliest possible date be ersdcated from our revenue
system, invite all who oppose the abuses of the
present arih TO join us In promoting immediate steps OF
wages diminish the frequency Of strikes develop bust
ness, and restore our nag 70 the seas; ., -. A. -.
We therefore urge upon Congress for action at the en-
/. That under no pretence shall any countenance
whatever be TO attempt 10 increase protective
duties.
Industries should in the interests of labor and Of
merce. be freed from duty whether they be crude ma
terias as lumber salt, wool, etc. partly
ufactured, chemicals, dye-suls, piglrOn, unplate
g. That on products from articles duties should
be correspOndngly reduced, so that the proec
tOn, real nominal to manufacturers shall not be m
creased and That the consumers snail nave the IuIheu
ate benefit Of the reduction.
pity the present complicated classification and should
do away with mixed duties replacing them by ad vaorem
instead OF specific duties, which most burden
some to low priced goods consumed by the great body
We demand free ships and the abolition OF re
srictye navigation laws, which together with the taTl
have driven our flag from the seas and We oppose
We revenue refOrmers TO vote only for such Con-
gressiOnal candidates as openly oppose tarn ioI pro
tecon and to take steps to nominate Independent can
didatcs when al party Ganddates oppose taTn reform
literature aud promoting organization especially in close
Congressional districts
A minority report submitted by Mr. HarpOe, OF
Kansas demanding IAN immediate reduction OF all
protective tariff purely basis" Second,
believe that all indirect taxation should event
ually be abolished; that the expense of Government
should be borne by property instead of individuals"
The majority report finally adopted shows the sense
OF the convention.
The announcement that Henry Ward Beecher would
speak this evenings session OF the conference at
tracted an audience that packed the Central Music Hall
pearance. however President David A. Wells delivered
most prominent argument Of the Proteconists, the
markable growth and present magnhcence OF the com
10 the people reflection on their Intelligence.
Mr.. Beecher was greeted with loud and continued APP
pause He began by referring to the oftquoted conce
OF the manufacturers that they alone in position
70 tan the OF the tarf question no
the best policy to follow was to place a
ex9enses Of govern@ent the innate elasHnes Of the peo
pie born of their ignorance would make the operation Of
MUM The speaker history OF liberty
from liberty Of thought liberty OF speech and Of action
ibery OF thought in relation to commerce had led to
liberty of speech in favor of the removal Of
and action that would eventually succeed Mr. Beechcr
amd great applause and laughter said that protection
statesmen protection would die natural death in spite
of the devil but POLITICIANS wero not statesmen they
he'll and ordered people about it was SAID that such was
the necessity Of war The speaker thought at the time
but lie had to believe that country less fitted
said. was not paerna Government, and, he added "a
pateTnal governments an internal governmental
Mr.. Beecher spoke in most uncOm plimentary
language OF custom houses and SAID he be-
leyed from personal observation that II there was
such thing as protane oath II could in
Variaby be found In the courts and custom houses
quoting the secretary OF the National Labor OrganZato
Mr. Ia cher said there In this country
million laborers unemployed. Alter referring TO
ona reSping tRs pros in wien d.coTereS
Industries. which resulted in inevitable overprOducton
and ultimate effect of throwing laborers again out
OF work, he remarked that there was 10 tari1
and wondered II the pTOectonsts were thinking
Of
imported pauper labor This Intensely amusing to
the audience and It's suppressed laughter increased to
roar when the speaker remarked that this country was
large exporter-Of religion. This country sent
millions OF dollars TO heather countries to instil the
principles OF Christianity into the minds of unbeever
while the article went abegging at home This country
was liberal in exporting religion for the beneht or
ihe Leatnen. hnL when those benlghted inAlXlanals