National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-10-10
snmrie Free Trnde Arguments.

Are manufacturers, as q class, public
enomiosy Are the men whose brains, en-
tCrprsc, aud capital have developed the
resources Of the country, built up towns
aud cities, given employment to millions
and added billions to the wealth Of the ma
tiOn, to be written down rs dangerous
malefactors because Of such business opera
tionsY Are they to be treated as II they
had been detected in plots to burn cities or
spread pestilence9
We ask these questions because they arc
pertinent, because they are suggested by
the temper, tone, and manner adopted by
the free trade Democrats whenever they
find or make occasion to speak Of the
American manufacturers.
Some weeks ago there was n meeting Of
the manufacturers Of Rhode Island held in
the city Of Providence, and, after due DELHI
Grafton, resolutions were adopted protesting
against any disturbance Of business by tariff
agitation during the coming session Of Con-
grcss. These gentlemen urged that after
long period Of serious depression, our man
ufacturing industries were beginning to
show signs Of revival. 1t seemed unwiset to
cnlly as there could be no possibility Of
agreement by a majority Of both houses Of
Congress.
The protest OF these Ehode Island manu-
facturers affected the free traders in much
the same way as q display Of red flags i'm
presses q herd Of bulls. Tho Carlisle organs
have been believing with mge ever since
the Rhode islanders ventured to express an
opinion. OF course Mr.. Watterson's news
paper is loudest and flerccst In its issue
of the sth instant it says;
The action of the Rhode Island protection
lists In meeting recently in convention and
formally expressing TO the administration and
Congress their desire TO be let alone has not
as yet had the effect Of securing them their
| wishes j. $. Moore, for instance, who knows
as well MS anybody why the protectionists
snould not be let alone has been stirred up
niresh by this convention, and he gives some
| pertinent reasons why some of these Rhode
Island proteCtionists in particular should not
| be let alone.
Here is the preface of Mr.. Moore's pro-
found argument which Mr.. Watterson's
newspaper editorlally reproduces and in
dorses
| III is astonishing now many people could DC
made happy ifthcy were only left alone. The
interesting nihilist and the amiablc dynamiter
| only ask to be LEFT alohe. The emperor of Rus.
sia-all he asks from his loving (?) subjects and
children is 10 be eft alone. The star-routers
bcggcu TO be LEFT alone. All the respectable
bank presidents, directors, managers, tellers,
and others who have been unfortunate, and
have expatriated themselves to Canada or
| places unknown, have but one DESIRE and that
Is TO be left alone.
We are assured several thousand times a
year that the refinement, the culture, the
Lest thought and highest civilization are all
tending toward free trade. Mr.. Watterson
and Mr.. Moore almost make this assurance
a reality by their treatment of the "solid
men, Of Rhode Island
A national mass convention of horse
thieves would not have elected from the
Democratic press q 1.-THE of the indignation
and abuse bestowed on these gentlemen,
whose ofIense consists in having made a
frank, candid reply to inquiries addressed
to them by the Secretary Of the Treasury.