The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-10
THE MORAL RELATIONS OF FREE TRADE,

Trade is The great peace maker, the
great means of civilization. The mcr-
chants are the first missionaries. Civil
ization is accomplished when every man
enjoys his full rights, respects the rights
OF others, gives of his best and gets OF
others best. In this spirit free trade
considers nations and men as friends not
foes The old notion was that nations
are adversarIes to each other Tariff
Convention of 1881 hence 1.-THE COM
mercial policy rather to be called tine
monumental policy, of restricting trade.
In these days we believe in the brother>
hood of man. This involves friendliness
between nations This is the doctrine of
republics as opposed to monarchies, of
democracles as opposed to aristocracies
This is the doctrine of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence. This Is
the doctrine of the Christian religion.
The human race is one family, in which
the interest of each is best served BY the
interests of all. Free trade thus holds
TO the equality OF man. to friendiness, to
peace.
The protective policy takes the con-
trary view. 1t holds that free intercourse
is an evil, and so seeks by taxes to build
Chinese walls between nations One of
It's chief arguments is that nations must
be ready for war, by independence" of
other nations. 1t has war always in
mind. But a man grows strong and SELF
reliant not by shutting himself up by
himself, but through friendly exercise
with his neighbors So a nation best
prepares for a just war, when it must
needs come, by making the most of the
blessings of peace. by growing strong and
rich No protection" can cause saltpe-
tire, or gunpowder, to exist where it does
not already exist; on the other hand, any
nation which has wealth with which to
buy can buy gunpowder when it needs.
America in especial can safely leave to
Europe her standing armies and the taxes
with which she keeps ready for war, and
make the most of our blessing by not be-
ing afraid to trade freely with every ma
ton for the best it can give us.
Freedom is the breath of all true pros
perity. Freedom IN politics makes
strong states. Freedom in religion pros
duces pure and intelligent churches.
Freedom of trade makes sound com
merce. Freedom of labor--freedom of
the individual to emigrate, to choose his
own market to make his own bargains,
to augmenting his own wages by aug>
menting the value of his own labor-is
indispensable to the permanent prosperity
of the great community of workingmen.
Free trade is only one of the many
forms of unrestricted human action which
poets, philosophers, and the common
people worship under the name OF liberty,
and, like freedom of thought, freedom of
Speech freedom of association. freedom
of religious observance, is an impre-
scriptible right of man, which guarantees
his manhood and assures the numberless
blessings of high and benefcent
civilization" Surely the United States
should take the lead in the adoption of Il
free>trade policy, which, while founded
upon worldwide considerations, cannot
fail to be twice blessing him
who gives and him who takes, in the
spirit of mutual reciprocity and good
will" Surely it is for America to be the
apostle among nations of the gospel of
peace on earth, goodwill among men. E"
Any one suffering with rheumatism