The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-04-13
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES"

The free traders, having been driven
nom every every other position they
have taken in their assault against the
protective system Of this country, UNI
der which we have enjoyed degree Of
prosperity unequaled by any other ma
ton on earth, are now compelled TO take |
new departure. They now propose TO |
discuss tho question on high moral
basis. Mr.. Joseph H. Walker is put
forth as the leading apostle Of this new
political gospel and he made his debut
in his new role before the Massachusetts,
Club in tho city Of Boston. His choice
ola locality in which 10 expound the
new theory and open up the moral cam
paign against national policy which
has proved 30 greatly beneficial 70 this
country, was of course wise one, and
it is proper that the first attack upon
that policy, because it has not been
equally beneficial to our transatlantic
neighbors, should be made as near as
possible if not in the old cradle Of hber-
ty and the first demand made upon the
United States to shape its professional
policy with an equal regard 10 the pros
perity of tho British nation and people
as to our own should be made in Bos-
ton. 1t will find as many adherents in
Boston and in the Massachusetts, Club as
in any other great commercial city or
club in America. His plea for the aban-
donment ola policy under which we
have risen from the condition of fee BILE
dependent British colonies to front
rank among the great powers Of the
world, outstripped the mother country
in population and national prosperity,
general intelligence and improvement,
may be more readily accepted in modern
Boston ("Athens of America'') than
elsewhere. 1t may be that the idea
that it is the highest moral duty of the
American people to sacrifice their own
best interest and national prosperity to
that of England will find more favor In
Boston than any other locality in the
Union. Our free traders may imagine
that the highest moral duty of the
American people is to guard against the
adoption of any national policy they are
not certain will be equally as good for
England as for America. That we shall
be particularly careful to bear always in
mind that injunction in the great code
of morals which enjoins upon all people
the cultivation of love for their enemies
and to do good to those who despitefully
entreat them. If this injunction was not
specially designed Tor the guidance of
| the American people in their dealings
with the English nation these high
moral free traders believe it was. And
taking into consideration the known
fact that the English government never
nneegglects an opportunity to show its old
us, and when the ''SOiid South, Backed ax kHSdi
by the sympathetic announcement OF
the Golden cOpperhead free traders OF
the North, were engaged in q mighty
effort to destroy the Union, these Brit
ish people for whom our protective pol
icy is not of good, though very good for
US, gave them all the aid and comfort in
their power, cashed their stolen bonds,
furnished them arms and ammunition,
built and equipped vessels Of war, man
ned their privateers and blockade run
ners, and kindly loaned them British
flags under which they could escape
search and seizure by our cruisers, and
now when they can claim that it is
American protection and not their own
free trade policy that has injured them
these high moral free traders believe it
is the high moral duty of the American
| nnnnlo from rnnfiuoo nf
ity and obedience to the higher law to
abandon the policy which has carried
us to height of prosperity never at
tanned in the same time by any other
nation and adopt that of England which
they admit failure. This they claim
would be but the fulfilling of the law
and an exhibition of magnanlmity and
love for enemies unequalled in the
worlds history. They make no effort to
induce England to change her policy
which Is throwing her into the back
ground among the nations of the world,
old as well as new, for the probable rea-
son that such an exhibition of human
folly would give the American people
such glorious reputation throughout
the whole earth for pure benevolence
and love for their enemies as no nation
in the annals Of states has ever won in
the past or is likely to do in the future.
These new departure free traders admit
protection is good for us but Mr.. Walker
says if it has It has been at the expense
of other nations, and instead of urging
upon them the adoption of cur good
policy this over-zealous philanthropic
and renowned political apostle calls up
on US to give up our good policy for Eng
lands bad one. But this high moral
| crank's argument Is inst az good az anY
free traders. It's only merit is that it
does not hold up to the world our coun-
try as a nation of paupers.