The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-05-24

We haze received a copy of the
letters recently published by F. B.
Nash, Jr., of Fargo. Mr. Nash will be
remembered as the chaplain ofthe LIST
Regiment D.. N. G. who was present
at the encampment last fall.
He believes that the true policy for
America is free trade, going further
in his advocacy of that doctrine than
is deemed by many, prudent at the
present time. He thinks the time has
arrived of which the late lamented
Garfield spoke in 1870, ultimate
free trade-that free trade which can
only be achieved through a reasonable
protection"
His letters are replete with argu-
ments from the speeches and writings
of prominent statesmen and political
economists of world wide reputation.
Mr.. Nash is a thorough believer in
aggressive agitation. He attacks the
doctrines and practices Of the protec.
%tionists from every side. He upholdss
the idea that free trade would pro-
mote the reform Of the civil service.
Everyone knows what a figure
this question Of the reform of our
service has cut in the politics Of late
years. An enormous amount oflabor,
thought, speech and printers ink, has
been expended in the effort to bring
it about"
And Mr.. Nash seems to think that
$50 long as there are so many custom
house Offices to be filled, SO long as our
complicated and absurd tariff makes
all these custom house officials neces.
sary, just so long will civil service re.
form be impossible"
The Reverend Free.trader considers
that there is q moral side to this great
question; says he:-''It is a practical
carrying out Of the christian doctrine
that all men are brethren. The idea
in protection is that we should aim
solely at Il selfish development Of our
own interests, and with this selfish aim
it naturally ends in failure to accom-
plish hat aim. The object of protec.
ton is to abolish imports regardless OF
the cost to our people, and yet while
the duties are twice as high as those OF
any other Nation, we are the heaviest
importers Of manufactured goods OF
them all. Protection takes the posi-.
ton, that Nations are natural enemies.
Free trade, on the contrary, holds
that Nations, instead of being natural
enemies, are natural friends; and that
in a universal prosperity and reciproc.
ity of trade, each Nation will find its
own best estate.
While not %disputing that there may
be in this question such a view as
preachers love to picture, a millenial
condition of happiness and prosperity
for nations, we confess that for the
present emergency and crisis in our
country, it is one only, which, because
it affects our pockets, can receive popu.
lar attention, and such it is receiving
to-day, for it is without doubt the
greatest economical problem of the
century.
These letters are nevertheless worthy
of perusal. for they evidently bear the
marks of great research, much care
and deep thought and we congratulate
the gentleman, that in stepping down
from the pulpit and the discussion OF
theologic questions. he has. ventured
in the right direction, for it is as true a
that God lives-and Garfield died THAI
the ultimate advantages to be derived
:, from trade and commerce and the
laws thereof, must result from the
principle and the practice Of un'
qualified free trade. between the ma
tions; for their reasonableness ant
t%ruthfulness no one will dare to con
!, tradict or gainsay.
Evo11roinn Rafaa