The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-01
What is Free Trade?

1t is fact that, possibly with the
exception of Mr.. Henry George, the
tree-traders in this country, to man
refuse to own their true name. They
dare not do it.. To do SO would be to
commit political suicide. On the con-
trary they spurn the ''epithet" with
great vehemence, and smilingly assure
you that they are only innocent "tarlf1
reformers." They talk patronizingly
about a tariff for revenue only, lii
cidental protection" reduction OF tax
alton. " free raw materials, p" ''reduc-
ing the surplus and string of like
phrases, which, so far as they mean
anything, mean straight free trade;
nothing more, nothing less. The pro-
lectionist does not thus juggle with
words. Indeed, he has but one word
protection-and it bears its true die
tionary significance every time and
everywhere.
No man need 60 wrong as to what is
protection and what is free trade.
they are DIANE trically opposed. These
two great systems stand with their
policies clearly marked out and defined.
On the one side is protection, and
over against it is free trade. Free
trade has but one meaning in the land
of the Golden club. Everyone knows
that the English system is the free
trade system and that the American
system is the protective system. Now,
what is English free trade-that brand
of free trade that Mr.. Cleveland and
some of his party propose to fasten upon
this country?
AS matter of fact England collects
more revenue yearly, according to its
population than any other country In
the world, except the United States.
But the duty is SO laid, that, with
few exceptions it does not in the least
protect the home producer. Let us
look at some of the beauties of taxation
AS found in that paradise of free trade.
Last year with population only about
half that of the United States, England
collected 500. OOO. 900 in duties; it has a
collector at every boat landing on Its
entire coast in all 2 200 custom officials
And vet it is known the world round as
the great free trade country. why!
Because, as we have indicated, it does
not protect its home market. 1t taxes
heaviest those articles it does not pro-
duce, putting its own products on the
free list. For instance, it collects over
a million in duties on coffee. eighteen |
millions an half on tea,-both which |
are duty free in this countTy-and forty |
three millions of dollarS-One half OF all |
its revenue-on tobacco, The article |
of tobacco, a cheap grade, is almost
used by Englishmen. In
raw" state it must pay SO cents per
pound duty; manufactured into''nigger
head" a duty of Sl.l7 per pound, or
nearly 1000 per cent. And is this all
for protection? Oh no, for the greater
portion of their tobacco is imported
from this country. Fifteen hundred
per cent. of it goes for revenue only,
and the unprotected, poverty stricken
people pay it.
So: English free trade is duty on
,nly those imports which tLat country
Ices not produce, thus throwing its
lone market wide open to the compe-
ition of the world; and American pro-
ection is stiff duty on those imported
.rticles which this country can and
Ices produce, thus preserving its home
market for the benefit of its own
eOple.
Which do you prefer?