The Portland daily press., 1888-08-23
the EXPLANATION OF 1T.
Why so Many of Our College PresI.
dents and Professors Advo-
cate Free Trade.
Letter from the Rev. Cyrus HanIIn.
D. .. us.

To the Editor of the Press:
This question has lately been proposed by
different individuals, and the suggestion was
made that / give my reply to the Portland
PRESS.
l shall mention only few Of the reasons,
but enough to explain the singular phenom-
enon. II it amounted to anything in our
politics, it would be exceedingly painful
But it is harmless vagary, and the coming
election will do much to correct it. Young
men in our colleges are taught free trade In
the class room. But when they come out in
to practical life they find that 1t was simply
beautiful theory, and they abandon 1t for
practical craftsmanship. This was the
course Of Garfield. Let any one read his
speeches in Congress, especially in reply to
Fernando Wood. and he will find sound pro-
lection there, although Garfield was brought
up at the feet OF the Gamaliel of free trade.
Dear good Professor Perry labors still to ig-
more Garfelds conversion to protection. 1t
is simply amusing. The American college
came into existence as an English institu-
tion. The earlier colleges had professors
educated in England. For many years all
the text books were English in their origin.
English fashions governed them. Tagging
and other purely English habits existed in
some of our colleges at the beginning of this
century. Hazing, remnant of British bru-
tality, still fingers In our colleges and mill
tary schools.
English literature has been the devoted
study Of our students. and English thought
has very largely governed our scholars. Scr
ence, poetry, literature. history, law, have
all been from England. We are now going
to Germany, but l speak OF the past. Our
political separation from England had less
influence upon our schools Of learning than
upon any other department of American life.
When free trade became triumphant in
England, in 1876. her far seeing statesmen
were not slow to see the Importance Of free
trade with America. Free trade was held up
as fundamental and Interchangeable truth of
political economy. 1t was the original law
Of the Creator. Treatises In this vein on po-
litical economy and labored articles on reve-
nue. were poured out upon us.
The great Golden Club, the most distin-
guished and the mightiest club ever formed,
came into being to convert Europe, but still
more America, to this theory. England would
be the workshop of the world and the world
be raw producers for English skill and cap
ital and labor.
AS theory 1t was charming and perfect.
For the class room it was delightful. Our
college presidents and professors all adopted
ii, and were petted and praised In England.
They were often made members Of the Cob
den Club. British gold is freely paid for the
orations Of ambitious students ON free trade.
England having possession OF so many Of our
schools OF learning Is making q supreme ef-
fort to keep possession, believing that they
will finally govern the public sentiment Of
the country. For this fond delusion she Is
indebted to her inability to understand this
country.
does not change its step for anything a few
professors and presidents OF colleges may put
forth.
1t is both interesting and instructive to
notice the success of the Golden Club In
converting the world to its gospel Of political
economy. No one Of the great powers Of
Europe has adopted 1t. France, Italy. Aus
tria, Germany and Russia have steadily
grown more and more protective. Not
single nation Of Europe has adopted 1t and
England herself under it has become great
mandatory Of paupers which she sends over
to us to support. Holland has light tariff
Of about 10 per cent. which she Is now NOV
ing to increase.
The most remarkable fact Is that all the
English colonies have adopted the American
system. Bone of her bone, flesh Of her flesh,
ardently believing In free trade for England,
they all adopt the American system for
themselves. England remains after 40 years
of devoted teaching without one national
disciple, unless one mas the affrontery to
mention Turkey and Egypt And yet the
Golden Club may be said TO contain the sci
ence, religion, law, wealth, and official pow
er Of England. A few years since In looking
over Its list Of membersI found that four
teen Of their sixteen cabinet officers belonged
to 1t. Nearly all the names OF England's dis
tinguished men were there. What poor and
barren results Of forty years Of devoted labor
and lavish expenditures
And what have been the results to Eng
land herself. The advocates OF free trade
love to trumpet her wonderful growth In
wealth since she adopted free trade. II Is
fair to compare her progress In wealth with
ours.
In 1850 her wealth was three times our
own. In 1870 our wealth exceeded hers by
one thousand millions. In 1884 our wealth
exceeded hers by six thousand millions and
must now be more than ten thousand mill
lions in advance Of hers. Protective France
also has gained upon England In the race
and will soon oyertake her.She has preserved
her agricultural interests while free trade
England has destroyed hers and hundreds Of
thousands Of acres go out Of cultivation
every year.
Let us not trouble ourselves IL sedentary
men amuse themselves with theories. The
coming election will show the Golden Club
that 1t cannot give law to this country.
CYRUS HAMLIN.
LEXINGTON, Mass.