Telegram-herald., 1889-05-15
FREE TRADE
The Leesass Last EsSainS ~ fh0@As
e.. SAe2rakn-

A small audience greeted the apostle
u free trade, Thomas q. Shearman, of
Nes York, Who lectured Al Hartman E
Hall last evening.
Hon. 81 r. Ford introduced the
speaker, and SAD there wss no one
better qualified - discuss the subject
u tariff reform.
Mr.. sheaTmaa is a genial, scholarly
appearing man, and a pleasing speaker.
Iie said be should attempt 60 discuss
me subject from TWO Or three points 81
view. while there were hundred Ways
0f looking al .t.
The weak point OF protection = that
no man, outside OF an insane asylum,
no matter uoN ardent al admirer he -
OF tne system, viii follow Out the
principles of protection ia all lts appA-
cations. There are, however, any
number OF men who want absolute Tree
trade and al they eau get OF Il. The
reason why protectiOnists are more
numerous j. because the people don't
think or follow out the subject 10 u
logical conclusion. One great hugbear
: the name free trade" The poet
savs "a rose hv any other name would
smell as sweet" but the princlple
would not apply 70 the tarit. free
trade Is as simple a. the law OF graVi-
tatlOn.
Protection j. fine sounding. Some
advocate Il for selfish motives and
many DO IL from sincere and manly
motives II has been 20 with every
great question IN all history. Protee-
ton Is merely allowing few men TO
.av whefe everyone must buy hls
Goods. Congress has no more
right 10 interfere III our
trade with foreign nations
than il has 10 interfere with commerce
between different states, or even lam
lies. The fundamental principle OF
protection J.. ut IsnOt safe Tor the peo-
pie to select where they shall buy
goods The idea that free trade
would close our factories. and that the
old countries would furnish and manu-
facture all our goods l. prepOsterOus.
The whole world could not furnish us
with One-quartcr of the necessities of
life and at the same time take care of
themselves. Free trade viii not drain
the gold from the country, as protec-
tionists fear, but it will result IN an ex-
change of commodities. Protection Is
SIMPLY a refusal 10 trade"
The lecturer gave humorous ex-
hibitiOn of the way the farmer Is con-
verted TO protection by the willy politl-
clan.
He said that twO-thlrds of the work
men in the factories of protected m
dustries are free traders, and voted
that way last Fail, but the farmers beat
them and forced protection upon them
against their will. The farmer gains
about Sl5 year through protection on
wool. and he pays about $40 more for
his family's clothing IN order 10 pro-
tect himself The infant industries
thrive best without protection.
The protective system Is hostile To
| Christian principle and is a barrier
between nations. The wars of Euro
pean nations and their national Jeal-
ousies are the ultimate result of pro-
lection.
The people began to he restive, and
auIte a number retired and the lecturer
brought his remarks 10 n close.
Mr.. Ford was loudly called for by
those who remained, but he thanked
them for their attention, and sad that
while the attendance was not as large
as he had hoped, still he was glad to
see as many as there were, and an
nOunced that a series OF such lectures
would be given from time to time, 80
that now the political prejudice was
over they could be- made 10 think and
study this question IN an unbiased
manner.