Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-04-25
Friday. April 25, 1890.
FREEDOM OF EXCHANGE.

the most perfect freedom OF exchange
is an indispensable part Of those modes
of industrial activity by which men
are enabled to avail themselves of all
their natural and varied capabilities,
and the varied conditions surrounding
them; and to direct and employ their
efforts so as to secure the largest re
turns Perfect freedom of exchange
is one Of the essential means to this
end Therefore, protection or imper-
feet freedom of exchange is incompat-
ible with the perfect attainment of this
end, for imperfect or defective means
necessitates incomplete achievement
Of ends So far as we have proceeded
we have found that deductions derived
from consideration of the character
Of protection, and the nature and re
quirements Of men in the social state
afford abundant confirmation of the
conclusions forced upon us by these
fundamental facts Of life.
The utility of freedom Of commerce
Is not theory, but corollary from
certain indubitdbIe facts. The utility
Of restricted trade is Il theory that
stands in direct antagonism to these
same facts, and the necessary cOnclu-
sion is that it is false theory, and we
may confidently expect that each of
its minor propositions, when analysed,
will disclose the same mutual inco-
herence, and antagonism to natural
facts, that we find displayed in the
general proposition. ! have, in for
mer article, stated the reasons why no
valid inductions can be drawn from a
comparison Of high and low tariff
countries, and free trade countries, or
different short periods in the history
of the same country, when different
economic policies We're practiced. Con
illusions derived from such compar-
isons can never, even approximate to
the character demanded of scientific
inductions; because their complex and
ever varying conditions constitute dis
turbing factors, that can never be
eliminated, nor their proper values
assigned.
But, we are not to hastily con
clude from this, that there are no
human experiences that afford prac-
tical demonstration of the useful
ness of commercial freedom; on the
contrary, the entire social and indus
trial history Of the human race, in all
times and places, from barbarism up to
civilization, furnishes continuous
series ofthem. Everywhere progress.
ing, enlightenment, intelligence and
improvement in the arts and sciences
has been accompanied with more
perfect division of labor; and this
can have taken place only through a
concurrent increased exchange Of prod
uCts. That state of social develop
ment, which we call civilization, can
not be reached in any other way, and
whether mankind has clearly per
ceiyed all the advantages of the widest
facilities of exchange, or not, the fact
still remains, that their practices have
ever tended in this direction; and this
shows us that they have, in some
vague and indistinct manner, at least,
practically recognized this truth. This
growing appreciation of the utility of
commerce. which we see everywhere
exemplitied in the internal practices of
peoples, we perceive equally illustrated
in their external relations. As nations
grow in power and knowledge, and
nations expands and increases When
the population of Il country comes to
exceed the means of subsistence. some
of the inhabitants must emigratc. or
starve to death, or manufacture some
things which can be exchanged with
those of other countries for articles of
food. And, when we recognize the
fact, that some thickIy populated
countries are, even now, compelled to
do this to escape starvation, it does
not require the supernatural Sagacity
Of a politician to perceive that the
facilities for doing the things which
can, alone, preserve their lives, are a
decided advantage to them. Persist
ent trade relations between ndivid-
ualS, or communities, or nations, must
be taken as proof that such relations
are mutually beneficial For, if one
of the parties to an exchange is in
jured by the trade, it is safe pre-
sumption, that he will not repeat il.
Self-intereSt will always operate rs an
efficient check on that kind of com
merce. 1t does not require the con
centrated wisdom of a paternal govern
ment to teach men how to discover
when they are getting the worst of a
bargain.
And, what is the meaning of this
Pan American congress, assembled at
the invitation Of our great apostles of
protection, but practical reputation
of their own doctrines, and an &C
acknowledgements that enlarged trade
relations with all the states of South
America are desirable? But, if the
thing, itself, is desirable, it follows:
that the means of realizing it are
equally desirable: viz, lessened. OF
abolished restrictions on trade. Or, are
we to understand that their theory OF
international commerce is thai one OF
the parties concerned is always cheated
and that protection is system devised
to protect us from the meEcenary de
signs Of foreigners, while not inter