New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-24
ARE THEY "FREE TRADERS"7

The SignerS of petitions for free raw materials
are informed b. organs like 1.-THE Boston
Herald that they are most unjuStly treated III
being called Free Traders. There is no IN
tcntion to do injustice, but the name which be-
longs to man is not always concluSlvely set
tied by his own professions If 1t were, the
right name would never be applied to bank
wreckers. Certain we'll established rules apply
here:
Cd A man is known by the company he
keeps. The petitioners for free raw materials
find themselves in the company and enjoying
the unstinted praise of the extreme Free Trad
crS.
(2) 4 man is known by his beliefs rather
than his professions. The Free Trader be-
lieves that industries can he built up by re-
moving what he calls burdens, or impediments
10 free exchange. The belief of the petitioners
for free raw materials is exactly the same.
But ProtectioniStS believe that the SureSt and
shortest road to permanent chcapncSS is through
DEVELOPMENT of home production and home
competition.
CD 4 tree is known by its fruits. The fruit
of movement for free raw materials in Phia-
delphia was a badly beaten attempt TO elect Il
Democrat to the seat so long and honorably
filled by Judge Kelley. a champion OF protcc-
ton The fruit of that movement generally II 1t
could accomplish anything, would he the cleo
ton of Democratic Congress, in which extreme
free trade would nominate the Speaker, pack
the committees and dictate legislation.
When confronted with the evident fact that
a removal of duties on wool and orc and pig
iron would set against the tariff million
farmers, and half million miners and furnace
workers, and thus would render inevitable the
removal of duties on woollen goods and products
of iron and steel, the organs and defenders OF
these petitioners are forced TO declare that they
expect reduction or removal Of duties on manu-
| featured products also. 1t would not suit their
purpose 10 admit that they were trying to split
| the prOtectioniStS and using the free raw ma
| terial mcmorialiStS as a wedge for that pur-
pose, but it is fact none the less. If the
memorialiss do not know that they are being
used as tools they should not be nccnsed at
others for telling them.
Aside from the half concealed purpose OF
Free Traders who are behind this movement
explanation of it can be found by any who con-
slider it fairly. \ great many manufacturers
are men who have never investigated the tariff
question thoroughly. and who have the care
less American habit of signing petitions as
hastily as the average politician signs applica-
tons for Office. If personal friend brings 4
petition, or if some other man supposed 10 have
ample information has signed, or if the man
asked is busy and in hurry and wants tC
avoid discussion, down goes his name, il
cases considerably too numerous for his rcpu
tation. The men who indulge this careless
habit can plead with truth the excuse that sucl
petitions really have no more weight than ap
DcatOns for Office. and hence can usually b.
trusted TO harm nobody except the signerS.
1t is by no means majority of the manufact
urerS who sign petitions in this way: only
majority of the small minority which petitions
for free raw materials. But in addition Their
are some whose partisan associations and earl,
training have made them believers in free
trade doctrines. Others still, by the eXccp,iona
circumstances Of their business have interest
antagOnistic to those of the great majority o
producers. and they sometimes remember wha
will suit them personally rather than what vii
suit their country. These three classes, hast
; signcrs Free Traders in belief or by force o
party. and men whose private interest favor
free materials, are put forward by free-trad
schcmers to represent the entire body of manu-
facturcrs. But a considerable part even O
these Signers has never seriously asked whcthe
/ free raw materials would mean free goods an
; when they arc informed that it necessarily vii
their zeal suddenly coolS, and their free-trad
advisers get hot with anger