Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-06-08
Freer Trade with Nations.

Inc New DIX cOUI1tUC ~ commerce
says that, "most people who have not
made very profound study of politi-
cal economy assume that every young
and growing nation should establish a
high protective tariff, adjust all its in
dustries to that policy, and only yield
to the introduction of free trade after
it has become hoary with years and its
productive establishments can afford
to defy the world. But the argument
in favor of free trade as the best system
for any nation, young or old, is per-
fectly unanswerable. True prosperity
comes quickest by allowing natural
laws to have their unlimited sway
The instinct of self-interest which di-
reefs every one to purchase his sup
plies where he can buy them most
cheaply is no less higher law than
the decree which governs trade by the
rule of supply and demand. Economy
of production is the one requirement
for controlling the market, and he
who buys all he needs at the lowest
possible price can supply what he
produces on the like favorable terms.
1t is the unselfish theory, since it is the
only principle that recognizes the true
brotherhood of man. It does not seek
as protection" does to build up one
nation at the expense of another, but
it seeks Its own prosperity through the
prosperity of others.
1t is in direct conflict with the hot
house system which insists on cultiva-
ting grapes, pineapples, oranges and
bananas under glass, or at great dis
advantage, in high northern ATTITUDES,
on the mistaken theory that true
economy requires every country to
produce all it needs within itself. 1t
allows every artificer to do that which
he can do better or cheaper either be-
cause of his long experience or the
conditions of his surroundings, and to
exchange this product for whatever he
needs, produced on like terms, wher-
ever he can have access to it. When
ever he can make or produce anything
to satisfy his wants on better terms
than to send over the seas for it, or to
buy it nearer home, his own interests
will teach him to do it, and he requires
no directing government decree to
teach him that lesson. AS long as the
people of a given country find due en-
ployment on single industry they
will cling to that and buy everything
else. They are no more tributary to
other nations on this account than
others are to them for the one supply
in the production of which they so
much excel. When the producers
multiply too fast to find employment
in the one industry they will turn to
another. To compete with the world
they must do the work better and
cheaper than it is done elsewhere, and
this is the true teacher of the great
lessons many are so slow to learn.
Then why not advocate the doing
away of all our custom houses and the
United States? Because all our in
dustries are adjusted to the present
revenue system, and there would be at
least quarter of a century if not
twice this period of chaos before things
would begin to settle down on the new
line. If we look through society we
find nothing established on the ideal
basis. Everything has grown into its
present shape, not by paying premium
for the best plan and then adopting it,
but by Selling upon the nearest or
most available makeshift, and leaving
it to grow into fixture or part of the
permanent order. Such things cannot
be changed even for the better by up
roofing one to introduce another; and
the wisest men the world has known
have advocated patience even with
that which has it's manifest imperfec-