New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-05
Golden.

The most noteworthy feature Of the Golden
comnemoration Of the last week has been a
process of what IN less serious and august
matter we should describe as hedging. The
praise of Golden, from which we are by no
means inclined TO dissent has been based upon
side issues. He has been remembered for al
most everything except the one particular thing
for which he most should be remembered. We
have been told that he was particularly well in
formed upon the subjects of the controversies in
which he engaged, and that he WAS most cour-
teous and fair minded debater Doubtless those
things are true, but they are equally true OF
many other men. It would be absurd to apo
theOsIze any man the sole ground that he
knew what he was talking about, and that he
talked about it like gentleman. But also. we
are told he was an advocate of peace, and of
arbitration rather than war. Yes; and that was
an admirable attitude for him to assume. But
after all he had no copyright upon the saying
Blessed are the peacemakers"; and the procla-
nation of Peace good will toward men" was
quite familiar TO the world before the Golden
Club placed it upon its seal. 1t Is WELL and IT
is pleasant to remember these things Of Golden,
but it is not for them chiefly that he is TO be
remembered; any more than Gladstone Is TO be
remembered for having faithfully gone to church
O. Sundays. or Washington for having treated his
servants with kindness.
more than all intelligent and philanthropic gen
tlemaD rests upon the doctrine of free trade, Of
which he was the chief exponent. Other men
as earnestly advocated peace and good will among
the nations. Other men We're scholarly, and
as courteous in debate. He stands above and
apart from all in having advocated the abolition
of custom houses and the fiscal federation of the
world. Idealst and spiritually minded man, as
his followers regard him, he was the supreme
materialist Of his age in thinking that tariffs
were stronger than humanity, and that custom
houses were the gauges OF patriotism. His esti-
mate Of humanity was made In terms Of t. S. d.
So great was his confidence in the material, we
might almost say the sordid, factor that he told
his followers it would be as reasonable to doubt
the rising Of the sun next morning TO doubt
that in fifty years the whole world would be
converted TO free trade IT was upon the sue
cess OF his free trade propaganda that he staked
his success and his reputation a constructive
statesman. 1t is for his work as q free trade
prOpagandist that he is to be remembered 1t
is in the vindication Of his campaign against
tariffs and customs houses that he is TO have
his vindication-if he is to have ii at all 1t IS
precisely that one supreme and paramount phase
of his record that his admirers and commemo-
rators to-day most studiously affect to ignore
The reason IS obvious. Thus far his prophc-
cies have been unfulflled, and his propaganda
has egregiously failed The fifty years of his
prophecy have passed, and the world, instead OF
being converted to free trade, is further from it
than before. The one great nation which Cob
den succeeded In converting TO free trade is at
this moment seriously considering reversion
to protection. and the probability is that in the
near future It will definitely renounce free trade
and adopt the policy against which Cobdens
chief life work was directed. We can imagine
few things more pitiable than the attempt OF
some Cobdenites TO hail the Anglo French ap-
proachment as a browning triumph of Cobden's
policy! AS though nations never were friendly,
and never settled controversies without war, be-
fore the Manchester school" was founded We
do not begrudge the praise that IS given to Cob
den as an intelligent courteous and benevolent
statesman, who sincerely labored for what he
believed TO be the public good As SUCH he pos
sessed many qualities worthy Of remembrance
and of emulation. So, in no less degree did
many Of his contemporaries. But his supreme
title TO remembrance is based upon his free
trade policy. and to ignore that while exploiting
these other things is a perversion Of history Mt
once cowardy, unjust and insincere