Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-07-16

A"ths July 9---'lhe fofl0wlng
appeal ir behalf of free trade was is
sued here tonight:
To the Citizens Of the United states:
The apparent acceptance in some
degree OF the so-called protective policy
oy the present congressional reprOser-
ta'ives OF both the political parties
the Republicans championing protec-
tion with incidental revenue, and the
democrats urging revenue with
incidental protection might begel
The impression that our nation
contains no men who believe in the
absolute and unconditioned freedom
OF trade between the peoples OF the
earth.
The undersigned, proclaiming them
selves a. free-traders, contend:
% That protection erects artificial
barriers between nations, preventing
that natural ard healthful Interchange
OF products which makes for increased
comfort, for peace aud for the solidari
ity Of mankind.
t2l That protection, by reducing
the quantity ofinceming foreign Gods
reduces the buying power represented
by such goods, and consequently sub
tracts from the demand merchandise
and labor which would inevitably tie
fostered by the unrestricted freedom
of exchange.
go That protection, In addition to
lessening the demand for labor, and to
a consequent reduction OF wages, great
ly increases the cost of necessnries
thus becoming powerful agent in
drasgilg down the condition of eur
wage earning classes.
al That protection has not only
become the mother Of trusts, but that,
by sitting foreign competition, IL has
granted them license to prey upon
the community.
! TO- That protection encourages ex-
'ravagance in national expenditures,
which, as they are paid by taxes on
what the people consume, are in the
main extracted from the pockets of the
wage earning and saiarled classes.
l6.l That projection. by its meth
DDS OF Induction, cunningly DISCUSSES
the incidence of taxation, and thus
akens that desirable interest in leg.
isiation and in government policies
which direct taxation tends to develop.
~ That protection, which is in
effect process OF class-enrichment by
legislative favor, is fes'eriog source
Of political corruption.
ISL That protection, by engender-
ing special over production due TO ex-
cessiye profits and widespread under
consumption due to excessive prices,
contributes to producing those panics
which cause SO much human waste
and misery.
~ That protection. by comforting
on favored classes the right to tax
their fellow citizens, and by the ccn-
sequent unequal distribution Of the
boundiess wealth which Is created by
the energy aud natural resources pos
sessed by the American people, has
generated resentments which express
themselves by dangerous methods in
tended to wrench from its possessors a
| portion Of the wealth which has been
upjustly appropriated.
(l0.) That protection by the swol-
len fortunes which IL heaps up for its
benefieiaries, and by the concentrated
selfish class-interests which it fosters
becomes SO powerful through their
| ability and readiness to debaueh pub
lie opinion by the expenditure Of
money, that it can never be disiodged
until the great body Of our people are
brought to realize its wasteful, sinful,
anti-social character.
Concurirg in such views, the UNDER
signed call on all fcliew citizens who
are in agreement herewith, to join
them in an effort to consolidate the
Free-frade sentiment of the nation
Such consolidation will revealrhe
true economic opinion Ct at least a
portion OF our citizens, and will facili-
tate cooperation with the free traders
OF other nations which are also suffer
ing from the evils Of a protective pol
icy.
Names ar II addresses should be for
wArded without delay 10 any ofthe
undersigned: John Bigelow, 81
Grammercy PARK, New York; Charles
Francis Adam, India House, Boston.
Mass; James II. III. billiard 57l Audu-
mon street, New Orleans, La; Louis
X. Enrich, 50 West Seventy seventh
street, New York; William Lloyd Gar
rison, Beacon street, Boston Mass;
Bolton Hail, So Pine street, New York;