The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-09-22
The Awful Free Trade Deluge Of 1856
Mt. Ayr, Iowa, Sept. Ia. 1912.
Written for The Hawk-Eye by
J. II. TEDFoRD.


Mt. Ayr, Iowa, Sept IA. 1912.
Editor Hawk-Eye: In thought we
seldom so back to the year 1876, save
only to speak of the coolest year in
the history OF the country. THE old
est inhabitanta used to tell us that
there was frost every month of that
year and that the crops were all cut
short, The Providence brought great
deal of suffering to the people, and
yet there was an added and still great
er calamity pressing on the country,
and one that was man-made and
epoch-maldng. Our free trade and
semi-free trade statesmen do not care
to recall 1t. They strive to push 1t
into oblivion. 1t was in all probability
the greatest frost that ever came to
the homes and business of the coun-
try. 1t was a deluge of free trade.
Business was paralyzed. Direct taxes
were doubled. Prices were quad
rupled. The people groaned under
the oppressive load. Exchange rose
to an enormous figure We were for
the time being the slaves of French
and English merchants and manufac-
turers. We were at their mercy, and
to real mercy they were strangers
They Knocked US in our misery. All
they wanted was our free and open
markets and the privilege OF exploit
ing them for selfish uses. The So
called War OF 1912" was past, but
a still more terrible war, heartlesa
war on our markets and homes was
yet to come, and it did come like a
dashing food
The war of arms that had preceded
1t cost but little. No people in the
history of the world had ever before
fought SO long a war at so small
sacrifice OF money, property and life.
1t was largely fuss and feathers. ;"
Not more than 1000 men were at any
one time engaged in battle. The num-
Der killed did not exceed 1000 and
the wounded $500 1t was all about
free trade and sailors rights It
was sea fight, and we taught Eng
land to mind her own business. New
ertheless, the war blockade held up
commerce and Frustrated business.
The country longed for peace and
The Client treaty of peace
was signed December "a, 1914, and
ratified by the United States on Jan
iary II, 1915. In January the peace
ENJOYS sailed for New York bearing
he joyful treaty. The country was in
state of agonizing expectancy. The
eager eyes saw a ship in the offing
and signal was given and soon all
eyes were fixed on it. AS 1t drew near
o shore, Envoy Henry Clay stepped
Onward and shouted. Peace! Peace!
Peace." The shout was caught by
hose on land and Peace went from
mouth to mouth and soon the bells
we're ringing from every spire and
candles were burning from every
Hats and garments were la
RELIED "Peace," The Joy was raptur-
JUS. 1t became historical. For the
line 1t was sweet deiirium.
Emotionalism is ever transient. A
lay of reckoning was to come: the in
'vitable free trade debauchery follow
ID the war. Soon the country was
Hooded with foreign goods of all sorts, |
omitted free, and the people greedily |
Fought them. The balance of trade
vent sorely against us, and national
ife was Slapped. We were reaping the
yhirlwind. Our gold and silver went
o Europe to pay for the foreign
.oods. We robbed Peter, that is our
elves, to pay Paul, the foreign man !
acturers. 1t has been one of our fatal
nd easily besetting sins. AS indi- |
ividuals. our only plea is, They ell
e it, that is, feed foreign farmers
nd tradesmen and starve our own
eople Like Woodrow Wilson a few
avs ago at a New Jersey picnic, we
orget the Bible exhortation: "He |.
yho provides not for his own, and es-
ecially for those Of his own house, |
ath denied the faith and is worse |
han an infidel." We must think, first /
t our own country and homes. The I
rar had checked commerce and the /
oreign goods destined for the Amer /
IAN market were piled in the ware /
ouses OF Europe. We had been I