When I read your pamphlet I wonder that protection ever got a footing here at all, yet it is no more wonderful, I suppose, than many other things; each generation reveals some blindness of the preceding one. I predict your publications will do much good. I have great faith in that way of creating public sentiment. When a man receives a paper or book as his own property it disarms prejudice and is pretty sure of a careful reading. FROM LORAINE, ILL. I think a large majority of this county desire thorough reform, and are held to party by the slightest possible tenure. Two years ago I introduced a resolution in favor of free trade and direct taxation in a convention of Patrons of Husbandry and Agricultural Societies, of several hundred delegates, which resolu tions passed with only eight dissenting votes. Although free trade and direct taxation has not entered heretofore as a prominent feature in our political nominations, there has been and is an under current influence in its favor that almost invariably controls Democratic nominations. Nine-tenths of the Patrons of Husbandry in this county have severed their political allegiance to party and are co-workers in the reformatory movements of the age. FROM ARCOLA, ILL. * While there is no excitement among the western people on the subject of free trade, a large majority of them are latently in favor of it. FROM CHICAGO, ILL. All intelligent people here cry out for reform in government, civil service and even in tariff, but naturally people vary indefinitely as to these three things, and the proportion of reform in each they want. FROM ALEDO, ILL. Free Trade is progressing in this Congressional District steadily. We have three newspapers, two free trade and one nothing. Our district is usually eight hundred republican majority, but last election, we independents and grangers nominated and elected Bagley, free trader, to Congress, by a large majority. But as the grangers and independents are very much demoralized here, it is possible the republicans will carry the next election, As they will probably nominate John J. Gleen, a good free trade man, we free traders will support him, but if they nominate a tariff man, we will run Bagley again or some other free trade man. We think there is no other question of importance here before the people. FROM FONTANELLE, IOWA. Having early been instructed in protection theories by my father, an ardent Henry Clay Whig, of Pennsylvania, I have only of late years come to doubt the soundness of my early training in this regard, and as my views are far from settled upon the merits of the controversy between Free Trade or Protection, I wish to avail myself of your publications. FROM ARENA, IOWA, The NEW CENTURY has come to hand, and its contents I have perused with great interest. I am more than pleased to find that the spirit of free trade is reviving again. I am a free trader to the backbone (nothing but absolute free trade will do me.) I hope to see the day when every revenue cutter and United States custom house will be sold under the hammer to the highest bidder. We elect our Member to the Assembly from this district on that issue and give him 285 majority. Start the ball in motion. Free Trade and Sailors' Rights, that's the motto. I am nothing but a "mudsill," as one of the Members of Congress from the Southern States was pleased to call us farmers of the North. But it appears to me that the cheapest way to collect revenue to run the United States Government would be a direct tax on the wealth of the country. Let Congress levy the tax, and the Secretary of the Treasury compute the tax to each State according to her assessed value, and the Secretaries in each State compute the United States tax to each county as they do the State tax; it would then be collected with our local taxes and paid over to the State Treasurer, and by him to the United States Treasurer. I think if such a system should be adopted it would start a few thousands of defunct government leeches to grubbing for their bread and butter. FROM JACKSONVILLE, KAN. The element for free trade all over this country is in the majority. FROM FORT SCOTT, KAN. On the prime question of free trade all the people need is to have the subject brought to their immediate attention. FROM MARSHALL, NEB, The main tling for the Alliance to do appears to be to let people know they are all acting Free Trade principles every day. We have never become acquainted with a Protectionist but we could prove to him by his own actions that he did not believe in the principles he professed. FROM FALLS CITY, NEB. in favor of free trade. gent farmers are in favor of tariff for revenue only, and I have found five or six who are absolute free traders. The demagogues have made many believe that if the curreney could only be inflated we should all have plenty of money, whether we have any crops or not. I will make up a club for the NEW CENTURY in the Fall. * FROM MONROE, WIS, There are plenty of people who are ready to accept free trade as a correct. abstract principle, but whose actions are fettered by a bigoted devotion to a party which barters protection laws for support in the emergencies of an election. Still, I suppose there are hopeful signs that party ties are weakening, and that the people are being forced to look outside of party for means of reform. We meet to morrow evening to organize our club, and from present indications, I think I shall be able before long to give you an encouraging account of our work here. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. We acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt of letters from the following correspond. ents. They number about sixty-from eighteen different States: Arkansus-C. E. Tobey, Little Rock, Connecticut-P. O'Farrell, Hartford. Illinois-S. F. Hawkins, Tolerance (2); W. H. Farrier, Loraine; L. L. H. Young, Arcola; A. Gilkison, Chicago; E. L. Willeford, Old Ripley; H. D. Lloyd, Chicago; A. Corken, Alido; W. H. Bradbury, Dwight; I. Johnston, Chicago; S. H. Larison, Montrose, Eff. Co. Indiana―Ira W. Stage, Ligonier; W. H. Pixley, Lowell, Lake Co.; Jno. T. Campbell, Rockville. Iowa-Joseph Dodd, Clyde; Jas. M. Gow, Fontanelle; Chas. Whittaker, Hook's Point. Kansas-F. A. Prather, Wellsville; F. H. Dumbauld, Jacksonville; Jno, M. Galloway, Fort Scott (3); H. G. Nichols, Elgin. Massachusetts-II. Willey, New Bedford; Augustus Towne, Boston; H. L. Mellen, Tufts College; Cyrus Woodman, Cambridge; Wm. Downie, President, Boston F. T. Club, Boston. Michigan-C. P. Chase, Librarian, Olivet College, Olivet; Thos. D. Hawley, Detroit. Mississippi-A. G. Smythe, Baldwyn; H. O. Dixon, Jackson: V. H. Fugate. Vangham, Yazoo Co. Minnesota-Hon. Jas. Bottomley, Nashville Centre. Missouri-Clarke Irvine, Oregon (2). Nebraska-Geo. Hutchings, Falls City: Jas, Urquhart, Marshall; Jas, Cruickshank, Marshall; Saml. M. Elder, Fairfield, Clay ('v. Nevada-W. L. Knox, Reno. New York-J. De Witt Miller. Fort Edward; M. S. Bidwell, Elmira ; C. D. Hudson, Troy; Saml. Hotchkin, Elmira (2); Schiro Murattt, Brooklyn; Levi Miller, Antwerp; D. C. Hopkins, Almond; Jno. B. Jervis, Rome; Edwin Crane, Fort Edward. Ohio-C. A. Hawley, Girard; Henry Matson, Oberlin College. South Carolina-W. B. Smith, Charleston. Tennessee-A. B. Robettson, Nashville, (to W. C. Bryant.) Wisconsin-Rowley Morris, Brodhead; A. Thompson, Rochester (2); E. R. Leland, Eau Claire; Dr. John C. Hall, Monroe (2); W. E. Rowe, Arena. INTERNATIONAL FREE TRADE ALLIANCE. This organization has been formed for the purpose of promoting industrial and commercial freedom-absolute freedom in exchanging the productions of industry with all the worid. WE HOLD, That freedom in Trade and Commerce-freedom in exchanging the productions of our agricultural and manufacturing industries with those of other countriesis as necessary to the prosperity of the nation, as freedom in producing is to the individual. That it is a principle essential to our American liberty which cannot be violated without injury and danger to our institutions, and should never be infringed upon by the government except when absolutely and unavoidably necessary. WE HOLD, That comfort, wealth, civilization, and the welfare of mankind are directly promoted and increased by exchanging the products of labor between individuals, and states, and nations. That farmers, or mechanics, or any other producers do not promote their own welfare by keeping more than they need of anything which they have produced, but by exchanging the surplus in purchasing whatever they desire of things produced by others, wherever they can do so most advantageously to themselves. That as a people, we are not free, in so far as the liberty to make such exchanges-such sales and purchases -is restricted by the arbitrary power of government. WE HOLD, That the Custom House system of obtaining national revenue, violates the principles of American liberty, fosters international prejudices, is hurtful to republicanism, and hinders the growth of peace and good-will among men. That it interferes with and injures lawful business, which is constantly the subject of sudden and arbitrary changes in the tariff. That it is a formidable obstacle in the way of our national prosperity, and the pursuit of useful and honorable enterprise. That it has for many years been one of the most fruitful causes of sectional irritation and animosity. That it is a wasteful and unjust method of obtaining revenue, in causing the people to pay, in cost of living, an enormously greater amount than ever reaches the treasury. That it is a constant and strong incentive to bribery, corruption and smuggling, which are ruinous to honest merchants, That it affords excuse for employing a very large number of officials, who control political and party machinery, and whose influence prevents the first step in Civil Service Reform. The efforts of the ALLIANCE will be directed towards obtaining ABSOLUTE FREEDOM IN TRADE AND COMMERCE by abandoning the Custom House revenue system, as soon as it can be done without injury to the best interests of the people; providing for the necessary expenses of government by a just, undisguised, and economical method of TAXATION; and ensuring CIVIL SERVICE REFORM by reducing the multitude of offices now existing, but which will then be no longer necessary. The work of the Alliance will be prosecuted by appealing to the intelligent common sense of the people through the Press, and by public meetings. A MONTHLY JOURNAL FOR PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL FREEDOM AND POLITICO-ECONOMIC REFORM. There is nothing to be deprecated and denounced more than the ignorance, caprice and selfishness manifested in the changes or threatened changes in international trade, which are brought up in Congress at every session, and are so agitated as to derange the most prudent calculations of business men, inevitably injuring the producing interests of the whole country. Recognizing the necessity for diffusing information and inculcating simple economic truths, in order that intelligent and honest legislation may be required from those who are chosen to represent the interests of the people, the INTERNATIONAL FREE TRADE ALLIANCE, in addition to its other efforts to secure such results, has arranged with PROFESSOR W. G. SUMNER, OF YALE COLLEGE, to deliver a course of Lectures on THE TARIFF CONTROVERSY AS DEVELOPED IN THE UNITED STATES. These Lectures will be delivered at the monthly meetings of the Alliance, and published in the current numbers of THE NEW CENTURY; they will be followed by other papers eminently instructive and important. The Journal of the Alliance is furnished at the nominal price of One Dollar per annum, in order that it may be within reach of all who wish to be informed regarding the progress of the work in which we are engaged. As the price is not sufficient to cover the cost of publishing and mailing, it is very desirable that those who recognize its importance, and are able to assist, will contribute a larger sum to sustain the effort. There is no subject of legislation which requires honesty, intelligence and unselfishness more than the enactment laws relating to business matters. This is especially neces sary where the revenues of a country are derived almost entirely from a tax upon the trade of one country with other countries-a tax upon methods of carning a livelihood. Subscriptions for the Journal and contributions to aid the cause may be sent to or to FRED. H. HARRISON, President, A. D. F. RANDOLPH, Treasurer, No. 12 Coenties Slip, or to ABRAHAM L. EARLE, Secretary, Comptroller's Office, New York. 900 Broadway. |