I have known so many people who knew him, that I feel as if I would know him if I met him. But I have a special college engagement on Wednesday morning (an examination) which will make it impossible for me to be from home on Tuesday evening. I appreciate the honor which has been conferred upon me. Yours ever, JAMES MCCоsи. BELOIT COLLEGE. Beloit, Wis., Dec. 4th, 1876. DEAR SIR: I am glad to learn by your circular note of Nov. 16th that honor due is to be shown to the memory of Adam Smith, the father of modern political economy. I regret that I cannot, agreeably to your invitation, be present at the public dinner proposed for the 12th inst. shall be in accord with those there assembled, remember the occasion, and rejoice that the principles of commercial freedom taught in the "Wealth of Nations" have, by slow but sure progress through the century past, come to be so generally recognized by the best minds as true and sound. The day seems not far distant when they will be universally accepted and practically applied in full ascendancy, to govern the policy of states and the intercourse of nations. God speed every effort to hasten that good time. Very respectfully and truly yours, A. L. CHAPIN. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DEAR SIR: In reply to your kind invitation to the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the publication of the "Wealth of Nations," allow me to express my heartfelt sympathy in the interest manifested in perpetuating the individuality of a work, already the text-book of nations, embodying the principles that are the foundation of the only system of economy. With every disposition to participate, it is with sincere concern that I must plead my inability to be present and take part in the, to me peculiarly interesting ceremonies. With reiterated regrets, I am, very truly yours, W. R. MORRISON. DWIGHT, ILL., Dec. 5, 1876. MY DEAR SIR: I regret that it is not in my power to accept the invitation to be present at the hundredth anniversary dinner in commemoration of the publication of Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations." It gives me pleasure, however, to state that in Illinois we are making renewed efforts, by means of lectures, the distribution of documents, and the per fection of an effective organization, to secure for these great principles of "Commercial Freedom" a national recognition. Truly yours, S. T. K. PRIME, BATES COLLEGE, DEAR SIR: I acknowledge with sincerest pleasure the distinguished favor of your invitation to participate in the public dinner and celebration of the 12th inst. I should esteem it a great honor and privilege to become acquainted with the men who will assemble there, and to be associated with them in such an appropriate commemoration, as I do to share in the smallest capacity in their great work of making our nation most truly prosperous. I regret that my engagements will not permit me to be present, but I assure you and the goodly company of your fellow-workers that I sympathize most heartily in acknowledging, since we cannot repay, the debt we owe to Adam Smith, and in carrying out, so far as our national circumstances make it wise to do so, the sound principles of political science which he laid down. Believe me, with deepest regard and thanks, Sincerely yours, RICHARD C. STANLEY. DETROIT, MICH., Dec. 7, 1876. DEAR SIR: Your esteemed favor of Nov. 16th, inviting me to participate in a public dinner to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the publication of Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations," has been received. It would, indeed, give me great pleasure to be present on such an occasion, but other important engagements will prevent me from accepting your kind invitation. It is now some nineteen years since I became interested in the question of free trade. The "Wealth of Nations" was the first book upon the subject that I read. By reading that great work my convictions of the justice and expediency of free trade became so thoroughly settled that the plausible yet sophistical pleas of protection have never raised a doubt in my mind. The cause of free trade is founded upon the eternal principles of justice, and must prevail. All that we have to do is to enlighten the people, and they will believe in it as firmly as they do the multiplication-table. Respectfully yours, THOMAS D. HAWLEY. BOSTON, Dec. 6, 1876. DEAR SIR: Accept my thanks for your kind invitation to be present at the Adam Smith festival on the 12th inst. I have delayed my answer in hopes that I should be able to join you, but I regret to say that I now see no probability that I shall be. A hundred years have elapsed since Adam Smith announced to the world "that commerce was based upon the idea of a mutual and equal advantage to both parties engaged in it; and that obstruction under the name of protection was a burden upon both." It may discourage some people to think that still a large part of our "great, enlightened, and progressive people" believe and act upon the contrary theory-but it does not discourage me. Our nation has been saved from a large part of the evils of protection by the wise provision of our Constitution, which establishes over twenty-two degrees of latitude and fifty-six degrees of longitude, occupied by forty-five millions of people, the most absolute free trade that exists in the world. Had we remained under the Confederation, each State making its own tariff laws, we might, by applying the same wisdom that establishes an obstructive duty between New York and Canada, have been able to multiply the benefits of protection by establishing a line of custom-houses along each of our State boundaries, in which case we should long ago have been compelled, by sheer necessity, to study and understand the question. Having, however, been secured the blessings of absolute free trade for nine-tenths of all our commercial transactions, we have overlooked or passed by, as a necessary incident of existence, the grossest obstruction of the last tenth. Our manufacturers have been reaping the profits of protection for about fifteen. years. Their enormous apparent gains have been invested, partly in extravagant living, partly in wasteful production. And their accumulations have taken the shape of mills and furnaces erected at two or three times their normal cost, and in many instances at such places and under such conditions that profitable employment is impossible except at war prices, and that existence itself cannot be maintained in hard times. The story is not a new one, but it has, apparently, at this time reached a new chapter. In some lines of manufactures the means of production in this country now exceed the average yearly demand, and the cry is for export. Let us hope that the unfortunates who are reaping the result of excessive protection may now recognize the great law of trade"that export implies import," and may favor such a change in our tariff laws as will open our doors outward by opening them voluntarily inward. At least let us hope that treaties of reciprocity may spread our beneficent system of free trade over the whole continent. Let us start on the second century of our history in our race with the old world, relieved from the oppression of hostile tariffs and the excessive burdens of war preparations, and move through our new century with "Free Trade and Peace over the whole Continent" as our motto and purpose. Very sincerely, your servant, ESTES HOWE. 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. JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL FREE TRADE ALLIANCE, 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, is now publishing. monthly, or less frequently, as occasion serves, under the title of "THE NEW CENTURY," an octavo periodical of sixteen or more pages, devoted to the popularization of economie truths. Prof. Sumner's lectures on the History of Protection in the United States have already been printed in this journal, and equally important papers may be expected. The Journal of the ALLIANCE is furnished at the nominal price of One Dollar for twelve issues, or their equivalent, 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. The ALLIANCE also supplies the following publications: "Our Revenue System and the Civil Service," 12mo, pp. 41, paper. The Creed of Free Trade," by Hon. David A. Wells. 8vo, pp. 21, paper. Report of the Adam Smith Centennial Dinner, New York, 1876, with addresses of 250. 100. 75c. ... 250. It will also consider applications for the gratuitous supply of these publications. One dollar annual subscription to the funds of the ALLIANCE, secures all its publications for the year. Address G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, PUBLISHERS, OR, THE INTERNATIONAL FREE TRADE ALLIANCE, 182. Fifth Avenue, New York. |