Programme of American Free trade League

Feilding Star, 11 June 1885, Page 3

Programme of American Freetrade League

The American Frcetrade Leajjue holds : Xhafc every man should haye the right to exchange the product of his labor whereerer he can get the most for it. That he should^be free to seek his own welfare in his own way so long as he does not infringe the right of o,thers. ; That so far as he is deprived of these rights he is in slavery. It recognises the importance and dignity of labor, because labor is the source of prosperity. It holds, therefore, that to tax the necessities ; of the labour with a view to benefit , .the manufacturing capitalists, is to strike a blow at the foundation of the country's prosperity. It holds that every country has it preculiar natural advantages, and that to produce what can be most easily produced | in it and exchange such products elsewhere is the most profitable exertion of its industry. That the true means of encouraging home industry, and of lessening poverty, is to remove every obstacle to the free exchange of the products of labor. It holds that the protective system, so called, is only ignorant national, selfishness, which defeats its own ends. That it is contrary to the hdnoßce&t Uws of Providence. That it d: verts labour and rapital from the mosl efficient occupations, to others in-ored' less efficient by their need of nriififial support. - That it is an odious form of class legislation. That it is a fertile source of social, sectional, and lDternatittniii. discord. •• That it encourages comoitrcial dishonesty and official corruption. It holds that Preetrade with all the world would conduce to our highest welfare, and is pre-eminently wo. thy of tlie American people, who should be foremost, in breaking down every social and cpm.mercial barrier, Tlie American Freetrade League submits to taxation and duties to meet the necessities of the Government, but denounce as robbery and tyranny all lax anon for the benefit of special classes. The League urges all who agree with these principles to unite with it in obtaining emancipation for industry and commerce." — Evening Press.