PROGRAMME OF AMERICAN FREETRADE LEAGUE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2010, 8 June 1885, Page 2

PROGRAMME OF AMERICAN FREETRADE LEAGUE.

"The American Freetrade Leaguehdlds: That every man should have the right to' •'• * exchange the product of his labor where- k ever he can get the most for it.' That- he :f] should be free to seek his own welfare in ! his own way so long as he does not infringe • the rights of others, • ■ ' "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 labor with a view to strike a blow at the foundation of the country's prosperity. 4fe "It holds, that every country has i(W' peculiar natural advantages, and that to .produce what can be most easily produced in it and exchange such products for what can be produced 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 tlio protective system, so called, is only ignorant national selfiahneaa, which defeats its own ends, "That it is contrary to the beneficent laws of Providence. • ;.'. "That it diverts labor and capital from ' the most efficient occupations, to others proved less efficient by their need of •,.. artificial support, £ ''That it is an odious form of class" jW legislation, "That it encourages commercial dishonesty and official corruption. "It holds that Freetrade with all the world will conduce to our'highest warfare, and is pre-eminently worthy of the American people, who should be foremost . : ' in 'breaking down every social and commercial barrier. -"The American Freetrade League sub; mits to taxation and duties' to meet the necessities of the Government, but denounces as robbery and tyranny all taxa« ' tion for the benefit of special classes.'' (A "The League urges all who agree with ™ these principles to unite with it in obtaining emancipation for industry and commerce."