ADVOCATE OF FREETRADE.

Waikato Times, Volume 2611, Issue 2611, 6 April 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

ADVOCATE OF FREETRADE.

A most amming speech by C»louel Down Piatt is reported in the New York Standard as having been delivered at a dinner at New York given to Henry George, the author of " Progress and Poverty." It was in response to the toast of " The New Democracy" that Colonel Down Piatt said :—" I am not a single tax man, as I said, owing to my laok of intelligence, I suppose, but I am a Freetradsr. I want to tell you how I came to be oue practically—theoretically I have always been one. Shortly after the war, when I went back home, I ran across a fellow who said he could take the secodd growth of hickory on my place and convert it into beautiful axe handles. As he had learned his trade in the penitentiary I thought probable proficient in it. Under hi 3 persuasion I took yn old sawmiil and converted it into a handle factory. He took that second growth and turned it into handles as smooth as ivory and as rough as the conscience of a New York alderman. (Laughter). Wo made money hand over mitten until one day I discovered that Canadian axe handles were coming in aud under-sellitig us. I thought that wouldn't do, so I travailed to Washington on a deadhead pass, and saw Senator Wade, who called in Hon. ' Pig Iron ' Kelly. He said, " Here is an infant industry that ought to be protected and encouraged and built up." Ther« is nothing mean about ' Pig Iron,' so he said "Certainly.' Tbey slapped a duty on axe-handles enough to shut out the Cansdian competitor, and I went back home thoroughly satisfied. We raised the price of axe-handles. (Applause and laughter.) But, bless your souls, this premium upon infant industry set every sawmill in Ohio turning out axe handles until they were a glut in the market. Right in the midst of all my trouble my manufacturer and his two men—that was the American labourer I employed — (laughter) — struck for higher wages. I told them I could not stand it, that there was a terrible shrinkage of value, the market was glutted, and the best thing I could do would be to shut down. My foreman took me to one side and said, ' Boss, this thing is played out.' ' I know it,' said I. 'I will tell you what to do,' said he, ' get a good big insurance on your old rattletrap, and some night I will stick a chunk under it, and then we will divvy.' (Laughter). Says I, ' My friend you have been in the penitentiary and you don't mind it (laughter); I have not bean and I am prejudiced." (Laughter). That night he stole my best horse and skipped. (Laughter). And that was the end of my Protection. I have been a practical Free Trader ever since. Well, Mr Chairman and gentlemen, you earnest 'hot gospclers,' you gentlemen who are going to reform the world—(A voice, ' You bet') —God straighten your elbow. I don't think that we are in a condition to be embarrassed or baffled. This great question of Free Trade has been submitted by our noble President to the people—(applause)—and now that we count the forces wo find that nearly one hundred thousand of a majority have declared for Free Trade.