WHAT IS FREE TRADE?***
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Note: Images of the original pages are available through the Making of America Collection of the University of Michigan Library. See http://www.hti.umich.edu/m/moagrp/
WHAT IS FREE TRADE?
An Adaptation of Frederick Bastiat's "Sophismes Économiques" Designed for the American Reader
by
EMILE WALTER A Worker
New York: G. P. Putnam & Son, 661 Broadway
The New York Printing Company, 81, 83, And 85 Centre Street, New York
1867
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. Plenty and Scarcity
CHAPTER II. Obstacles to Wealth and Causes of Wealth
CHAPTER III. Effort--Result
CHAPTER IV. Equalizing of the Facilities of Production
CHAPTER V. Our Productions are Overloaded with Internal Taxes
CHAPTER VI. Balance of Trade
CHAPTER VII. A Petition
CHAPTER VIII. Discriminating Duties
CHAPTER IX. A Wonderful Discovery
CHAPTER X. Reciprocity
CHAPTER XI. Absolute Prices
CHAPTER XII. Does Protection raise the Rate of Wages?
CHAPTER XIII. Theory and Practice
CHAPTER XIV. Conflict of Principles
CHAPTER XV. Reciprocity Again
CHAPTER XVI. Obstructed Rivers plead for the Prohibitionists
CHAPTER XVII. A Negative Railroad
CHAPTER XVIII. There are no Absolute Principles
CHAPTER XIX. National Independence
CHAPTER XX. Human Labor--National Labor
CHAPTER XXI. Raw Material
CHAPTER XXII. Metaphors
CHAPTER XXIII. Conclusion
INTRODUCTION.
Years ago I could not rid my mind of the notion that Free Trade meant some cunning policy of British statesmen designed to subject the world to British interests. Coming across Bastiat's inimitable _Sophismes Economiques_ I learnt to my surprise that there were Frenchmen also who advocated Free Trade, and deplored the mischiefs of the Protective Policy. This made me examine the subject, and think a good deal upon it; and the result of this thought was the unalterable conviction I now hold--a conviction that harmonizes with every noble belief that our race entertains; with Civil and Religious Freedom for All, regardless of race or color; with the Harmony of God's works; with Peace and Goodwill to all Mankind. That conviction is this: that to make taxation the incident of protection to special interests, and those engaged in them, is robbery to the rest of the community, and subversive of National Morality and National Prosperity. I believe that taxes are necessary for the support of government, I believe they must be raised by levy, I even believe that some customs taxes may be more practicable and economical than some internal taxes; but I am entirely opposed to making anything the object of taxation but the revenue required by government for its economical maintenance.
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