The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-11-29
GUorCgEtec
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1926
WCoLLEN M.aNUEACTURE.


Some of those who oppose revision of the
duty on woollen goods, do il on the assump-
ton that an increase of the duty will operate
as a tax on the consumer, for the beEeft Of
the manufacturer, and that thus the interest
of the many is to he sacrificed TO that of the
few. Such an assumption, although it be-
trays an ignorance Of the facts, necessary TO
an understanding Of tie case, is, nevertheless,
worthy of refuation, because it bears SEM
blauce Of plausibilty on its face, which may
deceive those who have not paid much atten-
ton 10 the subject. 1t is known that, for
three or four years past, and until within a
short time, the communicating has been
a good business, and yet il is fact, within the
knowledge Of every observer that domestic
cloths afforded at the same cost, have contain
ed better stock and more wear than the i'm
poited. But times have changed the over
stock OF goods in England, and the almost I'M
prcccdonted depression of business there have
caused vast quantities Of foreign goods, TO be
thrown upon our market, and SOLD at prices
lar below what :hey could be imported for at
ordinary times I. is 10 guard against these
nuctu ,tions cf business abroad that the man
,,iacturers ask for prcto otion, and not that the
business requires an increase Of duty which
shall operate as p rmsnent bounty upon it.
I;ut it may he answered that, if this is all,
the evil win cure itself-that, af;cr sniff
cicnt time has elapsed, The glut in the market
wi be worked on, prices will again advance,
and business resume its accust toned channels,
aud that, consequently, no protection is neces
.sary. We graft the premises, but deny the
conclusion. When the plague RACES among
the Turks, they adopt no means TO arrest its
progress, because, when il has spent itself, it
will subside, and be succeeded by returning
health. Such reasoning and such practice
may do for the Turks, but with US a more en-
ightened policy prevails. When malignant
DISEASE appears in our cities, the infected dis
trict is at once marked out and fenced of, and
communication with it is forbidden, that the
infection may not become general. So in re-
Iation TO the woolen manufacture, though in
ordinary times, with fair competition, no adj
ditional protection is necessary, yet prudence
dictates that such wall should be raised as
will confine evils, like those which now press
upon us, to the country where they originat-
ed. and prevent their needless extension TO US,
when no adequate equivalent is obtained.
Although it is not believed that an increase
of duties on woollen goods, would create a
permauent advance on the price OF cloths,
over the usual value OF the imported article.
vet, we would by no means admit, 1t such
were the fact, that good policy would not die
,aie that il should be done. To elucidate
our views clearly, we will suppose, for in
stance, that, as has been The case for few
wears past, in consequence Of the limited de-
mand for our produce abroad, and of the pro-
duct exceeding the demand, the price be-
comes exceedingly depressed. Under these
circumstances, we impose such duty on some
manufactured article, as will prevent its i'm
portation, and introduce the manufacture
here. but at an advance on the former price,
of i,ceniy per cent. By increasing the plumber
az manufacturers, we create home market,
which is always better and more uniform than
foreign one, and, by diminishing the num-
Der of agriculturists, we lessen the quantity o
nroduce in the market. Suppose then thai
,hese combined effects should raise the price
Of produce twenty per cent and mat Inc
garner was in the habit Of consuming one thrc
mart Of the value Of the produce which hi
eells. in the article. SO dptied. still he woul'
no painer Of tloenty per cent on the value
two.thirds OF his produce, and the value oil n'
freehold would be permanently increased II
the same ratio.