The native American., 1838-06-16

In the early days Of Rome's extravaganza the weight
silk produced an equal weight of gold, and in the time
liberius The evil example Of costly dressing had becon
so great that law passed that that no man shoul
disgrace himself by wearing silken garment /" Tn
prohgae Heliogabulus the FIRST Emperor to voIat
this law and appeared in public with dress compose,
wholly of this article. Since then the value both of go
and silk have diminished the whole world and IN.
latter has, al least in this country, become no distinguish
ing mark Of their rank, wealth, or merit.
The insect thrves well every where, except in damJ
climates, and hence il cannot be raised in England Sh,
has, however, made all the amends which art could olF
to diminish the objections Of nature and if she could no
raise the worm, she has managed to profit by the manu-
facture OF the material il produced.
Prior 10 the revocation Of the edct of Nantes in 1855
little or nothing done in England in this line but al
that period when religious intolerance drove five hundred
thousand mechanics from France to The shores of her op
pose neghbors, the manufacture of silk began and she
has been going on increasing this branch Of her industry
until her exports OF manufactured silk now exceed five
millions of dollars per annum. The exports of this
commodity from France, Italy, Canton and other parts
Of Europe and Asia have had corresponding increase
and the United States The great mart for this prodc
tivencss.
The imports with us in 1892 were $s,lI7SI2; in 1885
they had nearly doubled heng l6 507 983 and in 1886
they had increased TO $25 200. Now this serious
drain upon the Of people, who to enconr.
age false pride Of dress ncucaed by foreign policy to
sustain foreign capital and foreign manufactures are led
to yield up the substantial products Of labor or else
to remain constantly indebted TO- other countries This
evil, great 1t is would be somewhat paIated if it
could be said at the time that we INDUCED our pride
cur industry procured food for our wants. and some
thing 10 spare to reduce foreign debt This however
is not the for we have recently become people OF
progacy, and like the Romans in the time of Tibers
or the English in that Of James the First shall require
snmpuary laws and restraints upon extravagance The
bread stus exported from the United States in 1888
81 o09556, but they have been gradually diminishing
and in 1886, they had dwinded down TO l799 Isl, be-
ing dimnution Of near fifty per cent in three years
while we have gone on importing, until from housant
one hundred and sixty eight bushels Of wheat brought
into country in 1892 had three millions nine hun
dred and twenty thousand two hundred and fifty
bushels in 1887 and it this destruction of that grca
principle of public policy that the consumption Of ma
ton shall be made mp by its produces that induced t
Rothchds to say that they had confidence in The ere
dit of nation which imported its provisions.
We have involunary d;gressed from our object, which
OF cltlZenS mere 10 the
employment Of their waste lots in the planting of the
white mulberry or, when not TO be had, TO the common
tree Of that which grows indigenous in the neigh
borhood.
We would extend the same advice to our husbandmen
every where though with limitation and that is
that as it is after all to the farmer the producer OF the
grain for the food Of the people, that nation is indebted
for its wealth, those followers Of that high honorable and
independent calling should not be tempted to forego the
valuable pursuit to any degree, however SMALL that nigh
diminish the usual results of their husbandry The ad
vice offer is to those that are not exactly farmers or
f such, have spare land and spare help which may b.
profably employed in vacant to augment thei
other resources by adding branch Of employment
to all the rest But let one foreigner other, per
suade you to give up rood Of arabic land already cult
vated for the prospective profits Of silk worms for ate
ALL silk without the ability to manufacture it. or If manu-
acturcd without market to send it to- would, beyon
our home consumption be proftless chandse, an.
poor substitute for the bread stus that would other
wise be raised in its stead. We desire to see our coun
try altogether agricultural and thereby furnish us the
means Of having Jefferson advised workshops
Europe
In order, however, to show the mode Of raising the
silk worm, and the profits that would result we publish
recent letter from Mr. C. J.Duran, Of New Jersey t.
the American Institute and to which and this subject
call the attention Of our fellow -countrymen