The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-03-11
TIE LORDS OF THE LOOM.

Why cannot the" lords of the loom" be satisfied
md make money, on the same rate of duties thll
are sufficient for the common mechanics is Qucs-
ton now often putt and we wish the " Home
Lcaguers" would furnish an answer To il. The
mechanics were never thought worthy Of higher
duties ,h,n from Is To 80 per cent. on the foreign
price-whch is not so good as all admit, rs the
compromise rates Of 20 per cent on the home price
Blu, the mechanics have nevertheless, been able TO
command the American market on these rates, aud
have thrived us well rs could have been reasona-
bly, desired-mnch deter indeed taken as n body
than The farmers or sailors, or than the generality
oipror.s.onal men. Why then have the cloth
makers and carpet makers insisted on having pro-
lection of 50, or 100, $50 per cent. when they and
their friends. who have generally had the adjust
men, of the tariffs pirceled gu, to the ha,ters but
ton -lnakcrs tanners, clock makers, silver pater',
sdIers, harness-Inikers carriage and wagon ma .
kers, linmen, japan ware makers, umbrella ma
kers. &c. &c. only from 26 To 80 per cent, Has
ut the lime arrived when cloth and carpet makers
should stand on the same footing button makers,
carriage makers, leather makers, &c. &c. aud
should they not now reconcile themselves 10 those
rates which they aud their friends accorded to the
mechanics, when framing the tariff acts Of 1928 :
The whole secret Of this difference is, that the
/" lord, Of the loom toll not themselves neither
10 they spin. Their factories are generally joint
stock companies, or private corporations, managed
by agssts, living on large salaries-larger even
Than are given to the governors Of the States
Many Of these saarcd agents ride in the rear.
riages keep blooded horses, drink champaign and
tread On velvet /. is TO pay for doing business in
that way, and to enable the pIopretoTs 10 become
in,l!iogaries, while the poor workmen are screwed
down to the las, penny that they desire prohbitory
duties Of 100 or $50 per cent These are the men
who take the lead in Home Leagues. and would
turn the world up side down, il they could not be
allowed to impose Just such taxes on their nsigh-
bors as they desire When you come TO sf them
down. they make bu, Il very small portion Of the
community; hardly hndlul as compared with
the farmers. mechanics and senliring people whom
they would tag. Let our mechanics - our button
makers. hai,ors, shoemakeTO, tanners. &c. under
take TO carry on their business do the " lords Of
the loom," let their head men hold themselves
above work, and hire salhried agents on princcly
my IN overlook their business and keep their " Of
hcers," il which they are TO be seen only from
" nine to three how long could they Island
it, The 2j and 80 per cent, duties which
they have hitherto ihriyed, would be "a insufficient,
for them, as they are for the "lords Of The loom.
And on the other hand, il the cloth .nuficturers
would 10 business ms 10 The mechanics. and as the
men of moderate means among themselves do it,
there would be no complaint for want OF adequate
protection 10 " bone industry" Every indusri-
q IS olo...iar who takes nod hn;elf ns do tina me-
s.anic;, thrive, 10 well. He dee, net Easy iin.s