The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-07-08
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which protects manufacturers also protect thcn
LOpeH Courier.
The amount Of this, and the meaning evidently
intended to he conveyed is, that the interest ofihc
Vermont farmer, and Of the manufacturer are the
same; aud that whatever effects the one will Oper-
ate in the same manner upon the other. This is
one of the grosses and most papabc humbugs of
the day. Wool growing we believe, is the most
important interests of the Vermont farmer. Now
that the interests of the wool grower and the manu-
lacturer Of wool are identical is not true, in any
sense. The wooden manufacturers themselves
have shown that the contrary is the fact, and scout
of their own mouths we will condemn them" The
cashing Of these two interests is conluslvey prov
ed by their memorial to Congress, They say that
the high price of po0l in this country, alone pre-
vents them from competing successfully with the
foreign manufacturer. 1t is the protection, slight
as ii is, which is afforded TO the wool grower,
which they complain OF. Here is their language:
"At the present prices of wool in Europe, New
Holland, and South America, it could be- imported
into this country free of duty, at price which
would enable the manufacturer 10 dive a brisk
competitor with the foreigner. The cheapncss of
our water power, and some other circumstances,
gives us advantages which compensate for the diff
ference in the price of labor-n fact we know,
from the figures Oft the English manufacturers them
selves, which we have by Us, and could give if ii
were necessary, that the cost of manufacturing
woolIen goods in Great Britain, is nearly us great
as our own The principle difference between the
price Of their cloth and our own, is the result Of
the high price of wool in this country compared
with theirs, and on the continent"
Here the manufacturers show the fllsty of the
statement that the tariff which protects them will
also protect the producer of the raw MATERIAL
They want either reduction Of the duty on for
cgn WOOL or an additional duty on foreign manu-
featured wooIlen goods. A tariff which protects
them, must iowcr the pIice Of American wool, By
suffering foreign wool TO be imported free Of duty,
or at so low rate to make il cost less than our
own wool. Whereas a tariff, to protec! The Yer
mont farmer, or the wool grower in any State,
must impose such duty on foreign wool as to
make it cost here more than our own. In word.
the manufacturer wants tariff that will admit the
wool of foreign countries FREQ Of duty-hc wool
grower wants Ia iilw which will exclude foreign wool
from our markets. How these are alike, we are
unable to perceive. /, seems to us that they are
Numerically opposite. Aud it appears eviden, TO
that the tariff which the manufacturers want in
stead of protecting, would cllectualy PROSTATE the
wool grower.
But this cashirg Of interests exists not between
these two branches Of industry oAiy The same
is true of many others. The sugar manufacturer
wants n tariff TO protect his business, while the
importer and consumer wish no duty upon that
article. The iron manufacturers asks for a tariff
TO protect them from ruinous foreign competition.
while the consumer of that very necessary article
is interested in having it imported free of duty be-
cause he conld then buy it much cheaper. The
same is The case with almost all branches of Amcr-
can industry. The protection of one is purchased
at the expense Of another
But we do not say, nor do we think that tariff
cannot be established which will bear equally, or
nearly so, upon all the conflicting interest of the
country. This may be done, il the settlement OF
this matter is sought TO be accomplished wilhou,
regard 10 the advancement Of particular men. The
Tariff question should be approached and legisated
upon, as the Democratic Legislature of Maine has
acted upon the Boundary qucsaon-wiihout ref
erence TO party politics-with an eye single to the
public good without regard to the promotion of
any particular interests, or the nggrandzment of
particular classes. This is the way the Democrats
have always wished to act upon It, They wish to
adjus, it so us TO produce the Creates, good TO
the greatest number. and the least injury TO all in
terests But no; this way of doing the peoples
buSiness-this legisaing for the whole country and
for all interests does not suit the ntolcant monopo
lizng, ollicc-sceking spirit Of the wing leaders
With them every measure must be made a par,y
qucslion-must be measured by the partial stan.
dnrd, and weighed in the uneven balance of partv
politics. They are always ready to sacrifice .hc
prosperity of the country upon the bloody a,er,
party, and 10 lcopardizc the interests of the poop
to Promote the elevation of some aspiring politics
iavorte. All their journals are continually hnrp
ing and yepng upon the subject of the tariff. and
using their utmost exertlons 10 make it strictly n
party question, regardless Of every thing but tho
elevation Of particular individuals TO Office Dut