The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-23
From the Philadelphia spirit Of the Tine.
"OUR WORKSHOPS In EUROPE

One Of our exchange papers commenting upon
the advertisement Of tailor in this city, who, do
ring the tariff excitement, published his determine
ton 10 have his clothing made abroad, Is OF opinion
that it would be quite possible to manufacture
clothing IN Europe, and have IL sold here at a less
price than il could be furnished for in the United
States.
Similar Arguments, from time to time, make their
appearance in the American press. The whole are
the result OF popular error Clothing cannot be
made in Europe, and, after undergoing all The ex-
Penses of shipment, commissions, DC, be disposed
OF here al such wonderfully low prices. Boots and
shoes are in the same category. II is not difficult
for casuists 10 refer scales Of prices abroad and
to talk learnedly ofthe difference between the wages
of operatives in the United States and of those in
Europe We should be sorry to see wages descend
here to the standard Of wages in Europe and we do
not apprehend that they will; but, admitting
the difference still we repeat that, however pretty
and conclusive the position may look upon paper Il
Is false in fact-Europe never can become the work
shop OF the United States.
Good boots and shoes are actually more
easily in England than they are here, notwh-
standing the low price Of labor in that country
In France, the value Of good boots and shoes 10
30 near ,he Co.'S Of them in own country that
me simple ana Inevitable charges for transporta-
ton would forever prv-an, them firm, coniBg
into effective competition with articles Vi sons1
| merit and American origin. In England, a.
though wooen cloths are VIGOROUSLY cheapet
than with us, and the price of labor presents The
same lamentable picture Of abasement we have men.
toned, coat can be purchased for only very few
dollars less than we obtain one ofsimar quality
here for, and then il will neither be as Handsomely
cut, nor well made. Of course there are men,
| and Americans too, who will assert that everything
IS better and more elegantly made abroad than we
| can make 1t at home. But we confidently deny the
assertion far all articles of acknowledged ul
ty are concerned. In delicate matters of TASTE lux
ury, vertu, &c, admit that il is possible for us
to be exceed in Europe; but articles of substan-
tial and general use American workmanship cannot
be excelled in any country in the world.
II is folly, therefore, TO talk of tour workshops
in Europe.o 1t is bold, impudent, and shameless
disparngemcnt of American skill and enterprise II
we had no tariff whatever, we should have very liz
tic to apprehend from foreign competition Except.
| ing that we might be imposed, upon perhaps for
time by inferior goods Of European production, put
at a diminished price, and wearing the appearance,
Of good quality,) and with revenue tariff all such
| apprehensons are not only groundless--the mere
| morbid fancyings of cupdity or mendacity--but
are grossly unjust to the resources and capabilities
Of unfetered minds expanded under free institutions.
With the ingenuity of our counrymen, we should
not, on the contrary, be surprised if we yet cary
| the war into Africa" and make the United States
the workshop of Europe, by flooding the Old Word
with American manufactures at less prices than
they can possibly produce them there, even while
we set them an example of liberal trade and liberal
compensation for human labor. a...'..