The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-10-12
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
pretse,lye Fallae,e..-oar cemm.rel.l L.,.sr.

i've policy for the most inconsistent II the peo
pie OF the manufacturing States addressed by the ad
Of special privileges. they told that mposts
and duties should be levied on foreign productions in
order exclude the foreigner from markets. and to
enable the manufacturer to realize higher prices for his
fabrics than he could expect if foreign competition were
freely admitted When the iron-masers or Golfers as
senbe in Pennsylvania, they appeal TO the public against
the practical operation of principles by proving
that the price of iron and coal has diminished since the
revenue bill OF 1916 went into operation And when the
lords OF the loom and the spinning jenny meet together
at Newport they represent that manufacturing capital is
worthless and manufacturing labor is starving since the
high protection OF the tariff Of 1912 has been with
drawn But when the people Of the southern and
southwestern States appealed to-those who live.
not by dividends, but by the produce Of the soil
they hear nothing OF coal mines deserted forge fires
and manufactures falling into ruins. The
agricuursts told that protective duties must be
given to the manufactures not for the benefit OF the
but for the benefit Of the
who engaged in agricultural employments. They
further told that singh duties make low prices and
BILE the agculiurst to obtain the products OF manufac
turing labor on cheaper terms than they could obtain
them under the operation OF ree-trade principles They
are told also, that the manufacturing establishments
which the proe consts tell them would be built up by
the strange process Of reducing their prices and profits,
would afford the best, extensive and the safest
for the surplus productions Of agricultural
labor and capital.
These are some, but by all OF the contradc-
tory assertions and inconsistent arguments by which the
is supported and seasoned to the taste
of an enlightened people They vary with the peculiar-
ties of those whom they addressed, and they
numerous defy particular specification But the fall
lacy which is principally relied on by the monopolists
when they endeavor to strengthen each other in their
faith but make proseytes their creed is the strange
position that HOME MARKET for agricultural products
should be built up by legislative restrictions and prohb-
ons-a home market consisting OF the demand created
by those who will be induced by the high prices engen-
Tered by protective tariffs invest their capital or indus
try in manufacturing empoyments. This idea, stripped
Of all its apPendages, is nothing more nor less than
naked appeal to the great labor interest Of the country
furnish capital nth additional means 10 purchase the pro-
cions Of labor In the language of Mr.. Clay imposts
like excuses, are taxes consumption. Whatever du
tes therefore, are paid at the custom houses along
coasts, ultimately from the pockets OF those who
consume the foreign goods which those duties are
levied and collected But the domestic producer Of the
same goods not only avoids the payment of those duties
and not only fails thereby 10 pay his due portion Of the
public revenue but he is benefited by the necessity which
exists OF imposing these burdens, because the duty levied
and collected al the custom houses increases the price oil
manufactured fabrics without adding to their intrinsic
salue and enables him to obtain from domestic la
Dor than he otherwise could obtain for his surplus pro-
duciion These views induced Alexander Hamilton the
great champion of prohibitions and restrictions after Oh,
constitution adopied-to the people, in his let
written before the adoption Of the constitution, for the
purpose of inducing them to ray that instrument that
when duties should be levied foreign products for the
.upport OF government, oounisruaiiing ercie would
so be levied, so that all might contribute equally to the
national burdens.
Thus it is that the expense Of building up the home
market must inevitably fall upon agricultural labor Thi,
ruth soon forces itself upon the conviction Of the agrcu
urst by increase in his necessary outlay for manuac
ured articles. and consequent dimnuton Of his profits
This would be the case even il the home market
equal to the absorption Of his surplus production But il
The nature OF things never be The refusal to buy
rom foreign nations forces them to refuse buy from
he foreign markets. cut of and destroyed. and the home
market is insufficient demonstrated in our forme
utcles on this subject Thus agricultural labor fnd
,sef grevousy taxed and severely oppressed BY
double operation, while following the chimera Of I
home Market under the guidance OF manufacturing CAPT
al for its expenses are increased, while its income il
Unfinished.
The idea OF building up home market necessarily and
inevitably involves we have said before, the injury
yrcuure, the great interest which, lies at the foundations
4 State Labor and capital must have inducements ex
ended them before they be seduced desert agcu
ure and form portion OF The home market And wheI
he subject atentvely considered il will be clearly seer
hat labor and capital will be seduced from agriculture
md induced 10 form portion Of the manufacturing homt
market, only by making agricultural labor and capita
Improbable and by forcing them desert the great pro-
Iuctive interest for other employment When the
rice of agricultural labor falls other labor synpathize.
its distress, and must fall also The thews and snew
Of the nation diminish in value when burdens are placed
on agriculture; and manufacturing capital is then ena
oled to employ operatives al lower wages This princi
ole is the very foundation of the struggle bet,cee,
reetrdde and protection The struggle is between abo
capital and money odpitalmoney striving by high dpie
10 reduce the tcags labor, and 10 appropriate at the eI
psnS Of labor, undue share Of the national production
We viii pursue this subject at another time But WI
content ourselves at present with calling the atten
ton OF readers to the able letter OF our New Yorl
commercial correspondent published in another column
Of our paper, which exposes with great ability some
the chief faaces Of protection and furnishes from III
actual condition OF trade and commerce. under the rev
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