The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-31

The Boston Anas publishes a letter from John
Ryle, an eminent manufacturer, now travelling IN
Europe communicating his ideas on the manuiac-
ture of sewing silk and the duty on the raw mate
rial. Ia travelling through France and Italy he
TO have endeavored TO gain all possible inior-
nation respecting the manufacture OF sewing silks,
in order to compare the process pursued in the Uni
ted States with that of others in the silk trade in
Europe, and he finds that, although our manuiac-
turers GO about producing article in our way,
and those of Europe another yet the result Is the
same, and quite good servings are made III the
United States made in either France or
Italy. This is as far the making OF 1t goes; but
the French and Italian manufacturers, he says, as
a general rule, use better raw stock 10 make the
goods from, and, a matter of course, pay higher
price for it. Again, they make servings in Italy
from class of raw silks not generally used else
where, and they almost all sent there for sale.
1t is not correct that the manufacturers OF Italy
italian stock; they do not. They make
their servings from silks of other countries, the
silk generally raised in Italy is of finer quality
than that used for the manufacture of servings, and
they sell it in the state. He says further:
% was informed, while in Italy, that the orders
for silks from the States had gradually fallen of
since $780, and that they diminished yearly. hope
this is | think it would be strange, indeed, if
we in America could not make our own servings
and by doing so find employment and support for
our own people. Besides, there is another reason
why this branch of industry should be encouraged
with us, and that is, II is of the most healthy
pleasing and clean there is in the whole range of
portion Of our supply of goods from Europe, let
them be articles that made with less facility
in the States than sewing silks. At the same time
ii ought not TO be that We should have TO compete
with the foreign manufacturers in rkcts,
they have little nothing to pay for labor. A
few cents per day ID the most they pay their best
operatives; what they give 10 those who not
active at their work do not know, but suppose II
is "a trifle per week. Now consider it the duty of
our Government 10 protect from competition
of this kind. Ii ought not 10 be matter of con-
sidcraton TO the lotcest price silks could be made
for in America, and the smallest amount of pro-
lection required, but what would afford ample
remuneration Tor both manufacturer and operative
"Tbe present arrangement OF the tariff on silks,
consider is than free trade. It's protection
to the foreign manufacture, and II Is not at all
adapted to produce the results no doubt intended
by the original trainers of the law. We must try
and have this matter set right; surely Congress will
NOT refuse to do an act of justice 10 such import
ant interest the manufacture of silks has now
become. The idea Of TAKING the ratD material Of
any branch Of industry, and calling that PRoTEC.
TIor, is such an anomaly, that no man in his
would attempt 10 defend 1t. Only just look at the
fact there is not in the world any government that
imposes duty OF Is per cent on the article of raw
silk; England, great she 10 in all the improve
ments Of the present age in machinery, and the
advantages Of cheap labor and long experience in
the silk trade, could not continue tins branch Of in
dustry one year under a similar tariff 10 the one
now in force in America. This is So with all the
boast that the nation is under a system Of free
trade. Again, they have another advantage which
ought not TO be overlooked. All the drugs thcy
use in dying are free, while we in the States pay
some articles as high 30 per cent. Surely,
this matter has not been properly represented TO
Congress at the time the bill before the House,
or il could not have been passed. We must, how
ever, every eIcrtion 10 have a change made in
the law; and If our rulers should refuse to grant
any favors, surely il will not be considered ne ask
ing too much OF them that they should do Us justice