The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-28
More assaults on the Tariff OF Is46 by the
Free-traders.


The commercial correspondent of the Wash
ington Union. in his letter published in that
paper of yesterday, speaking in relation to cot
ton fabrics, says:
"a great clamor is raised at the present moment
in relation to.the low prices Of wrought fabrics,
compared with the material, and efforts are
being made to attribute the fact to the low tariff
That prices OF goods are low is probably true; but
that this arises from domestic competition almost en-
firely, can be shown from very few figures"
We pause here for the purpose of asking our
readers to note the admissions involved in this
statement They are
LIST. That even under the tariff Of 1916, the
design Of which was not to increase domestic
competition, but to discourage it, it has yet
been sufficiently powerful To reduce the price
of manufactured cottons. IL it possessed this
capacity under policy which was adverse to
the increase of American manufactures, forti-
orr, it would have effected still larger reduc-
tions if the contrary policy had prevailed, and
domestic competition had been stimulated.
The trainers Of the tariff OF 1876 sought to
stimulate the importation of foreign goods, in
order that we might 'buy in the cheapest mar
ket;' but that we obtain the cotton fabrics any
cheaper than before, is, according to this ad-
mission, due almost entirely TO domestic cum
petition, and is, in very slight degree, the re-
suit of our purchases being made in the foreign
market We have then either purchased next
to nothing abroad, or we have gained next TO
nothing by 50 doing.
The Union's correspondent continues:
"For this purpose have TO take the number OF
yards imported from England at different periods,
aud the number of bales taken by the United States
man ufacturers estimating the bale at 400 pounds,
and the cloth at three yards TO the pound Of raw
cotton The result Is IA follows:
1880 ls4o. is4s.
United States. 1852 395.Iss 5lsoss
Bales used South
and VEST. 10000
Equal to yards ISL ,SI4 100 s54 ,2s 500 TAI 64s 500
Great Britain. es ,577,ss3 s2,O7s,oO4 $1,000 600
Total supply Of
yards 220, 1891, 1913 3S6, 304, 6O4 1875, 646 500
Population. go. IL ,s66,020 l7,069, Asa 22s00 000
Goods per head IL lilo ~. s5i
The number of bales here given the consump-
ton of the South and West IL that given in tho an
nual report Of the cotton crop. At glance II toi
be that the increase Of supply per head, whch has
doubled snce 1890 is derived entirely from United
States production. The exports Of United States
cotton cloths in l549 we're valued at S442l ,69l;
which, at average Of eight cents per yard,
would give 55,27l 900 yards exported; which.
added TO 100000 yards foreign goods exported
make about 1900 900 yards exported than i'm
portcd-showing that the entire consumption Of
cottons in the United States is derived from home
show concusivcly the absurdity of the cry sbou,
foreign competition under the present tariff. The
diminished margin which undoubtedly exists be-
tween cost Of material and price Of fabric has been
brought about entirely by home competition"
That the increase Of supply per head has
been derived from domestic production, proves,
if il proves any thing, that the system which
encourages such production creates CORE
spending power 10 purchase and consume.
I When, as in 1880, we imported most largely