The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-14

day. effect their object AND establish permanent
| and genuine free trade BASIS for our coxmeTelar
relations with the world OF this there can he
no doubt for, if Capital is protected that is in
sured, by the Government it will, as soon as time
and circumstances permit, reduce the cost Of pro-
duction here TO the lowest level which the open
market may demand. 1t will multiply machinery,
magnify its operations and increase the class of
laborers required by importation and enlistment
until it has the control Of its conditions and de-
Tendencies as absolute az its manufacturing rivals
of the Old World now hold theirs One differ
ence only in our favor-the cost Of transportation
| TO our shores in the cases where the foreign conf
petitor possesses the raw material, as well as our
selves.
IL there be anything in Free Trade worth the
| price, il can undoubtedly be had on these terms
The pauperism of the civilized nations can be
distributed and equalized sooner, by helping
| Capital in its struggle against Labor in new
countries, than by leaving it TO its own natural
powers for effectiHg the conquest.
The TriJHne points to the fact that American
shawls are selling in Canada, against a duty Of
ton has done this, and is capable of accomplish
ing the same results in every branch Of our ma
tional manufactures. 1t claims this instance as
demonstration and pledge. If this be true, it
must depend upon superiority in means and
methods, or greater cheapness in the cost of ma
terial or labor, or both, than happens to our
British rivals
A. "a Z. t~-:1 h
that Capital can be at no loss TO equalize mesns,
methods, and cost Of materials, in the open mar
kets OF the world. II cannot annihilate cost Of
transportation, where that happens to be against
it, but it can make everything else even in the
game, aud the other element, Labor, must suffer
for all differences, until the genuine Free Trade
basis" is established in an absolute equality of
conditions all over the world, saving only the
cost Of carriage, which will be in favor of the
home manufacturer.
The two systems in the field against each other
with some difference of time and incidents, meet
at last on the same plain. There is no fee simple
interest in the principle, it is only a matter of
rent-how much it may happen to pay while it is
wearing out
Some words are born impostors. Protection is
one Of them There is an assumption under it
that rests upon an instinct which it cheats. Pro-
tection-all right-every existence deserves to
be, and to be preserved Protection of home in
dustry, all right, also; but if Philanthropy swal-
lows the bait, it gets hook in its gils IL is not
denied that temporary and tridipg differences re-
suit from the different policies aud they may be
on either side Of this question, or they may bal
ance each other But the delusion remains Pro-
lection is no system Of labor rights Ii is q ma
n"uvre, it is not philosophy 1t is matter
Of Exchanges, and fates and fortunes may turn
upon it, as they do upon stocks, famines, and sea
storms but it is scheme to talk about it as an
element in the social progress and general welfare
Of the laboring classes. Men do not gather figs
from thistles
la the same Ttibme, we find that the planters
and merchants Of Jamaica are in distress The
agony is that land is plenty and people are scarce
aud independent The words are, the popula-
ton is soanty and independent" In Barbados,
happily, there is nothing of this evil of plenty Of
land and independence of the people Its "popu-
ation ia redundant, every acre Of land is applied
to profitable cultivation population presses the
means Of subsistence and the people are Industrious
from necessity or course, Barbados increases
her productions, and, what is best of all, " the
sugar is all proft,n for the corn crop pays the
expenses Of the year" And why not Popula-
ton presses uIon the means meaning thfU own
means) Of subsistence and they work cheap, for
they work from necessity, with all the meaning
pressed into the word that it is capable Of
The Jamaica people cannot stand this, and they
are bidding for-not protection, Mr.. Tnbme-that
is, not for protective tariff-but for population
to press on the means of subsistence and put in
dustry under the spur of necessity. Other things
being equal in the West India islands az respects
their own rivalries, famine and population are the
protection Of trade and letters are addressed to
American politicians and philosophers upon the
question of moving our free colored people to do
some Of the pressing which has become necessity
in Jamaica. Mr.. Clay, who is forward in every
great movement of protection, population, and
pressure, answers the anxious inquirers in a let
ter dated 10th May, 1851 As usual, there is ev.
erything in this epstle which the writer knows
said in thirty years, on all questions Of public
policy, is clearly and forcbly reproduced for II
is remarkable Of MIR Clay, that he can condense
every speech that he ever made into any space no
pleases, and does do itevery time he writes bat
| am thinking now only of tho raw question Of
protection, and | find in MIR. Clsy's letter this
striking suggestion, under this head; Have you
ever turned your attention to China ss . source
of labor to supply your colonies When
| was in Cuba, a few weeks ago, was informed
that planter had seventy or eighty Chinese,
brought from Northern China, employed ON his
estate; that he had engaged them at the very low
price Of four dollars per month each, for seven
years"l
That's the way to cheaper shawls in Canads,
and sugar In Cuba, or Mr.. Clay u no politician.