The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-03-05
DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO
GREAT PARTIES OF THE COUNTRY.

UhEAl 1Ah1lC VI lI1IJ OOON IN :
The Cincinnati Gazette says that the whig
party are, and have ever been, ''the friends
not only Of an independent government but
also of an independent commerce; whilst the
so-called democratic party are the advocates
Of free trade as principle, and are doing their
utmost to carry it out in practice. The con-
sequences of that practice, so far as they
have been able to proceed, are witnessed and
felt in all motonless spindles, idle trip ham,
mers, and extinguishcd fires, from Maine to
Texas, and in the overfowing granarics, in
which are rotting the surplus millions OF
bushels of wheat, throughout the whole west
1t is witnessed in the scarcity of the circulat-
ing medium, caused by the export of $780,
100000 of specie in Il few short months, and
that, too, notwithstanding the rich prodp-
tions of California. And should this statqo
things continue, the bankruptcy of our nadon
will be witnessed and the general bankrupt
cy of those who compose the nation, unless
they are willing TO come down TO level with
the serfs of Europe, unless they are willing
to wear rags upon their bodies, and array
their minds in the tattered fragmcntary ideas,
such rs the free trade writers of Europe and
political demagogucs Of this country are
willing to dole out TO them. There is no
doubt they can live, and live perhaps free
from debt, but such life is worse than death.
To IN American, death should at once be far
more preferable than 4 life Of degraded, I'M
rewarded toll. II was not for this our fathers
struggled in weakness until they became
mighty. The blood and treasure and suffer-
ing were not expended that we should ut last
become, through the intricaccs of trade,
hcwcrs of wood and drawers of water to Il
nation that has twice acknowledged our
prowcss in battle.
"The advocate of free trade is willing that
the manufacturer at Birmingham and Liver
pool, in England, should roll along in his
splendid equipagc, and surieit himself with
the earnings of the people of this country,
but is unwilling that those who invest their
capital and time in machinery at Lowell,
Lawrence, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and other
manufacturing points, should enjoy even a
competency, They insist that the farmer
shall depend upon foreign supply of goods,
aud in mere moskefy, offer him ss a isariket
for his grain, a place 5000 miles distant, to be
there undersold by the serf productions of
Russia and Poland. These are principles,
when carried out, of the so-called democratic
party, in reference to free trade and the tariff.
And the only reason, if we are to believe the
leaders of that party why free trade is not
put fully into practice, is, because there is Il
revenue to be raised, to pay the war debt
which that party has contracted, and which
can only be discharged in this way, or by Il
resort to direct taxation. 1t is idle then to
say that there is little if any difference be-
tween the great political parties of the cOun-
try, and equally suicidal to indulge in the
apathy and bitterness which has characterized
too many of those whose interest it is to act,
and act with promptness and effect"