New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-11-19

For The n Y Tribune.
" The Poor Man" and his " Drag-Chains,"
md the Wnsher-W omnn's Smoothing
IrOns.o
VIEW or FREE TRADE FOR WORKING MEN
To ne Editor Of The ~ Y. Ererirg Post.
DEAR SIR: OF all the questions at issue be-
tween the two great parties of this country,
conceive those which affect its industrial in
terests to be superior to all others, for re-
gard the peaceful and industrial progress of
nation of more than twenty millions of freemen
to be the true basis of its mighty influences in
the present and future affairs of mankind. A
fair and candid investigation of the claims of
Labor and Capital and free discussion of
these questions, is of transcendent Importance.
VIII you permit me to address you a few
thoughts suggested by your leader of Saturday,
the 9th inst, under the head of "a Proposal
for tightening the Ship"
The article is founded upon two extracts
from The Railroad Journal in reference to the
present state Of the iron market. The first Of
these extracts states that the late advances in
the price of English iron have now reached SIS
to 81 per tun, without any immediate pros
pect of decline Hence, for 100 miles of railroad now
constructed $4,000 to $4,000 will be paid for duty
alone The second extract advocates increased duty
on merchant bar being calculated to secure steady
home market for our manufactures and by admitting
rs free to effect probable reduction of the prices
$50 per tun The Railroad Journal further thinks that
high prices must rule for time TO come the vast
immigration to Australia from Great Britain will doubt
less increase permanently the price OF labor there.
You remark on the above statements and views, as
follows
1--WE 90 not perceive for part how it is that it
becomes necessary, II take oil the duty railway irOu
to put higher Guy merchant bar iron. With the pres
ent Pnccs both the makers of railway and merchant
bar iron dong extremely well For considerable time
they have stood whiting the of tide, and it has come
AT last bearing them to fortune Their previous losses are
We'll if the high prices foreign IRON are TO be perma.
nu let tire makers OF bar iron be with that great
advantage Let them be couen with making their fortunes
IS they now DONG and not ask ay add
onal tribute the consumer that their prosperity may
pampeTtd INTO still ranker growth
am not surprised that you do not perceive the ne
eesify of putting higher duty on merchant bar and
taking il OF the rails. There il such necessity I'M
Piled. It is simply suggested a matter of policy and
the reason is given thus by The Journal;
Tie policy have been adv coating would have the
most favorable inrsnce upon the price of imported rails
IL chick tie importation Of this article The loss OF this
market for common bar would necessarily drive the English
making in rails, aud competition Tor the only article adj
united tree would bring prices down to the lowest living
point"
Now, em Protccdoniat, and so far from taking of
the duty am for clipping on tight and strong dis
eliminating always in favor Of American Labor aud
fEiHg IL that it shall say for a long time for the
reason that competition among AnVieaR MaRgde,a.
0s WHO have a steady home market, will soon bring
of atf ,,;o,,
Tor the capital inve-ted
Ii Understand the purpose Of Free Trade, as ex-
pressed by you and maintained universally by Free
Traders il il 10 furnish articles OF foreign manufacture
cheaper thap they be furnished by the American
capitalist" Tie promise Of the Free Trader before
tie passage Of the present Tariff Act was among other
thing, ohecp iron And now, by your own market
reports end foreign advices, iron il advancing and
bringing high price,. You say the makers of iron
ale doing errtmey rel and the tide is bearing them
On to fortune But your professions Of attachment
to the poor man instead Of Leading the capitals,
to (or:uHe should be keeping him in a very differ.
ent position Either | fell Of reading your admirably
plain English or Free Trade falls Of it's mission.
Eut my chief objec; in this communication is to in
yte your attention toa broader view of the question
than would he Afforded by detailed reply to the many
vulnerable points Of your article Permit me to ask
your candid consideration OF the following views:
MONOPOLY is word used, in my apprehension
kind Of popular bugbetr TO frighten large masses
Of away from the sober and deliberate inyestgs
non of the greatest labor question Of our country.
MonoI olis,s and Capitalists are terms in con-
slant BY Free Traders and from the frequency
with which your article admits them the reader would
suppose thu; the country il really in danger from tie
employment OF capital in manufactures
In country ike ours, where all domestic trade ia
free, there be little or no monopoly under fair
operation Of the laws Of trade. But under what Il
called " Free Trade subject our labor and com.
rnerce, foreign and domestic to the operation of Br
iii Trade lave, and place Ourselves at the mercy Of
tie most gigantic and powerful manufs curing rnonoo
cEes OF the world
The manufacturing interests Of our country are rn
orally in he hands u Corporations If Won pease 50
TO speak, companies Of men and shares in the stuck
sIe held by a number more or less. of indivi6B.I,
and IN many instances considerable portions If The
stock are held by the aborers in the respecve e,ab
Eshnents There are but very few commands m no
rnense wealth while ninety-fye per cent Of the mann
fcrurne capital and interest l. distributed suon h.
sands OF holders. The grea, majority of the mapu.c
turing establishments based On capitsls nj from
5000 to $4,000 each The inevitable consequence
OF this state OF things L. the popular dissiJuta ne
the proceeds Of capital invested in manufactures
Hence, Is conceive, there Is really no ,ao,on,,
but every thing the reverse for the reason
iition among many and widely scattered sela,s ,.
necessarily follow, and positively exclude the lilo, ~
combustion and monopoly.
But contend that, by your own showing A. we'll =,
by al the facts Of the case British free trad. Il n,
81 Monopoly For several years the iron interes, 81,