The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-10

into the ports of France, Germany, Belgium,
and Russia, it is probably considerably greater
than the production.
In 1925 Germany alone sent To England
above thirty millions of pounds, and Spain sent
more than eight millions. At that time for
eign wool paid six pence, or toelrc cents per
pound, tax to the British government for per-
mission to be carried in British ships to British
ports, to be converted in British mills, and
thence carried back again 10 Germany, Spain,
Russia, &c., the places Of consumption-and
that duty would still exist had not Germany,
Spain, Russia, and Belgium, determined to
make market at home, and thus produce COM
petition ,oith England for the purchase OF acool
France now finds herself driven to pursue the
same course, because protection among her
neighbors is producing home competition for
the purchase of wool, and also competition for
the sale of cloth, to the great benefit of the
producer of the one and the consumer of The
other.
Forty years ago, England was almost the
sole purchaser of cotton, and then she taxed it
nearly four cents per pound for permission to
pass to the world through her ships and mills;
and that tax was maintained until the people
of continental Europe began to compete with
her for the purchase of it At length we es'
tablished the tariff of 1928, under which we
also began to be competitors for the purchase of
| the product of our own colton-felds; and the
consequence was, that in 1882 the tax upon
the passage Of cotton through the British mills
was reduced to cent and third per pound
and in 1888 to two thirds of cent; and tins
did protection lead to increased freedom Of trade
Ia 1885 Germany established her Zoll-Verein,
the effect of which was to produce rapid in
crease in the consumption of cotton, and So
rapid diminution in the cost of cotton goods
TO the people of Germany, that they not only
supplied themselves, but entered largely into
competition with England for the supply of the
markets of the world. To meet this compeli-
Ion for the purchase of cotton, and for the sale
of cotton goods. the whole remaining tax
On the passage of cotton through English mills
was abolished; and thus again did protection
lead to increased freedom Of trade.
Protection al home and abroad having thus re-
| leved the cotton planter from the payment OF
| heavy taxes, it now remains with him to de-
termine how soon he will relieve himself from
| the payment of the enormous tax of transpor
| laton TO the mills of Manchester tax which
| absorbs SO much of his cotton that he obtains
but one bale of cloth in exchange for five bales
Of cotton. although the capital and the labor re
quired for converting bale into cloth are by nc
means as great as those required for the produc
| ton Of the cotton itself. If he desire to accom-
| plish this, he cannot. we think, do better than
| study the course that has been pursued through,
ont Europe for the accomplishment Of thai
object, and with SO much effect. Germany sem
out wool and brought home cloth, giving much
of the one in exchange for little of the other
So did Russia, SO did Belgium, and so die
Spain. Now, protected Germany has marke
for all her wool at prices so much above those
Of England. that she can import ,cool from
England, and she converts it into cloth 81
cheapIy that she is enabled TO have direct
commerce with the world-that commerce
which our southern friends so much desire tt
obtain. Instead of sending all her wool to Hull
or London, she now combines her food and he
wool. and sends the two together, In the form
of cloth, to all the people of the world, ane
exchanges it directly with the producers of cot
ton and sugar, rice and tobacco, wool and indi
go. Let our cotton planter do then the Ger
man wool grower has done. LIE, him take 70
himself the protection needed for enabling hin
to bring the machinery of manufacture to hi
own door, to his own cotton-felds; and theI
instead of selling his cotton in the cheapes
market and buying his cloth in the dearest one
as did the German wool grower before the for
nation of the Zoll-Verein, he will soon fin,
that he will be selling his cotton in the deares
market and buying his cloth in the cheapes
one, as is now the case with the officially pro
teeted wool grower Of Germany.