The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-12

purchased by he coloniss through the diversion Of
the trade to great cities viii be first obtained BY
the sale Of the products OF agricultural la
Dor. II win be hereafter shown that, through this
system the colonies will become tho most important
foreign consumerso of our manufactures When they
purchase cotton goods and agricultural implements
they purchase, In another form, agricultural pro-
ducts which have constituted the chief cost OF their
production, either in the form of the material or
the manufactured article, or Of both As the pro
poeed measure contemplates the free introduction Of
Canadian wheat, the effect Of reciprocity upon this
important article OF our own production demands
particular consideration 1t is obvious that Canadian
competition could not affect inurously, If we did
not raise a surplus OF wheat for expectation. But
having IN at present, surplus for expectation, it
must be remembered that we have already given the
Canadians increased privileges for competing with
kets of the world, by opening De American canals,
railroads and ports, for their exports, under the
drawback law Of 1916. The fact is that in the prin
cipal markets, Great Britain and the United States
stand together, upon equal terms. 1t Is well known
that the surplus OF production thrown upon the mar
kes of the world establishes the price of all con.
sumed. The prices at Marklane fix the prices of
wheat both in the Canadian and American markets.
1t will be remembered that In lS47, when we export
ed largely to Europe the price OF wheat and flour
in New York rose and fell with the prices in Lon
don as surely and constantly mercury in q Their
mometer rises and falls with the changes OF temporal
ture.
In one important market, the Western wheat
growers at present have to compete with the Cana.
dams upon Instantaneous terms.
Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland, have
been among the best customers Of American bread
stuffs The market which they have afforded Is
equal to that Of Brazil Our exports OF breadstafls
to these colonies in 1852 amounted to 81 $3.50 ,285,
and to Brazil 81 655 568. The value OF our exports
Of breadstufs to these colonies for the year 1862,
was nearly equal to the whole value imported from
stuffs from Canada was 81 GIT $50. The value of
breadstuffs exported to the lower colonies was as
above stated, 81 659,2S5.
| In these provinces there are revenue duties on
American flour, of from rs to IS cents per barrel.
In the year 1850 reciprocal free trade in natural
products was established between Canada and three
of these provinces The effect has been that Cana
dian flour, being subjected to no duty obtained the
preference over our -four The protection in favor
| of Canadian flour when sent by the ST. Lawrence to
Halifax, st. John, and other ports, has already di-
verted portion Of the trade Of these provinces from
4 New York and Boston to Montreal and Quebec The
vessels which take -four carry back sugar, molasses
and other foreign commodities, which Of late years
had been purchased in New York, which, but for
commercial restrictions, might be more advanta-
geousy purchased in that aud our other Atlantic
cities.
! While the farmers OF the West would be benefited
by the free introduction OF wheat into the lower
colonies, they would gain equally by the effect which
the proposed arrangement would have in increasing
the consumption and export of another Of their most
important staples. The principal food Of the lumber
men and fshermen-next to the agriculturalists the
lower provinces-is pork. This staple can be pro
duced in Western States, where Indian is cheap,
at less cost than in any other part Of the world.
The impetus which would be given by this mea-
Der trade Of Canada would largely increase the
sumption of this article. The value of the lumber
trade Of Canada in 1916 estimated at IS 900 0OO
She must therefore have large army to support in
her forests. The duty charged in Canada on pork
swels the price OF lumber sent to our Eastern mar
ket, 30 that actually the Eastern consumer pays the
greater part Of the revenue collected there on this
article while, to certain extent. its production In
the provinces IL encouraged by the continuance OF
the duty.
It is not improbable that some local and temporary
Inconvenience may follow from the free competition
OF provincial products This is particularly true in
respect to the cOarser grains.
But to comprehend the effects Of a great CONNER
cial measure like this, must look beyond the lines
Of town or county, and the temporary arrangement
incident to any change in the existing order OF
things.
It'll part Of the present American system to in.
yite the freest competition upon equal terms The
the great West although it is rapidly filing up by
emigration and by this the surplus agricultu-
raj products particularly Of the States of Illinois In
diana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan, have been
immensely increased within the last few years.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
The rise and progress of the arts aud manufac-
lures of the United States constitute an interesting
and instructive chapter in our history There
see most clearly deIneatcd The narrow ana selfish
policy Of the mother country dscouragng the arts,
and preventing the growth of manufactures in her
colonies, for the purpose of retaining the monopoly
OF their commerce, and OF perpetuatng their state
OF colonial vassalage. So ruinous this policy ~
the colonists, and keenly did they feel its oppres
sion, that the thirteen North American colonies
which in l776 declared their independence pro-
ceeded at once, in the first Congress convened under
present constitution, to protect by legislation our
infant manufactures and the preamble of the first
revenue law passed declared it to be necessary,
among other things, for the encouragement and
protection Of manufacturer Thispocy, thus early
commenced, has been continued, though with va
rous changes in its application, down TO the present
time. Under its fostering influence manufac-
turing interests have attained their present position,
III which they are successfully competing with the
world. 1t is not extraordinary that system Of pro-
tectve duties 80 necessary, in the Infancy OF our
country TO the deveopemcnt OF its resources and the
support Of it, manufactures against the competition
ofolder more wealthy, and populous States should.
after an uninterrupted continuance of more than
sixty years be regarded indispensable to national
prosperity Many of our citizens have been so much
accustomed to consider protective duties the only
aid which legislation can impart to industry, that
they seem TO have overlooked practicable,
and equally efficient, remedies which can be applied
without violating any principle, or exciting the pre-
udices of any party prevailing error has been to
regard the policy of protection 10y high duties
based upon abstract principles instead OF being
simple business matter resting upon facts and com
mon sense The circumstances OF nation may SO
change, that free trade itself may become the highest
measure Of protection
The English nation has found that the policy which
Dourhhed her manufactures in their infancy, would
have been ruinous them in their maturity. IL was
from sentiment OF philanthropy for her starving po
pulation, that Great Britain repealed her laws,
but that by establishing free trade with her most inn
portant consumers, she might enlarge the markets
Tor her productions. When her manufacturers could
successfully defy the world, she adopted policy
which would enable them to command the markets
Of the world. Some Of our most intelligent manufac-
turers and particularly those Of cottons,
knowledge that their difficulty is overproducton,
and that little relief will be afforded by increase
OF duty, which would stimulate production and over.
stock market already glutted. They perceive that
he most efficient relief viii be to adopt, wherever
practicable, the system Of Great Britain enlarge the
outlets for manufactures and secure more com
plete occupancy Of markets already opened 1t is in
hs point u view that the question Of free trade with