Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1855-02-03
NO.. A..
From the New York Mirror.
who will Leadi

If the idea promise benefit as the practical
result is not long in taking root, and bringing
forth fruit We were the first, at least in the
ranks of the press, to strike the cord of Amerl-
canism in regard to our individual and nation
al duty, as a people, to east off foreign fashions
and foreign cloths-to return from the univer-
sal patronage of the capital and labor of Europe,
and henceforth protect our own labor, be in1e-
pendent and stand by ourselves Others may
have thought ofurging the same thing, and the
idea may have been partially developed in tar
ifs and political protective essays, but we be-
lieve we cook the initiative in presenting and
urging it on the broad and only true grounds
frst, asa matter of duty and necessity. if we
wish 3 see American industry permanently
-FsfosPerous and independent4and second, as a
matter of patriotic PRIDE of which every Amer
can should have enough not to submit to be
forever dependent on foreign products. when he
or his countrymen can produce as good, or bet
ter, at home.
Well this American idea-or rather our
straightforward presentation of it, smaeking Of
no party or policy, save the people and the pub
lie good, has taken right hold of the public
mind and is already Powered and bearing fruit.
1t has struck It's roots deepin pnhlic sentiment,
and is being discussed and accepted practically
throughout the country. Governors of States
have endOrsed-itt- aSdp<iss.yiyetter, have don
red suits of American clothes; association and
leagues are forming to strengthen and push on
the revolution; the press discovers in it the So
luton Of the great problems-"How shall we
keep American labor bravely employed-and
how prevent commercial crises and money!
paucs?" 1t was live American idea. and we
ong had to ''trot it out and show it up. to
! make it evergbody's favorite-the working
mans the manufacturers and the merchants.
Accepted and popular the practice of it only
requires to become fashionable, to make it uni
versal AID render it triumph complete.
New England is astir with the "clothe our
selves" idea. and well she may be. Let us have
this American patronage of Europe's Icons,
and forges and arfizan shops cut off, and our
( own resources developed BY our own skin and
I industry. and the factories of New England viii
clap their busy hands aud make glad music
through the length and breadth Of the land
( There will be no forced idlers then, The ranks
Y of the great @operativs army tcrafsrnen Of al
sorts@ viii broaden and deepen, making bread;
/ tbassearlses cash tiller Messuf les
resources Ii now VII a sl:s. Z
s,iaitpaEs 81 md iaapstsv = nai ipis
molly jndepsndenl at length, psilE vesaer at tie
I bfha'fsuy Ehfeb leais 50 slangss saptiivs q
grace the tfiumphs of foreign labor. /, Com&n.
ed with the political publication that is going
forward, the realization of this now American
industrial ibea is the most hodeful event of our
day. In truth, the new industrial. owes much
to the new political idea. The dawn of heal
I thier and studier nationality shines through
both. The American is awaking to a true per-
cepioH Of his duty and destiny, and he will not
rest until every domestic stumbling block is
removed and every foreign shake cast off
/ But, to come to the point we had in mind
when we captioued this article-"who will
lead?" not in New England, nor up North, nor
ont West, nor down Sonth-but herel right here
in this great city. The cauldron of industrial
revolution begins to bubble-as old foreign
garments drop off, American Suits are to be put
on-American products in preference to foreign
are TO be used, and the hour for This change
wide and radicals close at hand. American
ism is to be the fashion and the rage, as well as
the quiet resolve. Who will take time by the
forelock, and lead the Americanizing host?--
What clothes maker, halter, shoemaker, and
men of all manufacturing crafts will first hoist
the banner and run out the n-''Protection
to American Industry American fabrics made
and sold here!" VIII Derby or Conant Genin
or AmdOn, Gueringer or Munroe, do it? Who
is shrewd enough to thrust out the first sickle
for the coming harvest? What misses or mes
danes, will lead in dressing our women as re-
publican American women should be dressed?
Who will lead-who?