The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-28
lO2

ers of the world-all of whose interets are one
and the same-and all to be promoted by every
measure tending to diminish the quantity of
food forced upon the market whose prices regu-
late those of the world at large.
Directly opposed TO all this are the interests
of British Free Traders. They suffer by what
ever tends TO diminish the quantity sent to the
regulating market, and profit by whatever tends
TO increase it-becanse the former tends to
raise prices, to elevate the farmer, to make him
independent, and TO enable him to make roads
and build school-houses for himself; and school
houses are not favorable to British Free Trade.
The latter tends to IOsoer prices paid to the
farmer, and TO raise those paid 6y him-to
make him more dependent-to compel him to
go abroad and pay eight or ten per cent. for
money with which to buy iron-to prevent the
building OF school-houses, and to maintain Brit
ISL Free Trade. Slavery, and that description
of Free Trade which consists in monopoly, tray
Ell everywhere together, and where they are
found, schoolhouses diminish in number: where
as, Protection and Freedom travel everywhere
together, and where they are found, school
houses increase In number and rise in charac-
ter.
The farmers of the world are natural allies.
The traders of the world in like manner are
allies, and the object of their alliance is to
at the cost of the farmers. The desires of the
two parties are in direct opposition, each to the
other. The farmer desires to sell food at high
prices, and buy his cloth and iron at low ones
whereas the trader desires to buy food cheap
and sell cloth and iron dear. Wherever the
farmer protects himself, as in France, Germany.
and Denmark, much cloth and iron is obtained
for little food, and men become more free:
wherever the trader is master of the farmer, as
In Ireland, Turkey, Portugal, the West Indies,
and India, much food is given for little cloth
and iron, and men become from wear to wear
more ensiaved. Nevertheless, our farmers per
NIT themselves to be misled by journals noto-
rlousiy IN the service of Manchester, whose every
Object is directly the reverse of that which they
themselves should desire to see accomplished
Were II otherwise-did they think for them
selves-they could not fail TO see that they prof
1t largely by the Russian system-that its ex-
tension over Turkey could not fail to create at
home large market, that would intercept the
corn of the Black Sea its way to England
and that they would therefore be gamers by the
entire success of Russia.
Directly the reverse of all this is the object
sought TO be accomplished by the Allies. who
desire TO defeat every measure looking 10 the
creation OF a domestic market in Russia or in
Turkey. They desire that food may be CHEAP.
and manufactures dear: and whenever our
farmers can prevail upon themselves to see that
they would thereby be benefited, the season
VIII then have arrived for them To pray for the |
success OF the Allied armies 6ut not uIttu then.
We beg now to ask our Washington coten. |
porary 10 favor US with answers to the following
questions:
4. Is not the price of food everywhere regu-
lated by that in the market of England
Ill. is 1t not, therefore, for the interest of the
-b.ra sIat h II.
market should be high?
Ill Does not every increase in the quantity
sent 10 that market tend 10 lower its price. and
every decrease tend TO raise it?
~. Is IT not, then, for the interest of our farm
ers that all nations should adopt measures look
ING 10 the decrease of the quantity sent to that
market?
V. Does not the protection afforded by Rus
sra and Germany tend to create a domestic II
market for food-to lessen the quantity ex-
ported and TO raise its price? |,
VI Would not the creation of a domestic |
market IN Turkey tend greatly to produce the
Same effect, and on an enormous scale; and are |
not cur farmers therefore directly interested in
the Incorporation of that country into Russia :?
VII. Would not the success of the Allies | .
tend to lessen the domestic markets of Russia
10 increase the quantity of food seeking a for |
eign market, and to lower Its price and have |
not our farmers therefore direct interest in ,
deprecating any such success?
In conclusion, would now request our CO. |
temporary to enable his readers to see what we
have TO say in reply to his article which we
this day republish and in return promise to
lay his rejoinder before our own AS a sincere
believer IN British Free Trade, he must of
course believe that faith therein will grow with
discussion, and will gladly accept our offer,
particularly it will have the effect of enabling
him to talk To our million of readers in relation
TO the advantage that must necessarily result
TO the farmers of the world from the perfect
triumph of the British system, which looks TO
allowing them to have but one market IN which
TO sell all their goods, and one in chich TO buy
all their cloth and iron