Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-01-12
Can Americans Protect Them
sclyes

w VIII intY F-luil u Tue VIAL VNceuOn
We believe they will, when once aroused to
a true consideration of the subject. For
Americans to truly protect themselves. re-
quires more than navlcs, and fortrosses. and
armameals. Americans have asserted and
defen Jed their national liberties they have
asserted, aud will more largely assert and
maintain their political independence - heir
independence Of foreign sentinels u their
midst. With the hayonet and the ballot
box the American has proved his invlnci-
biliiy; with those weapons. anil all that re-
lates TO them, he can protect himself
Blu, be is weak at another point, and at
the mercy Of deadly enemy to his most
pressing daily iniercsis--a the mercy Of
foreign capital, and machinery, and labor,
which place on his neck the heaviest and
bi,terest Of all yokes--dcbt dependence
on. and Indebtedness 10 others, and those,
foreign to hiv, ~ country, feeling and inter-
est. Yes, the proud American working
man courts AID hnws himself 10 This enemy;
puts on his livery of English, French. and
German cloths; and wears his enemies
Brmp xham, Paris, Dresden or NCuichatel
irinkgts, and then wonders why the Aneri-
car farmers wool is unsod why the Amer
err factory and furnace are closed why
he specie OF The country is oil shipped Oft
to Europe; why the merchants and the
banks arc bursting up" and worse to him
OF all, why he the honest American work.
ing nan. IS thrown on, of employment.
WHY. American workingmen-and of one
uade or another you are the mass Of the
people-you ought to see with half nm eye,
If you lc, Europe manufacture and make mp
all YOU wear, all your home trades OF the
same producing order must shut mp shop.
VI YOU expect or wnnt to see home labor EN-.
ployed. home industry honored aud prosper.
Gus, and home people Independent, and hap
py for there is little happiness without in
dependence You must consume products
manufactured at home that is, by Amcri-
can industry. You will be kept idle. and in
debt and suffering, jus, so long az you let
European labor and capital put their cloths
and fashions on your bncks. You have
looked to your political liberty with 6ayo-
nets and ballots triumphantly, you must now
look TO and protect your liberty TO have en-
4 ployment, steady aud sure, and with II all
other temporal good. You must, TO do this
shut down the gate on foreign fabrics and
wares at once; or, at least, shut It down a.
gainst all things foreign that you can just az
well, and grca, deal better, produce your
selves.
American wotkingmen we appeal to You
soriously-lor YOU suffer most from this sys-
ten Of paIronizing Europe instead OF taxi
ing care of yourselves. Yon are toilng,
! thinking, virtuous, honest men-ihe bone
and sinew of the land--and If We can make
YOU see this matter as we see it. your con
vcti0ns will be united with Ours, aud we
will have, perhaps not an immediate. but a
pretty rapid revolution in this mntter Of home
industry and home capital, against foreign
capital and foreign pauper labpr--such a
revolution ma will soon turn the specie bal
ances toward u, instead Of against US, and
place every American in good employment
instead OF throwing hin into Idloness and
starvation.
Just see how quickly things would come
right If we were to unite heartily IN some
form, TO protec, ourselves. Every species OF
manufacturing (now so crushod IN the land
would revive and multiply, and all the fields
Of product OF raw material would broader
, under the ioilef's hand. In twelve month";
the condition ofShmerican labor would b'
completely rcyolutonizcd. Hundreds o
thousands of wiling, strong hands now idle
and seeking valnly Tor work, would be call
! ed TO push on the car Of revived industry
, The American capitalist, the true helper anG
, ally cf the American laborer, would gladly
respond to the reformed national spirit AM
would 30 to work with biz means 10 produce
that al home which he now buys abroad--
aud buys thus, because you, American work
ing men, with all other Americans, have
thus tar preferred to buy, at second or third
hands, the Engllslnuan's, the Ffenchman's
or the Germans product, 10 producing for
yourselves--to protecting yonr own ingenui-
, " aud labor. This Is the long and the short
Of the whole secret why The gold all goes
TO Europe, and every body is bursting up
and Won are ont OF employment
Labor, intelligent and well employ, d, is
the best wealth aud strength al ev"ry ma
ton. American labor is moro intelligent
than any other in,he world, but il IS not well
employed for the reasons W have gwen. IL
Is ma6e or rather 1t has made itself subsldl-
airy 10 foreign pauper labor Let this bond
. age exist no longer. And to be rid OF H.
we want no government aid-no legislation
The American people can protect themselves
and teach their Government that they are its
masters, they have been it's humble petition
ers anl vsssals too long. One thing, as
matter Of absolute justice AMI right, Con-
gress should do. aud that is, take of all tar
III restrictions on raw materials that may be
worked to advantage by American labor,
II Congress chooses 10 increase the Iesiric.
ton. on silks, wines, iewelry. aud lnSuries
Of that sort, no hnrm will be done; but We
expect 10 see American women soon moving
more ehecluay 10 that reform direction
than any tariff can
National pride. interest, prosperity and IN
dependence are appealed 10, on the part
OF both sexes. All, IN the great aggregate,
arc suffering alike. The remedy is easy,
and may be speedy and permanent. The
occasion is ripe Tor the revolution The
whole country, Frustrated by its long, servile
dependence on Europe, groans to be Amer
icanzed this direction. I he elder Adams
wore his hOmespun suit IN the Presidential
chair, and was honored for t--that was true
republican spirit and sinplety. Franklin.
! az III, Coo,,, at 81 Cloud. won the nasuirA-
ton of naughty arisiocrats by the plainness
of his American dress. Let Franklin Pierce
and his cabinet, and the great pollicians
who are Just now SO palronlzing 10 Amer
canisnl. ct the example of wearing Amer
lean products. and the flame of emulation
would rage through the land. Al wou'
fellow suit. Aud let twenty Headers
fashion, among American women OSCAR
the flounces and ffpperies of Europe, an
dress in American stuifs, and the combines
blow would palsy the importation that nov
deluges, debauches, and bankrupts US.
But whatever Presidents, aud politicians
l. and leaders Of fashion may do, lot Amer
,, can working men and women too, resoly
N hereafter TO patronze and protect themselye
p Let them wear American, and only Amer
can products - let them be rid Of foreign la
% cry ard foreign fashions, and cease Playin
nd a monkeyish imitation Of the old world
'e- The best plan would be for every one to .,
all IN the reform independently but il may
NJ ioond ihat league Of some sort will a
the necessary revolution. II must come :
ave nothing else will bring and secure prospe
he ny, and the most honorable independents
TN We must no longer enrich Europe at q
on expense Of pauPerizing ourselves. "
:. mus, protect American labor and trade, a
'An do IT, We are resolved, on our pa