The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1857-11-07
The Einanciai OEisfs-its Causes and ID hsns-
dies -

ing 10 stCiga where ali Others sink. New
ertheless, it is only by the expression of
thoughts, by the comparison of views, that
intricate subjects are Invested Of their
complexity, and what were once unsolved
problems become axioms, Or first truths.
and no longer serve to retard and bewil-
der, but aid Us in the investigation and So
lufion of still higher and more important
truths.
We do not believe that the principles
OF exchange are an exception to the gen.
eral rule of progress and the onward march
of science. Indeed, the primary princi-
pies of trade are already well understood,
and if faithfully adhered to, success alone
can attend the rnan or the people 4ho
conform their action to those principles;
it is oaly when the wants of people are
anticipated, when not satisfied with pro-
vision for present necessities, and rea-
sonable solicitude for the future, that there
can follow any general suffering or bank
ruptcy from legitimate trade.
So many and so various are the reasons
assigned as the procuring causes of the
present crisis, that it were vain to attempt
an examination of them all in single
article. We shall refer to such as most
readily suggest themselves to us, and are
most plausible. and yet most fallacious, in
our estimation.
And first among these we place the tar
if theory. Theory, We say, for of all
systems it is most emphatically theoret-
icai; so truly and purely theoretical is it,
that not one of its best friends will at
tempt to practice their own doctrines. In
other words, believes that, unaided by
Government, or what is the same thing,
sustained by forced contributions from the
people, it has any power to perpetuate it
self; nay, even to obtain an existence, it is
said the manufacturer ''must get start''
before he can sustain himself. But let it
be remembered, no one ever did get such
start as to keep in motion any longer than
the cause szhich put him in motion, continued
to act, provided, the business was not a
paying one. The rule which controls him
in the end, would have prevented him
engaging in the business, if left to him.
self. 1t would seem that system which
had no single element of prosperity to
sustain it, would have no advocates; vet
such is not the case. It is said by the
friends of the tariff system, that when
once our manufacturers have obtained the
work shops, the best class of machinery,
and the requisite skill to conduct the
business, they will be able to compete
with any and all portions of the world
But this can never be the case SO long as
labor is better paid here than elsewhere;
unless, indeed, our superior skill and in
dustry shall compensate for the higher
price the laborer receives. Still it is in
sisted that home industry should be en-
couraged and stimulated. But what slim
ulous SO natural as the reward paid to
industry, provided the laborer enquire,
before he expends his industry, in what
branch of business he is most needed?
This enquiry will always be correctly an
swered by consulting the market, where
the people every day advertise what kind
of industry they will pay most literally
for. If there is any better rule than this
we don't see why somebody don't adopt
in their large advertising journals, and
give the people the benefit of the rule;
or do they suspect they would be the very
first to "catch the benefit" of the new rule
themselves?
But before we go any further with these
enquiries, let US enquire what is the. object
of inducing people to engage in branch
-of business which no one cares enough
about having done, to be willing to pay
the cost of carrying it on? Its said ''thai
by manufacturing our own goods, we shall
become independent" Just what Is meant
by the term iiadspeade1st. is not easy to I'm.
derstand; if it were meant that for given
amount Of labor we should obtain a great
er value than we now do, we should have
no fault to find with the idea, nor any
difficulty in comprehending it.
But this is not the case, for this would
be the only inducement needed for us tc
engsge in the business. As thing is al.
ways sehite. or Uacs, or neitier, so in the
present instance, if we do not obtain q
greater amount of value for given amount
OF labor, we shall obtain less or there will
De no change. The FIRST of these propo.
sitions being settled in the negative. We
need go no further; for we do not wish to
obtain goods of any kind, at a create,
cost. and certainly no one need to clamo,
for a change without difference.
But let US hear the friends of the tariff
speak for themselves. In the New York
weekly Tribune of Oct. Sd. we are told
that @times like these demonstrate the
wisdom Of the protective tariff policy; that
is, simply the policy of making and buy
ing st home, which the Tribune and the
old Wings persistently urged. We i'm
port $38oo0oGo0 worth of Injuries and
necessaries. of which we ought to produce
Sl50Oo0.eoo That $4,000 00o, which
We ssnd out 10 purchase what We ought
70 make. 10 SO much annual loss of capt.
tal-is in effect 50 much wealth lost TO the
sountry.
But we do not see why not so further,
and save the whole $3.50, ZOO ooo worth.
The man who saw that "if one stove
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