The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-08
no. COL.
SENSIBLE ADVICE.


TIE Springfield Republican, which in past
zsars has been consistent Tariff journal, and
We suppose is the came to-day in principle,
gives to the manufacturers of Massachusetts
and other States some excellent advice. 1t
says:
I'VE have already chronicled the Philadel-
pbia movement, looking for measures of pro-
iec.ion through the modification CT the Tariff.
This NOV mem, doubtless, aims at the estab-
lishment Of protection as political issue, and
as a portion Of basis for party; and neces-
sarily puts far off the day of relief We can
boue for noihirg in the way of distinctively
proteciive Tariff This move meDt, doubtless,
aims at the establishment of protection as q
political issue, and as portion OF basis Tor
party: and necessarily puts far OF the day OF
rellt We can hope FIR nothing IN the way OF
dislinctively protective Tariff from any Con-
res. previous to that which follows the in
coming Of the next Administration, and that
!. three wears aud half in The future. Such
are the chances of politics, that even q reli-
ance on this might fail, and the country be left
even worse off than it Is now. To every prac
tical. sensible mind, the question naturally
arises. as to what shall be done meantime. Is
there awning that can be done? With the
X
adjustment of the policy of free trade and
drec. taxation, as the reinauguratioE of the
principle of proie ction, what shall be the best
resort Of the manufacturing INTEREST,""
The present system of doing business among
the manufacturers, the Republican goes on to
say Is very defective one, and needs reform.
ing. Relief, it argues, cannot come, while all
the interest is eaten up by the commission
houses, or by paying Presidents and Treasurers
Ten thousand dollar salaries. The management
has not been economical and if it had, with
the low Tariff, there would have been fair profit.
This is proven by Mr.. Bigelow, q Massachusetts,
manufacturer of carpets, who has just issued
pamphlet on this subject, putting forward
the view that the failure of the manufacturing
interest is attributable to a system of doing
business radically wrong. Mr.. Bigelow him
self, we may say, stands forth as living evil
dence of the fact He has made q large for
tune alone. He has conducted his own bust
Less, and stands behind it to day with a long
purse, pushing it on, and reaping all the bene-
fits Ct low prices in his manufactures, without
experiencing the severer evils of the time. His
mills have not been stopped for day, and he
is today making money, though similar estab-
Hshments, conducted by corporations, are stop
ped, or doing an Improbable business. We
suppose the fact to be universally recognised
better managed than that Of corporations. We
suppose the same fact, of general loose man
agement prevails with regard to manufacturing
corporations and railroad companies alike.
Men are placed in management who either do
not understand their business, or who do not
feel the responsibility of their position. Com.
missions are paid which make serious inroads
upon the profits. Salaries are given which
are, in fact, needless under the individual sys-
tenn: and when time of revulsion comes,
there is no reserve fund that will give adapta-
ton 20 the times. Dividends stop, indebted
ness accrues, the gate is shut down, and tie
hands are turned loose"
In view of these facts, what course should
sensible manufacturers pursue? Stop their
mills, and JOIN a political movement, the sole
object Of which is he enactment of higher
tariff? Says the Republican
"Now, in this emergency, is there not some
thing ne'ier-more precticable-than the look
inc for relief IN legislation which must be
delayed for yeara, and then perhaps fail
Suppose we get the legislation desired, and a
protective tariff be re-established it may be
reversed in two years. All experience has
taught us that no,b1 is more tickle than legis-
aton CT the tariff. Al experience proves that
the tariff is entirely an unreliable basis for
manufacturing operations. No investment is
secure, which rests upon any special form that
the tariff may assule ut any one session of
Congress. In our opinion, the manufacturing
interest ia somewhat in the position of the po-
liiical loafsr who at ributed his personal un-
thrift TO tic Government, though everybody
knew that 1t was the result of his own laziness
and mismansgement. AS some years must
transpire before relief can come by Legislation
we propose that 30 far, aud as rapidly as POS
sble. a reform be made in the management OF
these concerns. Perhaps, when the time comes
that change in the tariff shall be possible, thu
change ,ciU not be desired
The FREE LOVERS These singular and mis-
guided people have already several communi
ties in the country, and publish paper in
Ohio which ia their organ. The name of the
paper is, the Age Of Freedom" 1t denouuces
marriage, and goes in for the abolition of the
institution. An exchange remarks, justly, tha
ii is out Of the power Of these so-called reform
ers to do much mischief for common sense and
human nature, to sag nothing of Christianity
are against them.
Toe New York Times says that there is or
organization of free lovers in that city, com
possd chiefly of the same persons whose meet
inps we're broken up by the police year ago
VANDERBILT VS.. BELLY.