New-York daily tribune., 1858-12-15

Whether the Federal Government ought so to
shape is Financial policy to stimulate and sus-
tain Industrial development aud progress, is
problem on which good men have differed, and still
d.ffer; but there is kindred question with regard
10 which there would seem to be no room for
honest, enlightened diversity of opinion, yet on
which the action Of that Government is in deadly
hostility to National thrift and true progress.
We allude to the business Of Book publishing,
into which Congress has dipped of late years with
marked and ever.increasing prodgality. Let us
elucidate the process aud its results:
We belong TO large and, as its members think,
important and deserving class or guild, who endeayor
to make a living as authors editors, publishers,
travellers, correspondents, naturaists, observers,
craftsmen, engrayers, photographers, printers,
binders, &c, &c, by supplying information to the
American People We claim right to pursue our
several vocaicns on the usual terms--a fair field,
no favor, and success to the most deserving. If
any of us produce what the people DO not want or
fail to produce what they do want, We must abide
the consequence poverty, and ultimately
abject need.
But We cannot afford TO supply our wares for
nothing, no matter how popular or unpopular,
worthy or worthless they may be; and here steps
in the Government to unde rmine and crush us by
proffering rival products for nothing, and throwing
in their transportation to the doors of the con-
sun ers. Were We ever so willing to work for
nothing and find ourselves, we cannot (often) es-
cape paying the paper-maker and the Postmaster;
but our great rival, the Government, not only
buys and gives away paper, printing engraving,
binding, every thing, but carries the product and
puts it into the hands of the consumers free of
charge. Ofcourse. we cannot stand such competl-
ton.
We have said that the Government does all this
for nothing, which is true so far as our interests
are affected; but in very important sense 1t is
quite otherwise. Every book, report, pamphlet
tract. speech printed, folded, bound and franked
more money than we who must endure the compe
tition of this free printing would gladly do it for
But the cost is ssddled upon the whole people,
while the resulting advantages are shared among
favored minority. Col Jones and Judge Smith,
who have direct and palpable influence in making
Members Of Congress- get volume upon volume of
costly Exploring Expeditions, Pacific Railroad
Surveys, &C., &c, with the respects of the Hon.
Mr. Simpkps, while fiddler Jake or ditcher Teddy,
who only votes, is perhaps remembered in an eight
page speech, printed on coarse, fimsy paper, in
tended mt rely to keep them firm in the faith that
the Hon. Smpkins aforesaid is one of the Nations
greatest men, who must be kept years longer OF the
country will 20 to everlasting smash and ruin. This
is no fair shake. FIVE are TO have distribution
from the Federal Treasury (though there would
seem very little to distribute) let us have ii pro
rata, share and share alike.
The free postage is the worst feature, where all
are bad. The Post Office Department runs heavily
and more heavily in debt, until the President is
urging an increase of Letter Postage from three to
FIVE cents All this time, the mails are weighed
down with free letters covering speeches and other
electioneering documents million after million,
frarked BY this or that Member Of Congress, for
the good Of bis party, and at the cost Of the post
sge.psyeu. Every one Of these wis'iye' costs