Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-06-10

~~~~
have an object in laboring: they work for
gain and unless they get this gain or wages,
they would prefer doing nothing. So op-
posed are both capital and labor to loss, and
so intent upon gain, that there remains but
little doubt, that government is not needed
to give them proper direction.
Protection is furthermore useless, because
if the forms ofindustry, which are protected,
are profitable, they do otrequire protection
and if they are Improbable, they do not de-.
serve it. Protection builds up one form of
industry at the expense of another. Thus,
if woolen manufactures be protected, wooden
goods will command high prices, and consul
mers of woolen goods will have to pay this
enhanced price at the expense of their own
labor.
Protection does not increase the rate of
wages, for while the manufacturers are pro-
tected the number of laborers is not limited,
but increased, by encouraging immigration,
causing an excess of supply Of labor and of
course reduction in the wages of labor.
The idea that protection produces inde-
pendence is fallacious, because if we refuse
to trade with foreign nations in an attempt
to build up our independence, We cripple our
commerce, prevent expectation, and also i'm.
portation, and of course we are left to the
mercy of home producers Of the articles
which we might buy cheaper from foreign.
ers.
The leading error of protection is, that it
assists the producer, while it should aim to
promote the interests of the consumer, be.
cause everybody is a consumer, and only a
few are producers. .
Protection is monopoly, and therefore
anti.republican.' It is monopoly because
it is needful only to those producers, who are
fearful of foreign competition. The major.
ity Of producers do not produce what We i'm.
port or buy from foreigners, and hence the
protected producers are but few in number.
The only way to protect all classes, is to
protect none
sFree trade allays sectional agitation -
When the people see there are no bounties,
no monopolies, no class legislation; then
government commands their confidence,
which is of vital Importance This conf
dence lis the bulwark of State Free
trade prevents struggling for the possession
of government 'Free trade is the cause Of
peace Were it the common law of nations,
war would be impossible. Free trade is
the dawn of new era. 1t is the cause Of
philanthropy and Christianity What coun'
try better suited to lead in this great move.
ment than the United States?
We have only to advance under the ban.
ner of free trade to command the commerce
and invite the capital of the world. By this
movement, we would do more for civilization,
progress, peace, philanthropy, Christianity,
than it has ever been tho lot of any people
to accomplish by single act in the history
of the world.
We could not conclude this view of the
subject without calling attention to the re-
cent Inauguration in Great Britain under the
influence of the celebrated anti-corn Law
league, headed by Golden, Bright, and othe,
great intellects, of the policy of free trade
Standing as Great Britain does at the head
of the great movement of civilization, ad
ministered as her government is with such
profound wisdom, her example, in this par
, ticular, commands our attention, and the re-
markable success which has crowned her eff
, forts invites our cooperation.
In 1912 England was in decline, labor
ing under paralysis from the protective pol
10y; her exports diminishing, her revenue
falling of, universal stagnation. Fortunate
ly for England, great party had grown uE
demanding free trade, under the lead of some
of the greatest thinkers of the age. Sil
, Robert Peel was prime minister, he was g
great man he comprehended the exigen
, cies of the situation; hesaw that longer per
sistencein the protective policy was madness;
he determined to revolutionize the tariff poll
, cy of his country. He struck at the very
heart of English monopoly; he lowered the
duty Oh corn in spite of the execrations Of
the aristocracy, satisfied with the blessings oi
, the people. In 1s45 he made further ad
vances in free trade. Subsequently, under
the administration of Lord John Russell, the
duties were greatly reduced, and the celebra'
!, tion net of navigation repealed. The prin'
cipal on which these notifications of the
English tariff went, was the freedom of ex'
changes, and throwing taxation by the in
! come tax on property. The results of this
policy were most beneficial on the revenue
and prosperity of the country. Between 1912
and 1853 duties on imports and the excise
were reduced over e1o, 100000 yet in 1858
, the amount yielded from these sources was
only el22,4 less than in 1912. By re-
, modelling their tariff in England on the prin.
ciple of free exchanges, they added e6,O00,.
900 to the revenue, and remitted e16, ,0O0,.
900 to the people. Besides this, the gener.
al prosperity of the country advanced in an
astonishing ratio.
But we need not 60 to England for an il.
lustration of the advantages of free trade.
The United States, in their remarkable de.
velopment, present the most striking illus.
, tration of its benefits The United States
have made the most astonishing advance.
!, ment in material progress of all the people
in history, ancient or modern. Of all the
causes operative in producing this result, the
establishment by the Federal Constitution Of