Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-12-08
Thursday Morning, Dec. 8, 1859.
Is England "a Free Trade Nation,

Is England u Free Trade Nation
The policy which has characterized tn
democratic party in this country, in reference
to levying duties is contrary to the expert
ence of all the old world, and we have mos
sadly ielt its ruinous effects, Free trade may
appear very plausible in theory, but in ap'
plication all history proves it to be detrlmen'
tai to the prosperity of that country which
adeptsit. Our attention has often been cited
to the prosperous condition of England I'M
der what has been styled her system of free
trade, but as will appear from the following
article taken from the Richmond Wing Eng
land is not free trade country. If our Con-
sress will give us a similar system to that oil
England we will be perfectly satisfied. llsar
what the Wing says:
We have been accustomed to hear the adj
vocates of free trade assert that England has
prospered undcr that system; ard upon this
assertion the char ges have been rung from
Maine to Georgia, by the newspaper press in
the interest ofthe free trade propagandists.-
That the syctem of England is not free trade
one, is, as the Memphis Enquirer says, well
known to all who have troubled themselves
to study the policy Of that country; but, as
vet. not much progress has been made in
changing the universally received opinion, be-
cause the masses osing sight Of their true in
terest, are content to be led into the quagmire
Of civil dssension by every will-o'-tbe-wisp
who finds his profit in deuding them. When
they have founder for time in the quick
sands of political strife without improving
their condition, perhaps they may discover
THAI, in running after distractions they have
lost sight Of realities-that, while foolshly
devotrg their attention to questions that do
not concern them, they are allowing the En-
glsh people to drain them of their gold, and
to fasten upon them load Of debt, which
years of industry and economy will be reqir-
ed to cancel.
The policy OF England has ever been con.
sstently directed toward the accomplishment
Of one great object--to make all the nations
Of the world draw their supplies of manu-
featured goods from the workshop ofts peo-
pie, and to compel all nations to become COM
petitors with each other in the British mar
kets, for the sale of raw products. To fur
Their this end, the English customs tariff has
been SO arranged, that raw products are per-
mited to enter at nominal rates. or entirely
free from duty; but every article, no matter
how trifing the value, upon which labor has
been expended, is subjected 10 a tax that is
nearly prohibitory. a few quotations from
the English schedules Of free and dutiable
goods, will serve to illustrate our position.
CorToH-Unmanufac free of duty.
Manufactured into fringcs 1874 cts per b
i" dresses, Sc so each.
" bonnets, OF
Manufactured into cotn pillow lace, $500
per ib.
ToBAcco.-Unmanufactured, "a cts. per ID
Manufactured, So 20 d"
and only 60 cts. per ID drawback, if we re-
exported.
1RoN-Ore, free: as ornamented castings,
$40 per ton.
GoLp.-Ore, bars, and coin, fre 2: manuiac-
tured into plate, &C., $5s per ID.
FLAx.-Unmanufactured, FREQ as thread
lace, $500 per ID.
GRAIN -Nearly free: converted into whs-
key, $3.50 per gallon; alc and beer, AGO per
Dbl.
ALCOHOL When pure, $50 per gallon:
adultera.ed with 10 per cent of
"Wood spirits" "A nominal duty
This discrimination is in favor
of scientific chemists, Tor whose
use the Wood spirit does not
harm the liquor, but its mix
ture with alcohol, renders the
latter unavailable for any 9TH
erpurposes.
TIMBER.--1n the rough, nearly free; as floor
boards, 81 cts per foot, and per cent on
the value.
These few citations will be sufficient to con-
vince the unprecedented reader of the falsity
Of the assertion that England is free trade
nation; for, in exact proportion to the value
Of the labor expended upon the manufacture
Of any species of goods from the raw matters
al, does the duty increase which is levied up
on the corresponding imported Articles
Grain enters British ports at a nominal rate
but the whisky and spirits manufactured from
grain represent labor and are, therefore, hcav-
lily taxed. Raw cotton pays no duty, but the
labor employed in converting it into iringes
sprotected by duty of 81 cents per pound;
while the labor expended in making thread
lace from flax, (which in the raw state is adj
mitted free,l being more valuable, because
occupying larger amount of time, and re-
curing greater skill, is still farther guarded