Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-03-22
Relations with Great Britain-The COM
rcinI Mefrnnnlll.

/
| @. Bryant argues that under our existing
tariff system the country generally is sinking
more and pore into position Of colonial
| dependence on Great Britain; and that our
principal export trade has strong tendency
to Portland, under the operation Of which
New York must sink into q merely seconds
ary rank. p Gazette.
That as civilization advances, and the
wants ofmankind are multiplied, countries
will become more dependent upon each other
for things which they do not themselves pro-
ducc, is truth to which the experience Of
every generation of men bears additional
testimony. Whether II is to be regretted or
not Is q question whose answer depends
upon, in which of two entirely different as
poets il is viewed.
When it is looked upon as a sign of weak
ness in the non-producing party-a badge of
inferiority and service--it forms the subject of
not a little foreboding, and many doleful
Jeremiade among the class of political econo-
mists whose views are tinged with ideas of
human depravity, and intensified by that
habitual indigestion which seems to be pecul-
lar to the ultra-conservative school. When
on the other hand it is seen to be means
chosen by divine providence to bring man
kind in contact, to keep them perpetually in
mind of their. fraternity, and TO serve as a
continual meliorator and peace-maker, it con-
stitutes one of the favorite subjects ofjubilant
oratory at diplomatic dinners, and on Fourth
of-July occasions.
There was time when the cry Of return
ing, or not-yet-escaped, colonial servitude
was wont to be employed on the approach of
Presidential elections by aspiring patriots, to
arouse the people to state of excitement, as
if with a new Declaration of Independence.
Men love to declare their independence, even
when there is no yoke to shake off; and many
time and oft has the exclamation, "the
American system as against the British colo
nial system" inspired the sons of Revolution
ary sires with a vehement desire to go and do
something, though what particular thing did
not seem to be of much consequence.
tits not restraint but freedom-not more
class legislation and special privileges, but
less-that we want to relieve us from, it we
are still in the colonial condition. Just so
long as Government empowers men to make
paper money for our own use athome, thereby
permitting the gold and silver money to go
abroad for the benefit of the foreign manu-
facturer will articles of foreign, compete with
those of domestic manufacture in the markets
of the United States.
1t is not very startling to learn that the
tendency of the export trade is to Portland,
and away from New York. Whether New
York rises or falls, is of little consequence to
MS on this side the Alleghanes.
Trade should go where it can be most
easily accommodated; nor should there be
any legislation designed directly or in
directly to preventit. New York is at this
moment the center and intensifcation of all
diseases of our mercantile system-a strange
combination of great wealth and exceeding
unsoundness. The enormous taxation in
cident to the extravaganza and protiigacy of
the two governments-State and city--will
ere long be felt, if it is not already, to be
check upon trade, materially reducing, if not
annihlating, the profits of every species of
regular business.
The better class of men of moderate
means-the most estimable and reliable part
of mercantile people-will be discouraged,
and will seek other fields of activity. The
place will be given over to the exceedingly
wealthy, and the speculative classes. The
contrast between riches and poverty will be-
come more marked, and in the plethora of
substance will be found the seeds of decline.
Such may be the future of our great mercan-
tile metropolis.