The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-06-28

fields Of labor by the slogan of the free
trader, Buy in the cheapest market "A
sentiment, however just and unobjection-
able in itself abstractly considered, 1t
would not be difficult to show, is most
pernicious one as understood and applied
by the American advocates Of free trade.
1t is phrase coined for mischief, and Of
ten sounded from the lips Of men conscious
of truth at war with the sense in which 1t
is designed to be understood The Chan
cellor OF the Exchequer, in his great
speech at the opening Of the present ses-
sion of the British Parliament, in which
he advocated the release of English com
merce from legislative restrictions, said
that the policy which would give the
maximum of employment to the labor Of
country, would produce the maximum
good. That was sentiment which l may
take occasion to show was III perfect har-
mony with the policy which he advocated
for England, but was diametrically opposed
by the free trade which he, and others,
recommend as the policy of the United
States. To give the maximum of employ
ment to the laborers of our country is a
work worthy of an honorable ambition
but it is one that can never be accomplished
so long as our legislation is controlled by
a maxim which had its origin, and finds
its legitimate application, in other nations,
under circumstances and conditions bear
ing No analogy to our own. Directed by
that maxim, since it found place in the
law of 1916, We have gone abroad into
the cheapest market" and spent in the
purchase OF the single article of iron,
nearly three hundred millions of dollars
What effect has this supposed economy
had upon the wealth of the country =
What would have been its advantage, if
this immense amount of iron had been
supplied from our own mines and furna-
ces and rolling mills ? Surely, there Is
no one, in the least acquainted with our
resources, who vii! suppose that every
pound Of it could not have been produced
ut home. And [ will assume, what al
experience confutes, that if, by proper en-
couragement, this iron had been made at
home, it would have cost one hundred
millions more and upon that hypothesis
let US glance al the result. The four hun
dred millions Of capital which would have
been distributed, in different proportions,
amongst our own laborers, as their share
of the capital Invested by them in its pro-
portions, amongst our own laborers, as
their share of the capital invested by them
in its production They, in turn, would
have spent their share Of the produce in
exchange for food and clothing, houses,
education of children, in articles minis
tering to taste, elevation, and refinement,
and whatsoever ever else that helps to
make up the best condition Of society-a
progressive civilization. We would then
have had our wealth increased to double
the amount Of that which was thus spent
In the manufacture of the iron that is.
we would have had what was spent for it
would still have been in circulation in
the country, and we would have had what
was produced by 1.-THE iron. The Ia
Dor Of the farmers and mechanics would
have produced the supplies for all enga-
ged in It's manufacture, and each would
have had the means wherewith to buy the
productions of the other
The country, during the period named
nseaad this quantity of iron, amounting,
al the foreign price, to 100000 600. be-
yond the domestic production We had
the materials and labor which could have
made it all, say at a cost of $500, ,000
Why, then, was it not good economy to
bay it from abroad, and save 500 200 ,OO0
on the theory Of the free traders? Did we
not gain because we saved that amount
penny saved being penny gained p
That is true, sir; but does the man who
looks his business squarely in the face con.
tent himself with looking on the profit side
Of his account, without casting up the
losses? IF we will but initiate his pru.
dencc, We will see that, while We NAV have
gained By saving this sum, we have in fact
lost at least 100000, 900, on the same
principle, seeing that we could have made
1t ourselves, aud produced all that was
produced at the same time. The farme,
who buys what he could easily have made
himself without lessening his other pro
ductions, as surely loses the amount of It's
cost as il he had cast it into the fire. L
he produces the article himself, he is rich
e. to the full extent of its price or value
II he S400,000,000 worth of iron haC
been made at home, it would have consti
tuted clear gain to the country. The
whole sum would have represented wnat
G,l in any way connected with It's manu-
facture, would have TO spend in the pur
chase OF other commodities. The miners
teamstcrs, cOliicrs, cokers, furnace hands
end the other capitalists who invest THEN
capital IN It's production, would have each
enjoyed their respective shares Of this sum
They would have been that much richer.
and thG country would have been TO that
extent veaitaier But that is not all II
We had bought Ihat surplus iron made at
home. ii would have been purchased by
the exchange 1f that amount OF other home
commodities which would have been pro-