Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-22
India Cotton Trade.

There has appeared in England pamphlet" The
Cotton Trade OF India" The author is Mr. Samuel
Smith, of Liverpool went to India in the spring Of
1865 60 ascertain whether that country could supply
the place of America in furnishing cotton for English
manufacture The information cleaned by Mr.. Smith
is unfavorsble and ne tes6ss regrettngly that ndia
is not able as cotton growing country to supply the
place of America" but adds that though India cannot
oe substitute for America she may be valuable sup
plement" The London Index, reviewing the subject,
remarks that "a glance the reasons for the first
ertion will show there is little foundation for the So
coDd.
We quote the following passage from the Index:
Without dwelling on details and the many difficulties
that under any circumstances would make it the work
of generation at least TO develop the culture of cot
TON IN India il is sudicen: for purpose to prove
that "a compared to America il never can become
cotton producing country. The climate ia against It.
and no Act OF Parliament that Mr.. Bright devise
will change that The Indian cotton IL inferior, and this
after many costly experiments to effect an improve
mapt American planters have been as work and failed
The most ingenious cOntrvances have been persever
ngIy tried, Tor the prizs was magnificent and they
have been tried in vain American eeed has been i'm
ported but in the few districts where it has become
eulatized il has still yielded crop altogether inferior
in quality and quantity. In word, Indian cotton is
not so good and costs more than American cotton.
We NAV be told that these objections are trte, and
that IL Was waste OF time and energy for Mr.. Smith to
90 to India to prove that that country could not
oete with America, since that had been long since
demonstrated by the supremacy OF American cotton in
our market We may be reminded that the issue Is not
whether India compete with America, bat whether
America being out OF the field, India can or not
supnly her place. II will we imagine, be very hard 10
nersade the ryot that his old competitor permanently
disposed Of Even the sanguine ankee does not dream
of being able TO eIterminate the peculiar climate OF the
South as well her people, and whenever the ends
the cultivation of cotton will be resumed though per-
nsps 10 limited extent. New Orleans will again take
he highest position and Surats will only fnd purchasers
nv a concession of price But undoubtedly the has
severely uteriered with the American supply every day
Deaee i postponed adds 10 the difficulty Of resumiug
The culture on an adequate SCALE and at best many years
must eapse before get cotton at the same price
and in the same quantity as before the commencement
of the war; In the meantime can India keep our mills
a. work?
Nc Smith adducss very cogsnt arguments to prove
that il cannot do So and except the fac
ton no one will pretend to dispute bis conclusion. But
n India il to do even little than formerly, the
nnscrunulous Ango Federals themselves must admit the
s,muus of high piice is Indispensable. Let cotton fall
10 the normal pice and the ryot will turn attention
10 other crops for cotton will cease 10 be profitable
Nov re ali know that staple industry became so 81
ga,tie ON account of the cheapness OF our abrics-
4ssroess invariably bangs about dminuon Of con-
junction I, is 80 w4k bread and potatoes, and il viii
even IN greater degree be with cotton cloths. IL is
infinitely easier 70 stint backs than our somachs
m England the consumption of cotton is about ten
pounds pr head of the poi ato, whilst ia some Euro
man il "a not than hve pounds per head.
W. 10 ntcu = Is as an indication Of tho extent OF pos
Ole reauc 1 OF the consumption of cotton under the
OF desrness Tue present abnormal price can
Tot be maintained and unless India can grow cotton as
cheaply il cannot replace the American supply 1t IS an
inputabe fact that India cannot do and therefore
| cannot save staple industry from decay.
We have gradually drfted into this state Of affairs
and we yet fail to realize the situation On Friday
LIST tie Times congratulated its readers upon 5000
Lancashire operatives having in one month emgraoed
or found other employment; and the day
temporary wound up article British Columbia by
svin0-tVe hare OF former occasions expressed our
heiiaF that Lancasairs "a overpsoped We do not
80 any reasonable prospect Of the Unemployment of
ali the hall million hands al acceptable wages. What
pro.onn6 sensation this assertion would have caused
az the beginning OF the war; IL means het oar opera
lives win have 70 labor where their valuable skill viii bo
of no ayail--.hat our splendid human machines must
be smpoyed in less remunerave work. DC emigrate to
other lands II means that our cotton trade perma
aanty crippled and that India canno replace the Amer
lean cotton CROP Verify, the mastery inactivity OF our
Government mas borne much fruit. And let Us give
the Yankees their due. They have failed Ia s1bugat
ing the South but they have crippled the Engsn cot
ton trade without the rsk Of with England. Ne
yer did nation pay heavier price for neutrality