The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-07-27
PROTECTION VS.. FREE TRADE.
60 the Farmers, Mechanics, Laborer
and ala voIers of the western an
North. Western states.
BY Z. B. WARD.
LOoNTINURD FROM LAST WEEK.

Western states,
BY r. B. WARD.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
Englands corn laws, of which such great
boasts are made by our free-t traders we re
enacted for the sole purpose of enabling
England to feed her manufacturers at home
so thatthey would not be obliged TO come
to America to get food Or in other words
it was an act of protection to her manufac
tories. England never buys our food wher
she can buy from the continent cheaper;an6
the cost of transport from the Far West is sc
great that during the past two years she has
bought more than two. thirds of her inpor.
ted grain from the continent of Europe
The entire value of all the breads tufts and
provisions, exported from the United States,
is just abont sufficient to pay for the silks
satins, laces and embroidery We annually
import, - r .-.
The false assertion is often made, that
England and France are practically free
trade countries, while the United States Gov
eminent is inclined to prohibitory tariffs
To prove the utter fallacy of this assertion,
the custom returns of England show that
for 10 years previous to the rebellion, Eng.
land collected ever 500, 600, 900 per annun
for custom duties. And France collected
a still larger sum, if we include tobacco anc
alcohol, both Of which the Government
monopolizes.
During the same period, the customs du-
ties of the United States averaged little
over $4,000 600 per annum. Where is the
American who has the hardihood to reiter
ate this base perversion of truth, in the face
of such facts?
The coarse bulky products of agriculture
shipped to market distant 1900 miles
after deducting all the charges of freight
commission, and profits of the middle mer
or merchants, leaves so small a margin fol
the producer, that when the product is re
turned in the shape of cloths, silks, iron ans
cotton goods, there is not enough to supply
the reasonable wants Of the producer, and
as necessary result, he parts with bis spe
Gle, while he has any,, to, pay the balance
due the distributing merchant for his goods
Hence, specie flows from the agricultural to
/ the manufacturing States and countries.
All tue facts presented by the history of
the United States may be adduced in proof
of this assertion. That a country which
maintains a policy tending to promote the
export Of raw materials, must have against
it balance of trade, requiring the export
of the precious metals, and must dispense
with their services as measures of value.
Protection ceased in 1918. and commenced
again in 1924 The immortal Henry Clay
gives the following portrait of the United
States during the continuance of the free
trade period ga Te4
''ln casting our eyes around us, the most
prominent circumstance which fixes our at
tention and challenges our deepest regret is
the general distress which pervades the
whole country 1t is forced upon us by nu-
merous facts of the most incontestable char
acter. 1t is indieated by the depressed state
OF our foreign navigation; by our diminished
commerce; by the alarming diminution of
the circulating medium; by the numerous
bankruptcies, not limited to the trading
classes, but extended to all classes ofsocie-
ty; by the universal complaint of the want
Of employment; by the low and depressed
stateef the value Of almost every deserip-
ton Of the whole mass of property of the
nation, which has on an average sunk not
less than so per cent. within few years.
This distress pervades every part of the
Union every class of society-2ali feelait 1t
is like the atmosphere that surrounds us, all
must iDhale itand none can escape. 1t is
most painful for me to attempt TO sketch or
dwell on the gloom of this picture. But
nothing. Perfect fidelity to the
'rlglnal would have authorized Inc to have
thrown on deeper and darker hues
fsWhat, Twouid ask, is the cause of thu
nbappy condition of our country, which | |
lave described Is it not to be found in
he fact that during the whole existence of |
his Government, we have shaped our indus
ry, our navigation, and our commerce in
eference to foreign markets; in the fact that
We have depended to much upon foreign
ources of supply; in the fact that, while
We have cultivated with assiduous care our
9reign resources. we have suffered those at
lone to wither in state of neglect and |
The policy of all Europe
cruises to receive from US anything but
hose raw materials ofsmalIer value essen
lal to their manufacture, to which they
an give higher value. In adopting this
Obey, the States of Europe do not inquire
What is best for US, but what suits them
elves respectively. They do not take iu-
lsdlctlon OF our interests. but limit the OBJ
7ct OF their legislation to that of the con
j. /
7rvation of their own peculiar interests.
hey do not guide themselves by that 70,
1antIc philanthropy which We see displayed
ere, and which invokes US to continue to
wcRase the products Of foreign industry
'Ithout regard to The state Of prosperity Of
ar own. - (
''Both the inability and the policy Of for. :
gn powers then, forbid us to rely upon t
re foreign market as being an adequate :
snt for the surplus product of American :
Dor. The object of wise governments +
lould be- by sound Legislation so to pro 4
ct the industry of their own citizens a
,ainst the policy of foreign powers as to
We to IT the most expansive force in the .,
oduction Of wealth. Great Britain hasi ~