Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-05-11
a9aist&llaneons.
DEMOCRACY VS.. AMERICAN INDUS
TRY.

The Democratic party having joined it.
self In copartnership with the British agents
who desire to destroy our manufacturers,
put no limit to their low subserviency to the
foreign interest What, for instance, can
he mere peryerse or absurd than some of
their complaints against American mill
owners or miners +? Because of a vacilla-
ting policy on the part Of our national gov
ernment, our manufacturers have been in a
measure discouraged In their erection of
establishments adequate to the full supply
of staple fabrics and, of course, when a
sudden demand arises, such as on the occur
renee of sudden peace has lately happen
ed, prices advance pIoportionately to the
exigencies of the moment 1t is an invari-
able law Of trade, in all times and places,
affecting all kinds of commodities, and ap-
plying equally to foreign fabrics as to our
own.
And yet the rabid Democrat, whose spir-
it is peculiarly directly against his own coun-
trymen, can see matter of offence against
our manufacturers in those mutations of
prices which are always occurring even in
tranquil times to some extent, and which
could not fail TO mark with more intensity
the quick subsistence Of our civil war. To
such an extreme is carried this malignant
feeling towards anything American, that
even the elemental changes are made a
grievance for which our miners and wooden
manufacturers are IN some sort responsible.
The chief organ OF the Democrats refers to
the recent cold term as a matter OF felcIta-
ton to Americans who mine coal or make
cloth, and whinse In maudlin way over an
anticipated rise Of prices, which, after all,
is far from being certain result from such
a partial cause. 1t would hardly be more
irrational, though somewhat more impious,
to arraign Providence itself for the change
of weather which SO moves these political
philosophers.
Our Pennsylvania coal miners seem espe-
cial objects Of these illiberal remarks, sim
ply because, alter much depression and ma
ny ruinous losses, their business is at pres
ent reasonably profitable. We should all
rejoice that this is so, if not on their ac-
count, at least on our own. What inesti-
mable advantages have redounded to the
nation, and to each individual Of all who
dwell within it, from this abundant supply
of fuel, extracted from our mountains by
costly shafts and steam engines, and borne
over our extensive railways to every part of
the country. The stimulus thereby afforded
to manufactures, and even the incidental
benefits to agriculture in the preservation of
its wood lands, or their devotion to arabic
uses, is almost inconceivable. From no for
eign source, such as would delight Demo
crat to draw them, could come such vast
supplies of coal Britain would be prema-
turely exhausted In the vain attempt, nor
could all her commercial marine convey the
enormous tonnage to our shores.
How much better is it to hold in our
hands this invaluable source of wealth and
strength. Chiefly through its means have
We advanced in the last decade with an ac-
CELEBRATED pace to private and public pros
perity. By It's powerful agency were we
enabled to crush out the giant conspiracy
for who can doubt that had the coal Of
Pennsylvania been wanting the blockade
Of Southern ports would have been a nuli-
ty, and that the supplies from Europe
would have doubly strengthened the rebels2
Equally did the great manufacturing es-
adjustments Of New England add force to
the national arm In the great conflict
Clothing for our armies, smallarms in large
quantities, and the numerous other articles
of military equipment, all came forth in the
quickest possible time from the Yankee fac
tories, and gave us decided advantage
over the Ill provided south. Her politicians
had persuaded their people that our work |
shops should be in Europe in their re-
cent experience they have had an opportu-
nifty Of testing the wisdom Of such coun
sci.
But we fear that the moral regeneration
of our eopperheads must advance much fur
ther, ere they can forgive either PQnnsylya-
MIA Or New England for their part in the
recent war. Even though the wellbeing Of
the whole country is bound us with that OF
thrifty factories aud mines, still the copper
head would like to crush them, because they
hit his fayorite rebellion such damaging |
blows. He warns his shins by an anthra-
cite fire, and runs the steam engine which I
propels his printing press by means Of the
same fuel, and yet, ike an migrate, stupid |
as we'll as malicious, he would discourage /
the opening OF new mines by introducing (
coal from Newcastle, il that were possible. I
Had not the owners of coal property in
Pennsylvania expended many million dollars I
in developing these mineral treasures, the /
copperheads, az well as the rest OF US, would /
have shiyered before Insignificant wood fires
At cost of twenty dollars per cord, and }
the printing press. in all probability would I