New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-08
The High Price Of Manufactures-Tse
Remedy.
GosneS, E!khart Co.. Ind, Feb 20 1860
To ~, Editor of TAs a. y. Tribune

nrecept" In this as in its advocacy OF Human EghtS'
I have long been a devoted disciple OF Tw TRIBUNE.
In early manhood received and embraced the pm
ciple Of Protection through The TRIBUNE, rs OK
pounded by its great advocate. Henry Clay nave
read everything said upon that subject IN lis columns
until nv ewes have grown dim and my hair gray with
age vet have belief in the principle, If 1t could DO
practically and successfully carried out but now ~
this eyentfu period OF our history every rePeon %
vour arguments leaves latent feeling Of mstrns OF
tho OF these Ion convictions In
view OF the utter failure Of anticipated results In cur
early history You taught TO stand by our infant nnhn
features until they Of sufficient strength 70 stan
alone against the competition OF foreign manu'actures
and then all barriers could be thrown down-and
then foreign goods could be undersoid. MOI
only in our own but many OF the rnafse''
Of the world. Now all this was to be done
not for the benefit Of the manufaciurernot to build up
an odious monopoly-but 10 cheaper the mhnulhcturru
article 70 the These were the h'nets 10 DC
derived by that class legislation Wlleh oosnee uu'
home market exclusively 10 our home nahtlacurer;
Nonopoly to be kept down, or rather the prices OF
goods created by this monopoly OF the home ma tel
were TO he equazed 10y competition among eapitasls.
Now Friend TgIBUNI have We not had fair trial. IN
| our own appointed wayf begin to think We nave
have waited and watched for the eonsumnation OF tho
promise OF no monopoly and cheaper goods until am
growing blind and gray with watching. For over
twenty five years, have been farmer raising family
OF nine children on little piece Of God earth cut OUT
making all due allowance Tor the price OF TIE "a" ms
teral cannot get many inches OF domestic goods
for bushcl Of produce as could when hrst com
nenced. ,..,,, , $50.
Have We ~ Protection. warmed into life and power
a yioer 10 sting u.s. The former has not only 10 pay
The heavy burden Government eVes upon him, but nc
in addition every cent levied the manafao
turea article which his family consumes or "hicn ne
uses carrying on bis business Is tins inir Is "
honestf Before the war, these manufacturers were
content TO make as dimes profit as they are now
In our extremity demanding IN dollars from every
pound Of the raw material those OF Us who IynoW.o
The flag OF our country against the Rebels know now
appreciate their patriotism IN imposing thelf shoid!
on the Government. and now. In all,peaceia honest
toll the cry comes forth to be dehNeIed Hon ihoH iHr
| ther rascality and cxtortions.
You say to the farmers OF the west IN fepy 10 these
complaints "uild up manufactures NJ yonr doors ana
the expense Of exchanging produce for goods 80
far from home" Very good advice. but not 80 praot
cal as wo are in the habit OF getting from HI IRBust
II you will send US men and money 10 erect inc MIS-
we will agree make the exchange here and save our
produce from the sharks who lire the ttoroughiares OF
commerce between this aud New-Iork; But to
call on the farmers 10 do Is following 100 iteraF 'le
THp THInISI il a recognized power n the lsad. 1t
has warmer regard and a greater confidence amoas
the working classes than any other paper In America
nd II has richly earned IL by Its steadst adherence
10 those great ard cardinal principles upon which resi-
the stability AID Perpotnify OF our Tree In
the ligh OF its past history, "a u too much 10 expect
that IL will see the allacy OF further calling upon the
country TO strengthen and consolidate an odious mono
OF manufacturing Interests, VI thc
agricultural interests OF the country There no com
bnaton among 1t Is impossible 20 form any Tor our
own protection. We have never asked GoYernment To
do il II it could. On the other hand. We nave
silently borne the competition Of Canadian pro
duoe in our own markets Benefits should be
mutual as well as reciprocal But II the mrmlng com
nunity are 10 be the prey OF railroad and manufacturing
mooo,oies there wo n be much left for Government
10 squeeze out OF them. In view OF what have sad.
then If these monopOlies 90 exist and they are eating
| battery on them dOubleshotted, and fire awey until
they consent TO act honestly. IL these New England
manufacturers do MT see it In that light Whatever our
former predieotions In favor of Protection,
beers OF Congress from the West vii! let thcm see Il in
| another and more startling manner.
Respectfully yours. Z. H. MURkA'.
Reply.
Office OF THE TRIBtSr.
ELw.YoRK, March 4. leCo.
Mr.. MURRAY: You tell Inc you have been Il
reader of The TRIBUNE for many years. II So
I think you have read il to little profit. Allow
me to show you why.
| 1. A very considerable number Of Northern
men grew Cotton last year QsG5)-some OF II in
Illinois and Missouri. They have sold it for 10
to so cents per pound; whereas it was formerly
sold for ten (10) cents. Do you ask them to
take less for il than the market price! DO you
quote the high price as proof that Cotton
growing has failed, and that we ought to buy
our Cotton abroad Not you Then why do
you apply one rule to Cotton-growcrs and
another to Cotton-spinners Tell me.
! 2. Cotton is to-day A. cents per pound for a
good article. Cotton goods are sold by the
makers at 90 to 30 cents per yard. You speak
of this as if Cotton were now selling as formerly
at 9 to II cents. Is this reasonable Is it
honest
| 3. When the War closed, there was great
dearth Of Cotton goods. The South was
naked, while its Cotton sold high. OF
course, it swept the market and raised
prices. Suppose it had been Corn that was
scarce, the price would inevitably have risen.
Had we never spun bale of Cotton,
the result would have been the same; but all
the profit would have gone TO Europe that is
now shared by our own people. Ought you to
regret this
| a. You say you cannot get money III the
West wherewith to establish manufactures.
That is because you do not believe what you
say about the enormous profits Of manufac-
lures. You raise money in millions TO construct
Railroads, to invest in Government bonds and
to establish Banks: if you thought manufac-
turing as profitable, you could raise money for
this also. But you understand, as well as do,
that the recent high price of manufactures was
Fictitious and temporary, and that it is already