New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-06
ADDRESS OF HI. GREELEY,
o. taxing he chair as President Of nc american
Institute, FeJ. 20, 1866.
l;VNTIVNrN or THE INSTITUTE:

conferred on me, allow me TO submit 10 You few
suggestions relating to our association and the ends
{ aims, or should aim, 10 secure
IL is now more than thirty-four years since !,
MINOR and a stranger in this City, had my atteh-
,on drawn to a notice in the journals tha' 'he
friends of Protection to American Industry were 10
meet that day in Convention at the rooms OF the
American Insttute-said Institute beng then
much younger than, though not SO obscure as was
had no work. and could find none: so, feeling
deep interest in and devotion to the cause when
that Convention was designed to promote / at
tended IFS sittngs; and tins was my first introduce
lion to the American Institute; which have ever
since esteemed and honored, though the cares ana
,abors Of busy anxious life have not allowed me
hitherto TO devote TO its meetings the time tha' i
would gladly have given them.
Irecur TO the fact that was drawn TO the Ameri-
can Institute by my interest in and sympathy WIN
the cause of Protection to Home Industry. IRON
early boyhood, had sat at the feet OF Hezeklah
Niles. and Henry Clay, and Walter Forward, and
Rolin C. Mallory and other champions Of TINS doc
trine and had attained from perusal OF theirs
and kindred writings and speeches a most I'M
doubling conviction that the pohcy they COM
mended was emnently calculated TO lmpel our
country swiftly aud surely onward through activity
and prosperity to greatness and assured well-belg
had studied the question dlspas Slonately-ior the
journals accessible TO my bOyhood were NANNY
those of Boston, then almost II not quite unahl-
mously hostile to Protection; but the arguments
they cOmbated seemed 70 me farstronger than those
they advanced and | early became an earnest ana
ardent disciple of the school of Niles ana Gay !
could not doubt that the policy they commented
was that best calculated 10 lead a country, OF vast
and undeveloped resources like ours, up from rude
poverty and dependence to skilled efficiency,
wealth and power. And the CONVICTIONS thus
formed have been matured and strengthened ny 'ne
observations and experience of subsequent years
Thus was | attracted TO the rooms ana Tue
counsels of the American Institute
Gentlemen, il is objected in our day that the
policy of Protection is narrow, selfish, SUICIDAL,
th0rt-sighted. while our aims should be cosmopoh-
tan and our philanthropy indiscriminate and uni
versal. This cayil would make patriotism ms,
take-at least, sentiment TO be outgrown.
cannot concur in it, My heart thrills to the stirring
appeal ..-,,..,
As never TO himself TO have said
This is my OWL my native land
believe it is our duty 10 desire and struggle for
the welfare growth and greatness OF our own
country before and above that of others. There Is
ahomely old ditty-British, believe, in its origin;
but if they have further use for It's sentiment,
they will doubtless make us present OF lt-Whercoi
The refrain runs substantially thus
For she's the darling Of my heart,
Ind she lrei IN ouT dHel.'
| concur in that sentiment. l Ike those L
esteem the better if they also my countryInen.
But liking them does not impel me to hate others.
lbelieve il wise and well TO place our affections on
that which is near and convenient rather than that
which is remote and scarcely attainabe. ludee
Il not well TO be always reaching toward and grasp
ing for the far-o and The inaccessible. lJudge II
better TO improve the territory We have than to
covet that of our DeghbOrs--to enrich farm than
10 expand ito develop our own resources than 10
absorb those o. other nations.
The policy advocate for our own country CON-
mend as well TO others. regret, and deem II a
general misfortune that all nations not seeking
10 develop and diversity their industrial and their
mineral resources by Protective legislation and ey
concuIring individual social and political Efforts.
hold that the world would be richer and all man
Kind wiser and happier had every nation early and
steadastly sought 10 naturaIlZe, develop ana per-
feet all the useful arts on ts own soil. Let each
buy freely from abroad whatever raw material IFS
peculiar SOIL climate, topography, forbid IT TO pro-
duce adyantageOusly at home; but let these be
manipulated and fashioned by every nation for IT,
self They will thereby promote at once their own
happiness and the general well-being. | hold that
the world is this day at least One Billion Of Dollars
richer for American inventions and discoveries
which their existence to the partial, grudgng,
capricious Protection which Congress has accorded
10 our manufacturing industry.
Who can estimate the value 10 mankind Of the
vet incomplete century Of American Inventions
commencing with the Cotton Ginl The Reaper
and Mower the Telegraph the Railroad, the Sew
ing Machine the Power Press-what would the
world DO without them ! Which OF them owes ITS
origin TO any country which has systematically re-
fused or neglected 10 protectits own manufactures
Let Egypt and Arabia, let India and China, produce
the contributions which they, during the last CEN
fury have made TO human efficiency IN the field Of
industrial production, and We viii see whether our
policy or It's opposite most cOnduces 10 human
progress and prosperity. Had the policy which
looks TO making ours purely agricultural nation--
10 exporting It's Timber its Cotton, its Food, and
importing its Wares and FabTics-bcen uniformly
ascendant here, We might have shown as beggary al
account of contributions 10 human efficiency as
they do. And had our workshops remained in Eu-
rope, might be still plowiDg with a clumsy, i'll
effective implement, composed Of wood and iron,
instead of the Steel Plow Of the present day.
Yet are still at the beginning OF our course.
hail the Steam Plow rs a benefceDt and not dis
tant contribution Of Mechanics 10 the progress and
efficiency Of Agriculture. Say, ifyOu will, that all
dispute you'll only insist that they are such fail
ures as herald and prepare for grand, benignant
success. II We have not a good Steam PlOw to-
day, il is high time we should have one.
Yes, must have practical, servceable Steam
Plow and that soon. Do not tell that all
Steam Flows have thus far been failures: these
failures are my aSsuraDce of ultimate aud perfect
success. They are proofs OF earnest, persistent
effort-such effort must triumph al last. The
farmers urgent want to-day is a machine which
will do for the preparation Of the ground what the
Mower, the Reaper and the Thresher have done for
the securing Of the crops-a machine which will
not merely save labor, but render rainy days and
Winter frosts effective in producing ample harvcsts
"a machine which in effect will extend the duration
of seed time by making week of favorable weather
suffice for what has hitherto required month.
We need propeing force that can be cleaned,
oiled and laid away in Autumn, which, without
having consumed or cost any thing meantime, shall
Ia rea1v for the pext Surfing: and fhal rejoice