Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1867-01-23

the Government that had educated and
nourished them, found meretricious conso-
lation in the fact that they were permitted
to cherish an allegiance to the State in which
they were born, which coniiicted with and
DESTROYED that love of country which should
be made supreme and above all other poht-
ical obligations.
IF, in our past and recent experience,
there has been exhibited the valuable and
splendid achievements of our volunteers in
the national defence, there has also been
shown the necessity for military skill, and
that knowledge Of, and familiarity with, the
rules Of discipline SO essentially necessary in
their prompt and effectual employment.
In order, therefore, to make Gus military sys-
tenn effective, we rhould have particular re-
gard for the lesson, that to prevent or repel
danger, our State should always have well
disciplined force, prepared to act with
promptness and vigor on any emergency
nor should we forget that it is impossible to
tell how soon our warlike energies may
again be required in the field.
In nothing have our trials during the war
and the resulting triumph to our arms, been
so full of compensation, as in the establish
ment of the proud fact that we are not only
able to defend ourselves against assault, but
what is equally important, to depend upon
and Ice upon our o1on resources. At the
time the rebellion was precipitated upon US
the whole business and trade of the nation
was paralyzed. Corn in the West was used
for fuel, and the producer was compelled to
lose not only the interest upon his capital,
but the very capital he had invested. Labor
was in excess, and men we're everywhere
searching for employment Mills and fur
naces were abandoned. Domestic inter
course was so triaing that the stocks of
number of the most important railroads in
the country fell to, and long remained at, an
average price Of less than fifty per cent
But the moment danger to the Union be-
came imminent, and the necessity of self
reliance was plainly presented as the only
means of securing protection, and the grad
ual dispersion of our mercantile marine by
the apprehension of the armed vessels of the
armed vessels of the rebels, the American
people began to practice upon the maxims
of self defense and self dependence From
having been, if not absolutely, impoverished
and almost without remunerative enterprise,
depressed By unemployed labor and idle cap
ital, ali their great material agencies were
brought into motion with a promptitude,
and kept in operation with a rapidity and
regularity which relieved them from want,
their country from danger, and excited the
amaZement of civilized nations
Protection to the manufactures of the
when rightly viewed, is merely the
defence of labor against competition from
abroad. The wages of labor in the United
States is higher than those of any other
consequently our laborers are the
more elevated. Labor is the foundation of
both individual and national wealth; and
those nations that have best protected it
from foreign competition have been the most
1t is clearly, therefore, the in
terest of the nation to foster and protect do
mestic industry by relieving from internal
taxation every sort of labor, and imposing
such heayy duties upon all importations of
foreign manufactured articles, as to prevent
the possibility Of competition from abroad.
Not only should individual enterprise and
industry be thus encouraged, but all public
works, liberal and properly restricted gen
eral railroad system, and internal improve
ments of every kind, receive the fostering
care and most liberal aid of the Govern
ment We are rich in everything necessary
to meet our wants, and render us indeper-
dent of every other country, and we have
only to avail ourselves of our own resources
and capabilities, to progress continually on
ward TO degree of greatness never yet at
.aincd by any nation. Our agricultural,
mineral and manufacturing resources are
and it should be our constant
study to devise and prosecute means tending
to their highest development
Why, then, should not the wisdom of
Government make available the teachings Of
experience, and at once legislate for the
manifest good of the people? Why per-
nit our manufactures to beg that they may
i've?
The Government of Great Britain has, by
her protective system, ''piled duty upon
duty" for more than one hundred and fifty
years, and hence upon protection is founded
her manufacturing supremacy. Yet her
,missaries come 70 this country. and for sin
ser purposes, extol ''free trade, speak
;cofingly of protection, and endeayor to
persuade our people to believe and adopt
the absurd theory. that ''tarit,s hinder the
development of industry and the growth of
wealth
The great Republican party, in the Con-
vention which nominated Abraham Lincoln,
in Chicago. in 1860, as If preparing for the