Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-11-28
CORRESPONDENCE.


Protection to Industry.
In looking back on the history of the coun-
try from Its first organization to the present
time many important lessons may be learn
ed OF Its political economy. During our
colonial existence Great Britain held us in
q state of yassalage To do this the more
eifectually she forbid every attempt Of her
colonies at manufacturing. In 1850 Massa-
chusetts commenced the manufacture Of hats
which 80 alarmed Lord Chatham that he
arose in Parliament and declared that he
would not consent to America manufactur-
ing even =" hob nail, as that would make
her so far independent of the mother coun-
try.
Out of similar expressions Of the mother
country grew the war of the Revolution
during which as necessity infant manu-
factories sprang up in the colonies, the
direct effect of which was the enhanced
value OF land, increased price of labor and
the general prosperity of the country.
| But experience soon demonstrated that
| the old confederation under which our coun-
| try started cid not establish common in
| tercst. Simply because the thirteen States
of confederation were each independent OF
the other, having revenue law in her own
right. England ever on the alert took ad-
vantage Of this oversight, and through the
New England States, which were then COM
mercial, flooded the country with her manu-
features TO such degree as to nearly para
lyze our own industry, and ruin our infant
manufactures.
During this period of our history which
lasted from the peace of Paris till the adop-
ton of the Federal Constitution, the me-
chanics and working men, always the first
to suffer from any arrangement of our
revenue lands, held meetings in our State
and petitions went up from all parts of the
country asking Congress to relieve the de-
pressed state under which the farming, me-
chanical and manufacturing industry of the
country was laboring.
Out of this move Of the working men of
the country grew the Convention that
framed the Constitution of the United States.
In that instrument the trainers provided a
remedy for all the evils experienced under
the confederation, by Withdrawing the rev.
enue laws from the States and giving them
TO the general Government as executed by
Congress who alone have the power now ia
levy duties, and provides further that they
shall be uniform. That word was the
great panacea as applied to the country, BY
which Congress- if they be wise, may always
keep the industry of the country in flour
ishing condition.
The first tariff under the Constitution was
enacted in 1885, to urge which Washington
appeared in public with coat of Americas
manufacture. The good effects of this tariff
were everywhere felt. Land rose in value
mechanical and manufacturing industry
flourished, and labor, that great staple o
our country on which alone its indcpcnd
ence and property rests, was well rewarded
Here let me pause to ask which party (fo
there were then political parties as now
favored protection to American Industry
, The answer is given by history the Demo
cratic party. How comes 1t that party
now calling themselves Democratic, oppos
protection, as did the Federal party of thos
days? win any modern Democrat be 81
kind as to explain the reason of a change 0
principles : Either the party claiming to b
, Democrats are not SO, or the party has de
parted from every cardinal principle as lai
| down by Jefferson, Madison. Jackson, an
all the old fathers of the party,to which, M
, not willing to accede.
II A. P. OSMOND.
CANTERBURY, November Is, 1867.