The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-05-14
Written for the National Agrieulturist.l
Tariff on Wool and yv0olens.
NoBIEsrowN, April 5, 1867.

incoming wool clip over the present price
lin this State, say over sixty to sixty five
cents per pound for the best clips of Wes-
tern Pennsylvania
The price that the wool clip of 81 will
command, depends very much on the
general prosperity of our country. There
can be no doubt but that if all the in
dustrial pursuits flourish this summer and
fall wool and woolens will partake of the
general prosperity.
But if woolens, iron, steel, glass, min
ing and other industrial branches contiu
ue depressed, wool and woolens must in
evitably command less than if the whole
body polite were prospering.
The Wool Tariff Bill as passed is one
| of defense and for revenue purposes more
than for full or prohibitory protection to
the American wool grower, based on the
least amount of protection that will ena-
BILE the American wool grower to stand
equal for and ia his own market, as near
as it can be ascertained, the amount of
projections so as to equal the difference in
the price of labor paid by foreign grown
wool and the home product; throwing the
American wool grower to depend on his
own superior sheep,a and his judgment and
Eintelligence,to to secure his own (Ameriean)
market in supplying our wool manufactu-
rers with such wool as they require to
produce the wooden manufactures to
clothe Americans.
The bill was gotten up with great care,
intended in all its ramifcations to be a
unity of interests, action and design be-
tween the wool growers and wool manu-
facturers (the trainers of the bill bearing
in mind that the two interests are one and
inseparable0 that neither branch can long
prosper without the other being benefit
ted.
Whilst the two great interests are so
closely connected, neither stands out as
an independency from the other indus
trial interests of our common country; to
succeed or benefit the greatest number of
our citizens the whole of our different
branches of American industry must be
actively engaged at their different voca-
tions.
The wool grower that folds his arms
and says he is satisfied having secured a
tariff on wool and woolens, and that ether
interests may look out for themselves is
certainly not a philanthropist nor is he
conscious of his own interests or danger.
We clip the following from New York
City free trade paper of March 80, 1867:
"The Melbourne Argus of December
13, 1866, says: An experiment of an in
teresting nature is about to be tried with
one of the staple exports of this country.
Hitherto all the wool exported from Aus
tralia has been sent to London or Liver
pool, almost exclusively to the former
port. It appears, however, that Ameri-
can buyers are infrequent at the London
sales, and to test the United States mar
ket fine ship--the Isabella Hercus-
has been placed on the berth for New
York direct, carrying wool. The result
will be looked forward to with considera-
BILE interest. It is very rarely that yes-
I'sel sails from this port dlrect to any Of
the cities of the east coast of America.
This is only the second ship which we
can call to mind as having been placed on
the New York line during some years
past. IF the Isabella Hercus finds a
good market, new trade may be opened
up"
And the same paper has already dcclar.
ed that the wool and wooden tariff must
and will be short.lived. Free traders are
aware, if the principle be admitted that
justice requires that wool and wool man
ufacturing be protected, then the other
great interests of the country will demand
the same necessary protection.
The prosperity Of the industrial citi-
zens of the United States can only be
brought about and maintained in and
by protection to the laboring or industri-
al population against the ruinous low pri-
ces of labor in foreign countries. Anti
Americans or Free Traders may use all
their sophistry in favor of free trade
The difference between them and Ameri-
cans or Protectionists is put exactly in
these words and nowhere else. Protec-
tionists work for and desire to keep and
continue the laboring, mechanical, mining
| or industrial interests or masses in the
enjoyment Of the blessings that Republi
can America only bestows on the indus
trial interests; whilst Anti Americans or
Free Traders insist that the industrial in
habitants of North America should work
for as low wages as in other countries
and not demand nor obtain more priyile-
ges.
Returning to the prospective prices of
the incoming clip of American wool, we
think Western Pennsylvania wool will
command from dfty to seventy cents per
pound, the latter for the very best Saxony
fleece, and sixty to sixty-fve cents for
nice full,bred Merino, and the former for
our least desirable clips. Combing woods
will be in demand and command about the
same prices as quoted above as they are
desirable. But as intimated above itis
quite too early to form an intelligent
opinion. The American wool growers
cannot in justice to themselves demand so
much for their wool as to enable or drive
our wool manufacturers to import or use
foreign wool to the exclusion of Ameri-
can grown Every principle of manhood
and national pride should induce the
American grower and manufacturer to
produce ali the different varieties of wool
and woolens that is required for the use of
Americans, which certainly can be done
within the next ten years, if not sooner.