Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-05-09
Il LAMB HERALD.
MONDAY, MAY 6, 1867.


were brought to light showing how
largely protective tariffs benefit mechan-
ism. which, though we confess ourselves
an ardent supporter OF protection against
foreign competition we had not dreamed
OF.
That protection is blessing to any
country In the case of patents none will
deny. The principal manufactures of
England have been built up and sus-
tanned by the use OF patents, and in our
own country it is certain that the pro-
lection which the inventor enjoys in his
nstent has doubled our mechanical power
and increased our agricultural produc'
tons ten-feld. And yet, In the face and
eyes of these statistics, we do not see
how consistent iree-trader can help
DENYING the inventor the protection
granted him by governments when he
would not protect the products of the
machinery invented.
The free-trsder says that a demand
for duty implies increased price. Such
is not sought, nor is it obtained. One
chief object is that home industry may
not be overwhelmed by heavy shipments
when there are gluts in foreign markets.
Our prices should depend on domestic,
not on foreign competition. We can
have no sure basis till we can be relieved
from fluctuations. A people who are
well clad and fed must produce nine
tenths of their supplies themselves.
When we attempt to purchase more than
one tenth, we are on the downward
road.
As regards knit goods, the first stock
ings were woven in Boston in 1884. In
few years 5000 dozen were made, and
it was doubtful whether they could be
sold. In some parts Of New England
all the women are busy in knitting
the heels and toes to ribbed stockings,
Even in this fragmentary work, they
knit much more than they did sixty
years ago, During five years, so bene-
ficial was protection, that inventors
were stimulated, and they made so many
improvements that the cost of weaving
has been reduced one-half The conse-
Quence is we are able to enter into COM
petition with the best foreign establish
ments. Had not protection given US the
impulse, we could not have attained this
supremacy.
By having protection, our artisans
have perfected machinery so that we
now manufacture every description of
cotton fabrics at prices so low as to defy
competition and at the same time give
our capital profit and our labor en-
ployment. Yet should we use but one
half Of the cotton goods annually con-
sumed In this country, and call upon
England for that half, British monopo-
lists would soon double and treble their
present price, and in a measure fnan-
cially ruin our people, as they have
heretofore in the iron trade. This Is
what protection has done for US, and we
have the same advantage over foreign.
ers regarding delaines, fannels, blankets,
and other descriptions of wooden goods.
Americans use more carpets than any
other people in the world, and very
large establishments and heavy invest
ments are required to meet the market
demand therefor. In 1912 by the in
ducements held out by the tariff, invent
ors went to work to perfect machinery
for their manufacture and now, as 8 re-
suit OF tariffs and patents, the price is
less than formerly in gold and more
than this, the best carpets made in Eng
land are woven on American looms.
Such change has machinery made that
carpets which once cost for the weaving
II IL cents a yard, now are woven for
IL cents yard,
The shoe business is another example
BY means of protection early granted
we have gradually introduced machine
ryi it has ceased to be a handicraft, and
shoe establishments have been intro
duced into Europe with our machinery
So it is with hardware. Formerly
American hardware was the exception
but the business was protected. Unit
now flve-sixths of our shelf-goods art
made by ourselves. Every year through
protection, we are driving one article
after another of European manu- facturt
out of the market. The kind of Ere,
Trade we want is among ourselves, on,
which is based upon skill, and mad,
strong, so that we can compete with tn,
world. Cheap importations allure u
from our course, and do us irreparabl
damage by preventing US from perfectin!
our machinery.
JEFF DAyIs.-There now seems som
probability that JEFF. Davis will 500
have trial, and thus relieve the couH
try and himself from the doubt inciden
biu HE nn,,p