Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-10-20
PROTECTION.

which writers on political economy
 have, both in Europe and America, de-
 voted their ablest and best efforts for
 the last century, whilst the most gifted
 statesmen and politicians in both coun- tries their talents to the investigation,
 elucidation and practical application of the principles of protection to each
 country respectively, and the advan- tages that result from well regulated system of protection. Since the or
 ganization of our government-this sub- feet has been discussed in every shape
 and form, in the Eastern, Northern
 and middle states, and the result is,
 those states are prosperous beyond all
 precedent every branch of mechanical
 industry has attained the highest point
 of human perfection, and the people of cles of fine manufactory from Europe are sending hundreds of thousand of articles across the Atlantic to the mother country. Thus by protecting the manufactor, the mechanic and ar tist, the agriculturist was protected, and the whole country aourishcd and prospered ; the country became densely populated; schools and churches four ished, and every interest was promoted. But how is it with the people of the South! are they protected, patronized and encouraged in prosecuting the va- rious branches of the arts and mechan- ism. We speak often and boastingly of our advantages, our resources and prospects, as if these things would spring up by magic and grow sponta- neously and become sources of wealth to us, while we sleep with folded arms quiescently and supinely awaiting for some one to step in and trouble the waters, How is it ill Des Arc--where is our saddler, harness maker. tailor, shoemaker, timer, buggy-maker. hat ter; are we trying to build up and sus- tain and support in our town such men, or does our actions and our practice tend directly to the breaking down of all such men engaged i'll the industrial pursuits which are so indispensable to national prosperity; or, rather do our capitalists and business men seem to act upon the principle, "we must swim though you sink" Do we not. daily find men that hold up holy hands and invoke the fires of heaven upon the un- consecrated Yankee, and thank God in public places that they arc not as other men; and yet if you find one of these
 suporcillious self-constituted Pharisees with an ax-handle, an ax, a spade, a pair of boots or shoes, a new coat or vest, walking cane, a saddle, q bug gy, pipe or cigar, or anything else, and ask him where and how he got it he tells you from the East of course; from the heaven cursed and hell de- serving Tanks. Then ask the simple question, why! can't you make these little things in the South, so prolific in material resources yes, but our mcr- chants can bring on all these things and sell them to us cheaper than we can af- ford to make them. But the Yankee must have his profit on them, the mer- chant he sells to must have his profit, the railroad and steamboat must have their profit, and finally, the Des Arc merchant must, of course, have his pro- fit. So you pay profits to four differ ent men when you buy an ax-handle or riding bridlc, and yet you get them cheaper by sending East for them and why is this that we continue to send our money away for such things, when we could produce them at home, sim ply because we will not unite in sus- taining and encouraging our mechanics and shop laborers at home until they can get start in the various branches and pursuits of industrial mechanism.
 TO BE CoNTINuED. K